Om Sai Ram

One evening, my kids were playing in our courtyard and I was busy with my household chores. It was rainy season and the rain had stopped that evening but there were puddles here and there. Suddenly my younger son fell down on the concrete floor and cried. I rushed to him but he cried so much and could not tell me where he was hurt. He was four years old then. I searched all over his body but could not find any injury. I carried him inside and then my elder son suddenly pointed out a faint reddish graze on his forehead. I tried to examine him for any signs of head injury but he became drowsy and slept.

After some time, he woke up and started vomiting. I was quite alarmed. He had also taken a packet of juice before sleeping. Whether it was a case of indigestion or a manifestation of head injury was hard to decide.  I am not a neurosurgeon but for any doctor when it concerns your own flesh and blood, decisions are bound to be biased. I decided to take him to a hospital where CT scan and neurosurgery facilities were available if at all the need arose.

The Govt. hospital where I worked always had some technical problems here and there and I could not take the chances. My heart was pounding so much and I was sick with worry. Even as I write this story today, I think of stopping after each paragraph because the tension I felt that day is coming back full swing again!

Since it was rainy season, the city was flooded. My husband was driving and I was holding my son on my lap. My elder son who was 6 yrs old was sitting behind. It was around 8pm in the night but the streets were empty and the rain was falling again. It was hard to see the roads because of the downpour. We were going to a private hospital where the facilities were there but it was situated in the outskirts of the city near the hills. 

I prayed so much to God that nothing bad should happen to my child. I kept chanting 'Om Sai Ram, Om Sai Ram' throughout the way. The dark empty roads in the heavy downpour gave an eerie feeling. We could not see our way properly. The roads were sunken under the flood waters and it was a matter of chance that we kept on the road and did not fall into the ditches by the sides of the roads. It was getting harder and harder to keep on the right path. The roads were full of potholes from before and where the potholes were there, our car plunged deep into them and it was quite dangerous. We had almost given up and thought of turning back when suddenly a van overtook us and drove just in front of us.

My eyes opened wide with wonder. With every breath, I had been chanting the name of my Lord and there right in front of us when we were at the point of despair, the Lord showed His presence again. On the back of the van which was driving in front of us was written in big bold letters the words, 'Om Sai Ram'. I had goosebumps all over. When no other vehicle was on the road, this single vehicle came out of nowhere and led us the way to the hospital and then went on its own way. By following it we could avoid the unseen potholes easily and reached the hospital safely without losing much time.

My son was immediately taken for Emergency 

CT scan. The neurosurgeon cleared my worry by saying that there was no injury inside. However, we decided to stay overnight for observation. The next day, the superspecialist examined him again and he was discharged. I felt so relieved and happy. Maybe the vomiting had been due to the fruit juice consumed in the cold rainy weather!

But, my belief in divine intervention was all the more strengthened by this incident. Om Sai Ram. Take my hand. Lead me on, my Lord.