THIS is a compilation of stories which leave an indelible impact on the mind.
In the first story titled ‘Shraddha aur Vishwas’, the aged head of the family, Ramnarain Tripathi, who is left alone after his wife’s death, has three daughters and two sons who live separately but in the same town. Tripathi decides to host a lunch for his children and calls his old cook to prepare food to suit the liking of each of his children. The children arrive but are rather perturbed as to what could be the reason for the meal. When all are gathered around the table, Tripathi announces, “Today it is your mother’s fifth death anniversary. Her soul would be happy to see you eat together. She was very fond of feeding everybody.” Then he continues, “We are meeting here for the last time. I have sold this house for 10 lakh of rupees and from today onwards there’ll be some other owner of this house.”
He adds that he will distribute one lakh of rupees to each of them and with the remaining five leave on a pilgrimage, as he does not wish to be a burden on any of them.
After leaving his house, Tripathi reaches the pilgrimage centre where he begins to live in a hermitage the life of a saint, meditating quietly. Slowly one person comes to seek his advice on a problem and Tripathi solves it for him. Word spreads and more and more people begin to approach him for help. People come to believe that Tripathi possesses special powers which help him come to the help of many a sick person.
One day, he saves the life of a young boy who has suffered brain haemorrhage but while praying for the boy’s well-being, Tripathi himself collapses. People gathered outside his hermitage are deeply troubled and some even weep for him. A few of the better-off persons among his followers erect his statue in his memory.
There are other stories which are equally captivating and which make one wonder if such things do really happen in life!
(Megh Prakashan, 239, Gali Kunjas, Dariba Kalan, Chandni Chowk, Delhi-110 006.)
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