The Messenger of God
Since Jacky’s arrival, Sister Carmel wished to see her brother and family. That desire was getting stronger and stronger day by day. But was it easy to see people far away? By talking on the telephone she might get some consolation. The face of her dear Pappa could be seen again only through Koshy. She had never expected that she could establish a contact with Koshy. It was made possible through Jacky. He was a messenger sent by God Almighty. From the time the sister saw Jacky, her relationship was getting clearer and stronger. Now her heart was dancing like the flecks of frost that fly about like white flowers, singing a silent song of joy. Wind blew around and stirred the atmosphere just as music at its zenith moves the heart.
The Sister took her mobile. She had saved Sharon’s number in it. As it was Saturday, everybody might be present at home. Wind blew strongly as if trying to break the window into pieces. Sometimes wind and the human mind are similar.
Sister sat for some time immersed in thought. Will Koshy believe me, if I tell him the truth? No one knew about the real nature of my relationship with Pappa. Anyway, I am going to tell him the truth. I am willing to welcome joy, sorrow or whatever other response my disclosure will produce. I cannot let this secret torture me anymore. At least I will be able to hear my brother’s voice directly. I have never expected either to see him or hear his voice. Anyway, I am going to call. If a lost relationship is restored unexpectedly it is the will of God. She switched on the mobile.
Sharon’s phone rang. She took it up. It was a call from England. But the number was unfamiliar. Jacky might be calling from the mobile of one of his friends. She responded to the call “Hallo”
Sister Carmel’s eyes shone. She said “Sharon, this is Sister Carmel calling from England. Are you well? Do you know me? “
That voice touched her heart. She answered joyfully. “I am quite well. Jacky has told me much about you, Sister.”
The Sister talked with her for some time. She enquired everything about Sharon. Then she requested her to hand over the phone to her Pappa. Sharon ran happily to her father’s room.
Kottaram Koshy was learning a case, Sharon called out to him “Pappa Sister Carmel is calling from England.” Koshy was very much surprised. His eyes expanded in disbelief. “Pappa, here is the phone.” He got up and took the mobile. “Hallo, I am Koshy.”
Sister Carmel’s eyes became brighter. She felt the breeze of nostalgia enveloping her. “Do you know me?” Sister Carmel’s sweet voice shivered. There was total silence for a few seconds on the other side.
Koshy’s eyes widened more in wonder and delight. His fleshy cheeks trembled. When he spoke, his lips too were quivering. “Yes …. I know…. I know you Pengale (sister) I know…”
Pengal in their mother tongue mean ‘sister’. This call in shivering voice conveyed Koshy’s inexpressible joy and sorrow at the same time. Blood had recognised blood. The secret held in the layers of the mind melted and disappeared. There was only one feeling at the bottom of their hearts – pure and true affection and love.
Sharon noticed with surprise the joy and ecstasy evident on her father’s face. That was the lightning of love. What happened to Pappa? She had discerned changing expressions on his face while listening to the phone call. She stared at him wondering at this sudden change. They behaved like very close relations! The love and tenderness that they shared through the very few words they had exchanged made it clear. Who is this Sister Carmel?
When there was no response, the Sister asked “Koshy, Koshy, why don’t you say anything? “Yes yes, Pengale. Are you well, Pengale?
Sharon’s surprise knew no bounds. Her anxiety increased. Why did papa respond so emotionally? What has happened to Advocate Kottaram Koshy who used to defeat the opposition lawyers by his thunderous arguments? And moreover, what did he call the nun? Instead of calling her ‘sister’ he called her ‘Pengal’ just as a brother called his girl sibling. Sharon was confused. She could not understand anything. Pappa and the local people had said that her grand- father was very magnanimous and that he had helped many poor students to study. Was this sister one such ward? She who had entered a new walk of life might be sharing the experiences of the past with Pappa. Expressing gratitude is something that good people always do. Such an action would give them contentment and a desire for requital. Was the sister calling for it? But, look at Pappa. What has happened to him?
Koshy’s eyes were overflowing. As he wiped his eyes, tears welled more and more. But he was also smiling with heartfelt joy.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes”, “Yes”
“Ah that is all that I want to hear…”
Then he continued in a moist voice, “we…we wish to see you at least once….”
“I am all right Koshy. I hope that you and your family are doing well…. I too want to see all of you….. then… then…… I wish to see Pappa’s grave – When she talked about the grave. Sister Carmel’s voice broke slightly. That sorrow was reflected on Koshy’s face too.
Koshy felt that the hidden snow mountains was melting down. There was nothing more to hide. He said happily.
“You may come whenever you like. I…I… too wish to see you. This is my daughter’s phone. Please note my mobile number. You should call me again… Pengale. Call me….”
