The man in the pink kurta, the barbed wire tree and the golden fish

To feel special: He popped up out of nowhere as we arrived outside the Jallianwala Bagh Memorial. Took charge of our life for ten minutes and then disappeared into the crowd. “Free wheel chair” he said pointing towards the entrance to the Golden temple. With that he took off at a fast pace, shouting for me to follow. Minutes later in exchange for my driver’s license he had got his hands on a wheelchair and off he was again, weaving through the sea of humanity. Ma was deposited into it and we went to explore the garden. 

When we were done, and I had returned the wheelchair, the man in the pink kurta appeared again, this time he hailed us an E-rickshaw, helped ma into it and brushed aside my monetary attempts to thank him and disappeared into the crowd again. “For what” he said, it was a free wheel chair I just showed you how to get it. He chose to help us, out of the hundreds milling around the entrance. He made us feel special.

To belong: An instillation art piece in the Partition Museum - the Barbed Wire Tree is a metaphor for hope. From its branches hang green paper leaves with messages from people. To me it brought alive the human spirit that will not give up. From adversity we will emerge stronger. Green shoots will find their way through tough times. Hope is what helps us endure the bad times and move forward. I walked out of the museum saddened but also filled with resolve to enjoy our freedom. Grateful for what we have thanks to the hardship others have endured for us. I felt connected. I felt like I belong. 

To feel safe:On our last morning at Amritsar, I woke up early and decide to go for a walk. Little knowing that my walk would lead me to a golden fish. I found myself outside the temple gate, a different one from where we had entered a few nights before. The sun was a golden orange and I felt the urge to go back in. Drawn inside maybe by my golden fish who came up for a few seconds to greet me that morning. Thousands of people pass through this special place each day. I am luck that I found my special moment courtesy that one golden fish that came as if specially to bless me. As I sat there enjoying the sunrise, I felt safe. 

To feel special, to feel a sense of belonging, to feel safe. These are blessing.

Moral of the story – sometimes we find it difficult to accept the blessings that come our way. When the man in the pink kurta first appeared, I must admit I was a bit suspicious. What does he want? Why is he helping me? What is his motive? If he had taken a tip for his help, the world I know would have been in order. Days later as I sit here back in Gurugram, looking back on the lessons from last week, the man in the pink kurta is a sad reminder of how suspicious we have become of the world. I kept thinking that there must be an angle he was working. Why would someone just be hanging around waiting to help people? 

We were lucky to have met so many helpful people and had some lovely experiences on our trip. Maybe it is the power of the golden temple, to bring out the best in each of us. Whatever be the reason, thank you Deepa for taking us there and allowing the light to touch us.