22 - Ignored The Pain For The Sake Of Children

Days were passing by. Bhaishri was not able to get up from the cot. Kesrabhai went to inquire about Bhaishri’s health.

Bhaishri said, ‘from the day my back is hurt by the heavy weights, I am not able to get up. I have severe back pain. Kesrabhai suggested, ‘Bhai, if you warm it up using a heated cloth, you will feel better.’

That very moment, children from the village entered. They said something to Vaalba. Bhaishri noticed this. Me asked Vaalba, ‘Dear, what are the kids saying?’ Vaalba replied, ‘Father, They want to have dates.’ Bhaishri called out, ‘Children, come here! What do you want?’

Children replied, ‘Bapa! We want to eat dates.’ Bhaishri gave them permission, ‘Really? All right. Take it.’ Children pointed out, ‘Bapa dates are very high. How could we take them?’ Kesrabhai intervened, ‘Children! Come after a few days.’ When Bhaishri feels better. He would pluck them for you.’

Children did not utter a single word. They stood there watching Bhaishri. Kesrabhai (insisted), ‘Please go away. Bhaishri is feeling very painful.’ Kesrabhai could hardly finish the sentence and he noticed that Bhaishri was not on the cot.

Kesrabhai and children were puzzled, ‘Where is Bhaishri?’ They looked around. Bhaishri was not seen any where. One of the children spoke, ‘Where did Bhaishri disappear within a fraction of second?’

Kesrabhai was bewildered, ‘Just now he was here.’ They looked at each other wondering, ‘Where is Bhaishri?’ That very moment Bhaishri called out from the tree, ‘Why are you looking here and there? I am on the tree! I have climbed the tree to pluck the dates for the children.’ Kesrabhai spoke with urgency in his voice, ‘Bhai, you are having back pain. You will suffer more. Please, come down.’

Bhaishri replied, ‘If the children request for the dates, I can not refuse them Maharaj will cure my back pain.’ Bhaishri plucked the dates collected them in his Dhoti. Children were gleeful.

They were screaming under the tree. ‘Bapa! There! On that branch, there are ripe dates’. ‘Bapa! There is a big bunch of dates. Please, pluck it.’ Screamed another child. Bhaishri went to all the branches and plucked a lot of dates. He climbed down.

Children were jumping with excitement. ‘Bapa, please give me! Please, Bapa!’ Bhaishri announced, ‘All of you will get. But first of all, sit down in a queue and recite God’s name.’ They followed the instruction. Bhaishri distributed dates to all the children and blessed them. ‘Children, have dates. They are blessings of Maharaj. Eat as much as you can.’

Children were very happy. After having dates, they bowed down to Bhaishri and left running. Kesrabhai spoke in a scolding tone, ‘Bhai, you had severe back pain. Why did you climb the tree?’

Bhaishri explained, ‘Children requested for the dates so lovingly. How could I refuse them?’ Kesrabhai argued, ‘But you are suffering so badly.’ Bhaishri said, ‘Children are Nirgun form of God. Even God is fond of them. My pain is insignificant against their happiness.’ Kesrabhai said, ‘Bhai you are great?’

This incident indicates Bhaishri’s affection for the children. He was so fond of kids that he ignored his body pain. He went through a great trouble to please them.

Difficult words:
Severe - Strict
To intervene - To interrupt
Suffer - To be badly affected by
Gleeful - Joyful

Exercise

Answer the following questions:
1. Why was Bhaishri not able to get up?
2. Why did children go to the orchard?
3. Why were children not able to pluck the dates?
4. Where did Bhaishri disappear suddenly?
5. What did Bhaishri say about children?

Fill in the blanks:
1. I am not able to get up from the day my back is hurt by ___________.
2. Bapa, they want to have ____________.
3. Bhaishri was on the ____________.