Faith has a free run

Kuldip Singh Kabarwal

DECADES back a theft took place during the day in the locked and rented house where my father and brother used to live in Tilak Nagar, Delhi. My sister-in-law, who had come visiting the village for a few days, was sent for immediately. She had a few months’ old baby and so I was asked to escort them.

Among other precious articles the burglars made away with were the gallantry medals of my father, won during World War II and later, and a beautiful timepiece I had won in an Army mela. 

After exiting the Delhi railway station, we took a local bus. The conductor told me that the bus would start in 10 minutes. I began to skim through a newspaper nearby. After about two minutes, when I looked up, I was aghast to see the bus proceeding towards the Chandni Chowk bazaar. I ran after it. During those days, trams would run in the area and there wasn’t as much rush of people as we see nowadays. I kept running after the bus. Whenever it stopped or slowed down, I would come quite close to catching it, but then, it would suddenly gain speed and move ahead, passing through Fountain Chowk and Sadar Bazaar. 

I was deeply worried since my sister-in-law knew nothing about the route or the destination. Moreover, she had no money on her. I wondered if at the time of departure, she had spoken to the conductor, or frantically looked for me. Anyhow, I was confident of my running ability. I knew I would catch the bus. During my hostel life in college, our physical instructor was very strict. All hostelers were required to be present in the nearby college ground at 5 am sharp every day for a run. So, I had a good stamina and kept chasing the bus. But at the same time, I worried about my sister-in-law; where would she go alone with the baby? Also, in those days, women were safer. The terrible stories we see and hear today were uncommon then. Thinking about all sorts of things, I ran even faster. And luckily, I was able to finally catch the bus near Ajmeri Gate.

The first thing I did after getting on the bus was to pull up the conductor. Then I questioned my sister-in-law. I was wonder-struck and speechless, when, without showing any sign of anxiety or apprehension, she calmly replied in Punjabi that she was confident that I would catch the bus and that nothing untoward would happen. 

Until then, I had been under the impression that my success in catching the bus was “due to my running skills”. But later it dawned upon me that it was actually made possible due to her innocence and her unflinching faith in the Almighty. She was quite comfortable with herself.