eternal faith

8/7/2019 eternal faith

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ETERNAL FAITH

My father, mother and other relatives have asked meto write down all I know about my maternalgrandmothers little story, which she often used to tellme. Its been almost two and a half years past mygrandmother, Rajyams death. Its 2005 now and Im 13years old. As a New Year resolution, my parents advisedme to start writing, either stories or my personal diary.Not as a hobby, but rather to improve my handwriting.For me writing down my personal diary was far morecomplicated than my math. So, I decided to stick to thestories, use my brains and imagination, rather than listdown my day to day life in a Fat diary. Here comes my grand mothers story, which is aperfect and an appropriate start for a rookie like me. Idont even know for sure whether it was a true story orjust an imagination. I concluded it to be true, as for thenumber of times my grandmother repeated it. The entire story revolves around my grandmotherand my grandfather, Mr. Rajashekara Murthy. I hadnever met my grandfather as he died when my motherwas just 20 years old. To write the story I needed more


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information than the original little story. I was able tocollect more facts about my grandmother andgrandfather, thanks to my mother, her brothers andsisters. The story begins with a young Rajyam, probably inher early teens. While Rajashekara, shortly known asShekar was a young, tall, dark, handsome and stronglybuilt hardworking man in between 21-23 years of age.He used to work under Rajyams father Sambiah, whowas a farmer. Rajyam was a pretty young girl. She wasa child at heart but had a mature mind. She wassensitive, emotional and philosophical kind of a girl. Shebelieved and had Eternal Faith in God. Her favorite Godwas Shiridi Sai Baba. She had utmost faith in him andworshipped him whole heartedly. Rajyams house was far away from her fathersfarms. Shekar had never seen Rajyam or her house, as hestayed far away and never had the time to visit theirhouse. He was a very busy man. He had no father andwas the eldest in his family. He was very hard workingand did many menial jobs to cope up to his family sexpenditure. Shekar was Sambiahs favorite and trustworthyworker. Sambiah used to chat with him for long hoursabout his family, during the luncheon. He used to


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discuss more about Rajyam, being his most lovingdaughter. By listening to Sambiahs words Shekarstarted liking Rajyam, because of all the good things herfather told about her. Without even seeing Rajyam,Shekar wanted to marry her, but couldnt say this toneither his mother nor to Sambiah as the question ofmarriage did not arise in neither of the families. One day, Sambiah told Shekar that Rajyam wasnot feeling well and had to go home early. The exactreason for her sickness was not known. As sekhar knewthat Sai Baba was Rajyams favorite God, he prayed tohim for her early recovery. But, the next day Sambiahlooked even more worried. As days passed by, Rajyamscondition became more critical. A few people said that theair wasnt good and so she was ill and the rest suggestedthat it was something related to witchcraft and was to betreated early without any delay. Rajyam was taken to local vaids (AyurvedicDoctors) and fakirs. Her fathers yield was all lost in theBarter system of exchange of grains to medicines. But,all his attempts went in vain, as Rajyams condition didnot improve at all. Shekar observed that Sambiah stoppedcoming to the farms. One day he heard that Sambiahtook Rajyam to city, to admit her in a governmentHospital.


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After a few days Sambiah came to Shekars housewith tears in his eyes. He was not in a position to speak.Shekar made him drink Toddy and speak out. Sambiahsaid that his daughter was suffering from a terribledisease, which he couldnt even pronounce correctly. He said that the doctors asked him to bring a largeamount of money, two thousand approximately, in thosedays a thousand meant more than what it means today. The Doctors said that the money was required for themedicines, hospital fee and that Rajyam was to beoperated within a month from date. Sambiah told Shekarthat he did not tell his family members about hisdaughters dangerous situation and about the large sumof money required, as they would panic. He told Shekar that he was back in the village to sellhis farm and house for the money. Shekar thought aboutthe matter and consoled Sambiah that if he would sellhis farm and house, then how will his family surviveand live. He said that he would help Sambiah collect themoney. By selling a part of his farm, cattle and Barrenland, Sambiah was able to make eight hundred rupees.Shekar had faith in God, himself and his hard work. Hethought that he had no time to loose and worked day and


