The White Dove
Jacky opened the door quickly. There was Sister Carmel with her full smile. She had the newspaper and some magazines in her hand. He invited her in. The Sister sat there and handed over the magazines to Jacky. He thanked her and stood there staring at that angelic lady who found out the misled women and brought them back to real life.
She said “Dani sir had called me. Your room will be ready by tomorrow. He had agreed to arrange a job for you. Even if you leave, you must come here often, Jacky. Never think that you are alone. I am here for you. Moreover, I have good relations with the Kottaram family.
Jacky could not believe his ears. The Sister’s eyes were shining as she told that. Why didn’t Sharon never mention this to him? He grew doubtful.
“Sister, what is your connection with the Kottaram family?” He asked anxiously.
It was Koshy’s father who taught me and brought me to this position. He was my sponsor in the orphanage since my childhood. Haven’t you heard about rich people at home and abroad, bearing the expenses of the orphans? I was one such orphan.”
Sister did not want to disclose anything more. Deep pain was visible on her face. At that moment she was remembering her dear papa who would kiss her and say good-bye. Perhaps it was by his influence that this boy came here.
“I don’t know much about that family and its members. I would like to know that from you.
Jacky explained all that he knew about Kottaram house. They love their neighbours like their siblings. Koshy sir had donated even his kidney to a poor patient about to die. Many native people enjoy the love, sympathy and help of this noble family. People who are so kind to poor folk are rare in this world.
Sister Carmel felt very happy on hearing this. Like her father and herself, her younger brother is also different from ordinary people.
Jacky continued. “I have heard that the Kottaram family has been like this for many generations. Building houses for the homeless, buying dress for them, donating land for places of worship – These are the regular deeds they do. And all these are actions that please God. Only those people who are healthy in mind and body can do these”
“Thank you Jacky. I wish you good luck. It is time for my prayer. If you want to pray, there is a Hindu Puja room “Jacky simply smiled. Sister got up and left the room. “Jacky followed her with respects up to the door and bade her good-bye.
In the night, Fatima started up from sleep. Painful experiences of the past passed through her mind. She was dreaming about her visit to Paris with many other beauties from different parts of the world. They had gone there to present dance and music programmes. The groups led by the celebrities often include some prostitutes too. When music and dance performances are being staged and applauded, on the other side millionaire guests are being sexually gratified. In many fashion shows and film festivals such clandestine programmers take place.
Once she appeared on the stage also as a model. The faces of the spectators who watched the sight, music and dance inside the multi coloured hall, glowed with joy. In another place men were setting fire to their emotions on the soft and frail bodies of beautiful women. Some men are beastly in their behaviour. It is a kind of madness. Like persons who run faster and faster to win the race and fall down tired. How quickly does he who runs with vigour and valour fall down tired! Every face burnt in her memory, which was smoky earlier. Now it is flaming up. The dim nights she longed to forget are now encircling and binding her strongly like a venomous snake.
Fatima asked herself, Haven’t you opened your heart to Sister Carmel and acknowledged all your mistakes? Why didn’t you understand that a woman is surrounded by dangers from the moment she is born? People like you can escape danger and mistakes only if there are ascetics like Sister Carmel to assist you”.
Fatima looked at the woman sleeping on the adjacent bed. “She was not well. With how many rich and fair men she might have lived! Now she is asthmatic. The poor woman cannot even breathe well. She was coughing throughout the night. Now she sleeps because of tiredness.
If a person’s mind is weak she or he could be easily persuaded to do anything. It was this weakness that led me astray. My life was a race to achieve something. But my attempt had ended in piteous failure. If you have neither control nor responsibility over your body, you can never escape. She remembered the situations that aroused and strengthened her passions. Finally it was morning.
In the morning Fatima told the sister her experiences and thoughts of the previous night, Sister Carmel told her.
“Fatima, God i.e. Allah is the soul. If you surrender to the soul and worship it, no foul spirit of ghost will live in you. Establish God as an idol in the temple of your heart. Make sure that the eternal truth resides in you, always”.
She got up and opened a shelf on the wall and took out a copy of the Holy Koran. After giving Fatima the book, Sister said “You should read the Koran before you go to sleep. Then you should pray. Keep this holy book near your pillow all the time.”
Fatima had discarded this holy book as something worthless, in her girl hood and youth.
Now another person that too, one who believes in another religion, is offering it to her. Fatima’s hand moved forward automatically. She thought – “If I had kept this Holy Book close to my heart, I would never have become a harlot”
She quickly asked the sister “I want to read the Bible too. Will you give it to me please?”
Sister looked at her with joy. She reopened the shelf and gave her a copy of the Bible from it. She sat there looking at Fatima who was turning over the pages of the Holy Book. She thought.
“Poor child! She is only twenty seven. I will teach her and make her a teacher as she wishes. She should enjoy peace and happiness”.
She told Fatima, “You should read all the Holy Books of all religions. There are Ramayana, Bhagavat Gita and Tora in that shelf. The reason for lonesome people becoming religious fanatics is that they do not read any of these books. Their minds are like dry fields. They finally become terrorists or religious perverts. There are also many governments who have secret connections with such people. The internal conflict that you experience now is the devils combat. These books will help you to survive that. Now you are being led forward by the universal soul. Today, the man who leads a purely physical life does not listen to the advice of the heavenly soul. He cannot understand it due to the lack of spiritual knowledge”.
Sister took the Bible from Fatima and read out from the first epistle of Paul the apostle to the Corinthians, the 16th sentence of Chapter 2 – “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you? “Returning the bible, she added” If we lead a pure life the Heavenly soul will be with us.” The sister placed her hands on Fatima’s head and prayed.
Wind was blowing strongly outside. Jacky had breakfast with the Sister. They talked about going to the college. But Sister Carmel had been thinking about her father all the time. After breakfast she returned to her room.
The Sister closed the door of her room, she turned to the picture of Jesus Christ on the wall and said prayerfully “Kottaram Koshy is my only relative and brother on this earth. Then why should I be dissatisfied? “She made a long sigh, and then decided “I have to hear my brother’s voice.” Her eyes fell on the mobile on the table.
(Cont’d)
