Yuva
Jab Mera Dost Mara
Lekhika Utah, USA mein rehti hai.
High school me mere junior varsh me, meri ek dost ko brain aneurism (dimaag me ek nas ka foolna) ho gaya tha aur wah dusre din mar gayi. Girja ke sadasye hone ke bavajood, mujhe dikkath hui. Mujhe sari jeewan sikhlaya gaya tha ki Pitah Parmeshwar aur Uddharkarta ke paas kisi bhi cheez ke liye ja sakti thi, par mai aise anubhav se pahale nahi guzri thi.
Mai ghanto tak roi, kuch dhoondne ke koshis me—kuch bhi—jo mujhe shanti de sake. Uske marne ke ek raat baad, mai ishbhajan pustak ke or mudi. Maine panne ko palta, aur “Abide with Me; ’Tis Eventide” par pahunchi (Hymns, no. 165). Teesra anuvakya mere dhyaan me aaya:
Abide With Me; ‘Tis Eventide
Aur akeli raath hogi
Agar mai baath nahi karoon,
Nahi aap me apna ujala paun.
Mujhe dar hai ki, duniya ka andhera,
Mere ghar me bas jayegi.
Ay Udhaarkarta, aaj ki raath mere saath tahar;
Dekho, ‘is raath.
Is anuvakya ne mujhe shanti di. Maine tab jaana ki Udhaarkarta na ki mere saath raath ko tahar sakte the, par Weh jaante the ki mai kaisa mehsoos kar rahi thi. Mai jaanti hoon jo pyaar maine us ishbhajan se mehsoos kiya woh mujhe sirf us raath shanti nahi pahunchai par kai musibato ko anth tak tike rah kar paar karne me madad ki.