The Path of Perpetual Light
Fatima gratefully accepted Sister Carmel’s caressing through words. What she saw in those bright eyes was the light of love. Even when society and relatives discard people, this lady searches for them, finds them out, embraces them and keeps them close to her heart like their own mother.
Sister said “Fatima, we are with you. You need not be afraid of anything or anybody.”
Her face became radiant. All her worries left her. Relief and happiness were evident in those bright eyes. The shadow of uncertainty had left her forever. Sister Carmel said finally, “From today onwards you are a new Fatima. Now you have to make your soul and mind clean”.
The Sister’s words aroused her self-confidence. Sister Carmel’s presence had given her a re-birth. She had released Fatima from the fort of the devils. She was a lady willing to understand and accept others. Fatima recalled her touching experiences with the Sister. Then Sister Norin informed her “Fatima, the manager of the Care Home will explain to you in detail the rules and regulations that you have to follow here. We are glad to welcome you as an inmate of the home. From now you cannot wander about as you please in the path that you choose. Aren’t you very young? You have the chance to learn and choose the profession that you like.
If you want to work in the field or the bakeries in the Home, that too may be done. You can pray to whichever God you like. We never interfere in the religious belief of the inmates. I have to advise you only one thing. It is better to have faith in the compassionate God or Allah than not believing in him. You should never allow any ghost or devil to haunt you anymore.”
Fatima looked at the sister with dim eyes. She said that she was very grateful to the sister for releasing her from the prison of sin and bringing her to the Care Home.
Sister Carmel said “This is the road from hell to heaven. You will have chances to learn many more things from the counselling and speeches that will follow. Now you please go with Merlin. She will introduce you to the manager”.
Merlin went out with Fatima. The smell of the costly perfume spread from her clothes lingered in the room long after she left.
After meals Jacky was walking leisurely in his room. Then the phone rang. It was Sharon. He took the phone happily.
“Sharon, this is Jacky. This is my mobile number. I had called earlier. Were you in the class? “Yes” Sharon replied.
They exchanged news for a long time. When they finished the talk, Jacky felt that Sharon was standing very close to her. Like her character, Sharon’s voice was also sweet. When she congratulated him through the phone, Jacky felt that she was standing beside him, waving her hands. He had to work hard for the future, as she had said. Her approach and words had always led him in the right direction.
What she said was true. The moment his feet touched the British soil, Jacky had pledged to conquer the future that threatened him. He would complete that task successfully. There might be obstacles and difficulties. But he should reach his destination in spite of all problems. Only those who dive deep in to the Ocean can collect pearls. What Jacky needed was self-confidence and courage. If you sit on the seashore enjoying the sea-breeze, you can never know the depth of the sea. To make the dream a reality one has to cross many barriers.
The mobile rang again. It was Dani Sir. He enquired about Jacky’s visit to the university. He explained everything. Dani Sir told him that he was looking for a good accommodation for Jacky. To get a job, everybody had to apply to the National Insurance Company for a number. He gave Jacky the number of the company.
“You must give your residential address. Your present address is O.K. It has to be made C/o Sister Carmel. I will come to you as soon as the accommodation is ready. Call the number I have given to you. Answer all their questions correctly. Those who do not possess the consent letter cannot work in this country. The aim of this system is to collect a small amount from our income for the Government Departments like health care, work with this capital. Moreover, we will get pension when we retire from service. This money will not be transferred to the pockets of ministers and officials as it happens in India.
Jacky needed the address of the care home. To whom should he ask now? Jacky took a sheet of paper and wrote on it that he needed the address of the Care Home and took it to Merlin’s room. But there was no one in the room. He saw a lean woman walking away through the veranda like a shadow. If he met somebody he could ask the address. He did not know much about this place. All that he knew was the dining room. He continued to wait hoping that someone would turn up. Again he saw a woman moving forward quickly. Where was she going?
He moved forward, anxious to know what was happening there. It was a hall in which about a hundred persons could sit. There were many women inside. Sister Carmel’s speech could be heard through the mike. Was it right for him to stand there? If somebody asked he could show the paper in his hand. He decided to listen to Sister’s speech from outside. Was it right to hide and listen? He could have entered the room. But he did not know whether men had admission there.
Sister’s discourse in English was continuing. She spoke fluently about the barriers that human beings ought not to cross.
“Sree Rama is worshipped in the Hindu religion. Sita was his wife. His younger brother was Lakshmanan. While all three of them were living in the forest, Lakshmanan gave his Sister-in-law Sita a direction. He drew a line in front of the Ashram and advised Sita that she should never cross that line. But once Sita crossed the line. It was called the Lekshmana Rekha (Lekshmanan’s Line). When she crossed it, the Rakshasha, Ravana who was the king of Lanka captured Sita and took her to his Kingdom. This incident led to a terrible war in which thousands were killed. War marks the doom of mankind. It is the human blood that is shed everywhere….. I have shed tears only twice in my life. Once I cried when I knew about the death of my father. I cried for the second time when I was in the battle field, where human blood was flowing like river. No ruler who wants peace will lead his people to war. Those who lead to war must be killed, not the innocent people”
Jacky was listening to every word that the Sister said. He had a feeling that the speech was about to end. No one should see him standing outside the hall. It might be harmful to him as well as to Sister Carmel who had given him refuge there. Soon, he returned to his room and lay down to sleep.
Jacky heard someone talking outside his room. He got up and looked out. A woman was talking to Merlin. He could not understand their conversation. After some time the woman left. Then he went towards Merlin and handed over the paper. Merlin took him to the office and gave him a card of the Care Home containing its address, phone number, e-mail, web, etc. Jacky felt happy. He said, “This is to apply for N.I. number.”
His mind advised him to leave the place quickly. He thanked Merlin and returned to his room. There he called the number that Danichayan had given him. He felt satisfied when he told them all that they wanted to know. In the college he had been very attentive in the English classes. That proved useful in his first official talk here.
He heard someone coughing aloud on the Veranda. Jacky opened his door and looked out. Sister Noris and sister Carmel are leading a patient to the treatment room. They entered the room. There was silence everywhere. Seeing Merlin carrying with some medicine he quickly entered his room and closed it. Someone was knocking at the door. Was it Merlin? He wondered.
(Cont’d)
