A few days ago,
there was a message on one of the Facebook groups about a reunion at our
college (Amrita). It was just a one-liner saying that we had a alumni meet (not
so much a reunion) at so and so date and such and such time.
I was in two minds
whether to go or not. It was during a weekend, on a Saturday to be precise.
Residing in Cochin, this meant that I needed to leave Cochin either on Friday
evening after office hours or early on Saturday. I had already been caught up
the last weekend and also had to travel back to Trivandrum on Saturday night.
Though I was a state
of mind to go, the constant travel and the fact that my entire weekend would be
eaten up was a sore point for me. I had made up my mind, I was not to go.
Anyway, it wasn't as if many had said they would turn up...So it really didn't matter…
But a push from an
unexpected direction. My husband gently prodded me to go. After all I did want
to go, and after we were to travel to Trivandrum, so what difference did it
make if I left a bit early and fulfilled this wish?
My mind was in a
state of flux, to go or not to go…
I booked my tickets
for the journey. I was to travel on Saturday morning. I kept telling people
that I hadn't decided whether to leave or not. "Go" or "Stay
back and relax" were the alternating mantras in my mind. It was Friday
night and I still hadn't decided what I was to do…
Come Friday night,
and I decided I was leaving. I didn't care if I went for the alumnus meet but I
wanted to go to the Ashram. The Ashram, which during my three years of college,
was both my prison and my refuge. I shuddered at the memories of the hostel
which washed over me but I longed to go to the Kali Temple and seek peace like
I used to.
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| A View of the Ashram from Vallikav (Picture Courtesy Google) |
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| A view of the Kali Temple from Outside (Picture Courtesy Google) |
The Kali Temple was
a place of refuge for me. Many a times, when I was troubled during my college
years, I would seek out a corner in this peaceful dwelling. It was a long hall
where many could be seated. Towards the front was a elevated area where the Kali
Temple and the beautiful Kali idol was placed. Over the three years that I had
spent there, many a times had I come seeking for a place where I could pour out
all that troubled me. It was a place where I could open myself up and pour all
my sorrows and find the peace that I lusted for.
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| Inside the Kali Temple (Picture Courtesy Google) |
I sat here for a
long time and then went around the rest of the Ashram soaking in all the
changes. As I wandered about, I overheard someone mentioning about a Darshan. I
wasn't sure if I had heard right, after all I thought Amma wasn't in India. I
went ahead to check things and I realized that Amma was very much in India and
giving Darshans the very same day.
I went ahead to take
a token for Darshan uncaring that I may miss the Alumnus meet that I had
actually come for. The hours passed by and it was past time that I left for
college to the alumnus meet. But I found that I wasn't too keen on going to
college if it meant missing the darshan. But since I had enough time on my
hands I went to college anyway.
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| A view of the college with all it's changes (Picture Courtesy Google) |
Once the program was
finished, we returned to the Ashram and waited patiently for our time to come.
It had been close to four years since I had had a Darshan with Amma. It was a time to contemplate, a
time to ponder on life and a time to sit ..at peace with myself. I left the same evening for Kollam where I
was to wait for Gowtham, Rohith and Ashwin to pick me up for us to complete the
remainder of our journey.
It was a unexpected
turn to the day, a pleasant surprise, a long wait and a brief visit with Amma.
The icing on the cake, were the moments that I had for myself, my thoughts
and prayers.
Looking forward to the next visit to Amrita with the family...
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