The Sun is still twisting and turning in bed trying to catch another half hour of blissful sleep...but she's already awake. Another long day awaits her and she likes to get a headstart. So, while its still dark, she's already bathed, dressed and on her way to her daily date with Him. As she gets closer, she shyly covers her head with the frayed end of her sari and repeats in her mind all that she needs to say to Him today. Just before entering the foyer of His house, she plucks a few of the white flowers from the bush alongside. She hasn't brought anything else today, and for a second she worries about that. Then she remembers His beautiful face and the calming smile He always has for her, and instantly her spirit soars. He will love these flowers. He'll love her even if she comes empty-handed, she knows. Involuntarily her thoughts turn to Anil, her husband. He came in at half past one last night, earlier than usual. But he was as drunk as always. When she served dinner, he threw the plate away. The gravy is all water, the bread stale, he said. Then in a fit of rage he beat her black and blue, before falling down in a drunken stupor. Pooja, Kaajal and Ankur, her three children sat crying in a corner, awakened by the ruckus, but too scared to intervene. This wasn't new to them, but she knew it always managed to shock them as if it were the first time. She slowly picked herself up and ignored the searing pain in her back where Anil had repeatedly kicked her. After cleaning the mess she went to lie down with the kids. They needed to sleep, so that they could concentrate in class the next morning. She needed to sleep too, so that she could go to the hospital where she worked as a ward attendant. She knew that the injuries would make it difficult for her to pull the patient stretchers and wheel-chairs from one floor to the next. But it was impossible for her to miss even a day's work. She was paid on a daily basis and there was no dearth of people waiting to get her job if she didn't turn up. It was this job that was putting food on the table, sending her children to school, and giving them a roof over their heads. No, she couldn't miss work, she thought. Then she gathered her children close and remembered her early morning date. As her mind focused on His face, she smiled to herself. His love was the only thing to look forward to in her life, the only solace in any circumstances. Thinking of Him she slowly drifted off to sleep.
The sudden tinkle of bells somewhere in His house brings her back to the present. She shrugs all thoughts of the night before and goes inside. She washes the flowers under the tap in the courtyard. Already her heart is beating faster. She can feel His presence all around. She adjusts the sari over her head again and slowly walks up to where He sits. He looks straight at her and she can almost feel Him gazing right into her soul. He's smiling that smile. As she puts the flowers down at His feet and folds her hands in front of her, she knows there isn't any need for words between them. Just by looking at her He already knows all that she wants to tell Him. She knows He watches over her every minute of every day. She knows He will deal with all the problems of her life in his own sweet time, slowly but surely. She can feel the strength permeate her body, the strength to face another day with Him by her side. He wants nothing in return, she knows.
The least she can do for Him, her Shiv-Shankar, her Bholenath, is to visit him everyday...and He will take care of the rest. His love for her is unconditional, eternal.