He gave his phone number and said good bye. Koshy’s mind was elated. That unexpected phone call had filled him with ecstasy. He returned the phone to Sharon.
The call was like a star that shot up surprising even the sky, the music that stole in to his heart to complete the broken song. Koshy felt joyous as if he had received an invaluable treasure.
Koshy sat down in his chair thoughtfully. This sister had been in his heart, all the time. But he had never expected to see her. “Love, like knowledge, is very deep. It will take us to an invisible world. Now one of my long standing dreams is going to come true. The chances for it have appeared. My heart is filled with happiness. The truth is very near; not far away. The dilapidated home has to be rebuilt. That will give joy.” Koshy thought. He sat for a long time immersed in that intoxication. All the sorrows and problems that had troubled him had vanished. Still he could not control or appease his mind. Would there be some obstacle to their meeting?
From the time he knew about his sister, Koshy was very much worried about her life, cloistered within the four walls of the convent. Recently, devil has crept into spiritual life, even. He remembered the words of Winston Churchill, the prime Minister of England at the time of the IInd World War. He had said “between the Bear called Russia and the Buffalo called America, I am only a poor Donkey.” Such donkeys are quiet even today in all walks of life. Naturally, the number of victims is on the increase. If men hesitate to cleanse their minds, another flood or earthquake may occur to destroy everything. Those who are unwilling to surrender will surrender. Or nature will conquer them. Today Koshy is happy. Because, he talked to his sister who wins over the sinners and gives them a new life. This is where man finds God – among the children of the heavenly God who live on the earth.
Sister Carmel too is really thrilled. Yet, when she thinks about the inmates of the Care Home, her heart turns heavy. The lives of how many girls fall into Hell every day! They are used by sex maniacs from all walks of life who later discard them: Most of these women are helpless. The insatiable thirst of the male results in the suffering of women. Every human being has dreams and ambitions. But that should never raise the rate of the heartbeat of a woman.
The punishment for that will continue to fall on the culprit’s future generations. Those who fall into the mire will never get up. It is the base emotions that lead men into conflicts and total destruction. If wisdom and the moral power of the soul enter their mind they will never commit sins. But, for that, one should have the willingness and purity to surrender oneself to God. Thus they could escape from all kinds of sins.
The Sister’s mobile rang. She talked to someone and then turned to the computer. She answered the mails. Then Fatima came there. Sister welcomed her with a smile and invited her to sit down. Even- though she was smiling, the girl was bleeding within. Sister realized it.
“Have you got ready for tomorrow’s journey?” Fatima asked: “Sister where are we going first? To Dubai or Bahrain?”
“To Bahrain. Are you unwilling to come with me? “Oh, no. I am ready to accompany you anywhere” Her mind murmured: ‘There are many girls who lead a wrong life just as I did. To save them from that misery is my duty too.”
Fatima’s face was ablaze with joy and enthusiasm. She who had sold her body for money is now willing to do good deeds for the world. Sister looked at her with satisfaction. If girls work together these wicked tendencies could be wiped off and the world would change for the better.
While they were talking, Merlin came with the newspaper and tickets for the journey. She returned after handing them over to Sister. The change that has come over Fatima pleased Sister Carmel very much. She said “My dear daughter, I am so happy to see that your eyes are open, at last.”
Fatima looked at her happily. The call ‘daughter’ soothed her. She felt that she was sitting beside her mother. Even her real mother had not loved her so much. She was interested only in temporary pleasures. She too was responsible for pushing Fatima into the wrong path. Fatima remembered with pain: “How many times did Mamma’s brother and my step-father torture me! Mamma could have prevented it. On most of the days, both these men molested my body. As I grew older my hatred for them too began to soar.”
Life at school was also not much different. Everything is allowed there. Sexuality is being taught from childhood. There are many boys interested in that. Countries where sexual life is enjoyed so freely from childhood, so unconcerned and fearlessly are very few. In such a country how can a woman become the crown of her husband? Girls are always in danger.
Good boys and girls will not succumb to this bad life. How will love and happiness evolve and are protected in such a society? To those who do not hold the view that husband and wife should live in harmony and that they should be true to each other, this kind of free life will not matter much. Where freedom does not have any line of control, husband and wife can travel separately through whichever bylane each of them likes.
There are some children who knew how to use their freedom properly. They lead a pure and healthy life. There will be no family quarrels and break-up in their homes. Children will never part from good mothers. They always stand with their children in every crisis. But my mother could not do it. I grew up watching her immoral life. Now God has given me a new mother who loves me as her own daughter. How happy I am!”
Prostitution is the gravest insult to womanhood. Poverty forces many poor women to fall into this rotten dung-pit. Sister Carmel shared the information she got from internet with Fatima.
(Cont’d)