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night in various farms, fields, workshops and even inIndustries situated at city outskirts. He even sold hiscattle and used his future savings for Rajyam. With more than a months hard work, Shekar wasonly able to make nearly thousand rupees. Now, even helooked pale and weak with no proper food and sleep. But,he gained energy to work more, with determination andEternal Faith in hard work. He had utmost faith in thethought that,If I work hard and however earnone thousand and two hundred rupees within amonth, then I will be able to save Rajyam. She

would get well soon and be able to walk and run

again, made him feel stronger day by day.

Now, having a thousand with him, Sekhar took atwo hundred rupees loan from a zamindaar and went tocity, along with Sambiah. The doctors in the government hospital said that itwas too late, but still they would try their best andoperate on Rajyam. It was the first time Shekar sawRajyam, in the hospital. He was moved to tears at herplight. She couldnt even open her eyes and look at him.She was in a critical condition. He stood there in the room, without saying a word


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daughter. Sambiah saw his daughter rise slowly from her bed.She looked fragile and glanced at her father with asmiling face and asked, Nanna (father), whydidntyou tell me that I was suffering from a

terrible disease and was about to die if the

operation was not conducted?Sambiah wasawestruck by his daughters question and asked her howshe knew about her condition and who told her. Rajyam told Sambiah that before the operation wasconducted, she was driven into sleep by a medicine givento her by the doctors. In her sleep, she dreamt of Sai Baba. She said that Baba appeared in her dream and toldher that she was his favorite disciple. Baba said,O Dear one! You are one of mymost loving disciples. I had decided to take you

away with me to my place in heaven, where you

can stay peacefully along with my other

disciples. You know that when I decide anything,nobody can change my mind.

But, it is different now. One person was


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able to change my heart, but not my mind. For

now, I leave you here on earth for someone else

who can take care of you and loves you and who

needs your love, company and care. Your time

here was actually over. You had to come with

me in any circumstances, but I leave you here.

Not for the Doctors attempt, nor for the

medicines used, but for the special persons

faith in himself and his hard work. He had

utmost faith in me that I would however save

you. I leave you here because of him and his

hard work. Only for his Eternal Faith in himself

and only for him.

Listening to his daughters words, Sambiah wasmoved to tears and before Rajyam could say anythingelse, he calls Shekar in. When Shekar enters the room, heand Rajyam glance and then stare at each other for a fewmoments and become speechless. Shekar almost lost hissenses when he looked into Rajyams eyes and wascarried away by her beauty and charm.

When Rajyam looked at Shekars face, she felt as ifshe had seen him before, a long time back, perhaps this iswhat they sayMade for each other.


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Before they could say something or come out of thetrance, Sambiah proposed their marriage saying,Rajyam and Shekar are you willing to get

married?And the answer wasyesfrom both theman and wife at the same time, which proves the verseMarriages are made in heavento be true. A few weeks later, they were happily married in atraditional ceremony and were blessed by seven children.Theirs was the most successful marriage in our familyshistory and is an embodiment of understanding, loveand sacrifice. It lasted for more than 45 years until mygrand fathers death. I remember that, whenever my grandmother used tothink of my grandfather, her dull eyes shone brightlyand she always had a smile on her face, which lasted fora long time. I always tried to see my grandfatherthrough her eyes. Now, I feel gifted whenever someone says that mygrandmother always used to remind that I slightlyresembled my grandfather. This makes me feel relievedfrom the disappointment that I had not met him. Perhaps,my grand mothers Eternal Faith in Sai Baba and herlove towards me made her name me SAI.


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- SHRUTHI NARAYAN MYLARAM

eternal faith

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