18 years of agony end in 18 days M
Y Wife had been suffering for nearly 18 years. In 1982, she developed lymph nodes in her body, which later were found to be carrying a tubercular infection. A weak constitution and strong medicines paved the way for all forms of ailments—peptic/gastric ulcers, gall bladder stones, hiatus hernia, tumours on the ear drum, a fibroid uterus and ovaries. We tried every form of medication—allopathic, homeopathic, ayurvedic, unani—and even reiki. Nothing worked; diseases kept attacking her. My wife had to undergo five major surgeries between 1987 and 1999. She lost her appetite and was rarely able to eat a proper meal. She lost half her hearing. As per dismal astrological predictions, her life was almost over. The family felt shattered; there was no hope. It was precisely then that divine benevolence came our way in the form of Guruji, who gave us his refuge. We learnt about Guruji through a family friend and on 20 February 2000, we got to have his first darshan. The very first day at the sangat was in itself soothing and assuring. Medically, my wife was prohibited from taking more than a pinch of any form of edible oil, anything spicy and had been advised not to eat after 8 pm. At the sangat, Guruji gave us a handful of oilrich kadah prasad at around 9 pm and we ate spicy langar an hour later. Back home, we wondered how she would cope with it, for my wife would feel uneasy lying down even if she had food at 7 pm and : 169 :