Another miraculous escape for Diwakar

Shobha's takes ill.

This too was while we were at Sooryanagar on the Delhp/UP boarder.

Shobha Diwakar, my grand daughter, was having cold and cough. When Diwakar returned home in the evening, he went to Vivekvihar accross the border to fetch medicine for her. Suddenly Shobha developed severe convulsionns. Diwakar was away. There is no conveyance.

I had an Idea. I would ask neighbor to help. When I mentioned the situation, he brought his imported car and Padma (daughter-in-law), Shobha and I got in. Mr.Choudhary, that was the neighbor, started towards Mohan Meaking Hospital, 4 miles away. It was rainy season. The paved road linking Sooryanagar and Mohan Meaking, the other side of the bridge, was under water. we took the kuchcha Road. There were many puddles. On the first large puddle the car stopped. Mr.Choudhary said water should have splashed on the carberator. He got down to push. I got down to help. Padma was holding Shobha still in jerks. In a couple of minutes we were on dry land.

Mr.Chudhary tried to start. It wouldn't. He allowed it warm. I was becoming impatient. He started again and it revved up. We moved forward. We encountered another puddle and were stuck again. As we were pushing, we saw a mini bus coming towards. we stopped it and asked for help explaining the situation. The driver said he would turn around and come. We waited only to see him speed away after he passed us. I was puzzed at his behavior. Mr.Choudhary said the driver and passengers must have thought our story was an aliby for a trap.

When the car started we moved along. we encounterd three or four such puddles, struggling at each as at the first. We were within 200 yards of the main road leading to Mohan Meaking, when the car would not start do what we may. We decided to walk up to the main road and seek help from passing cars I ran forword and waved at an approaching car to halt. He just passed. I remembered the mini bus and Mr.Choudhary. Not losing hope I made some more attempts with no success.

I was losing hope when as if God sent a car with a Sardarjee at the wheel pulled up. When I narrated the predicament, he asked me to get in and drove straight to our car. I stepped out. Helped Padma to get in with Shobha. Jumped in with Mr.Choudhari's blessings. The Sardarjee sped to Mohan Meaking Hospital a mile away. I thanked the sardarjee and rushed to the Emergency. Shobha was immediately attended to. By God's grace she responded well for the treatment, the cunvulsions stopped and she was calm.

In the meantome Diwakar had arrived. He was relieved to find Shobha calm. I told him how Mr.Choudhary has helped and that he is in need of help now. Diwakar called the Mohan Meaking garage and asked that a jeep be sent to take Mr.Choudhary and his car to Sooryanagar.

When Shobha was almost normal, Diwakar and I returned home, leaving Padma be with Shobha during the night. On the way back, when I learnt that he had taken the link road, I thanked God that he could keep himself on the road.

On the other side of the bridge starts the link road on eithersides of which were irrigation cannals 15 feet deep and 20 feet wide. It was one sheet of water, knee deep on the road. It was nothing short of a miracle that Diwakar kept himself on the Road. It was a straight road and that was a blessinng. Had he swerved a litte it would have ended in the car and Diwakar drowning in the swift running waters of one of the irrigation cannals. I shudder to think of the situation. What gave Diwakar the courage to venture? Did he even think of the danger ahead? This reminds me of the narrow escape Diwakar and Padmini had in 1967.