With Patient Vidya in Bangalore

April 10, 2000

Shanti Ashram

Dear Parents,

Sai Ram. Greetings! Namaskars. Guess what, after I got settled with room repairs etc., just as I suspected, Swami moved me.

On 24 March Vidya had a fall breaking her femur bone in her hip and smashing a joint ball. No residents of Prasanthi Nilayam want to look after her. Some new lady was doing it but was sick of it and was insisting for me. Vidya also was asking for me. She could not be comfortable with new people.

I got the message on 4 April (day before Ugadi!). On Ugadi I was running around making phone calls. On the day after Ugadi I lugged heavy luggage to the train station (with laptop, of course!), getting sore shoulders. On the bus some poor young pregnant girl threw up on me! I arrived at the train station to find the train did not run on that day (Ashramites who were sure of themselves gave wrong information!). So I threw luggage in retirement room and waited hours for buses to return to Shanti Ashram once again. Next day, on 7th I again returned to the train station and arrived in Bangalore city hospital on the 8th. 'English New Year' (Jan. 1st) went heavenly, but just see how Telugu New Year treated me!!

As soon as I arrived, the newcomer foreigner helper ran off not to be seen again (though she's phoning from Whitefield frequently) and the maid servant (at a steep Rs. 200 a day for patient care!) left. Nothing to do here much with bedridden Vidya, except listen to her talking nearly 24 hours a day. I guess it’s due to nervous tension. Anyway, I just pluck away at the laptop translating discourses. We are in a private room in a clean, Christian hospital with Catholics trying to convert us ("Pray with me to wrench that HUMAN out of your heart!" [i.e., Sai Baba!]). Rs. 585/-- a day.

Vidya is so relieved to have me, and so is everyone else! Operation is in a day or two, a new steel ball socket for the hip and steel rod. Pray it’s a fast recovery - she always gets serious infections after operations, and irritating complications. It’s just her Karma and nature.

I have to keep e-mailing her daughter for cash (it may cost Rs 30,000 or over) and giving news, so perfect opportunity to e-mail you also! I may be here 2-4 weeks or more, only Swami can say. So you can use my own e-mail address. E-mail place is right around the corner, Rs 50 for an hour and it’s on Vidya's account, as I'm contacting her daughter. (Don't worry if you sent letter by post, Shanti Ashram is loyally forwarding them here.)

Vidya had no one else so I felt I couldn't refuse. I haven't seen Swami yet. He is in Whitefield but is expected to go to Kodai Kanal within a week.

They are sending yummy food here, one carrier for the patient and one for the attendee (me). Breakfast is dosa, idlee or toast. I asked for the patient lunch, not the onion-full Indian one. So I get freshly cut cucumber and tomato pieces, soup, bread & butter and thick, non-sour curds. Afternoon they give fresh fruit juice and crunchies. Night more cucumbers, tomatoes, curds plus sweet pudding.

It’s OK here, in a private room, and the computer is here to occupy me. Numerous shops are outside. Weather is not too hot. Not much seva to the patient, only sponge bath in the morning and giving her food. She has a catheter in, and the right leg in traction.

We will see what the future brings. It’s all in His hands! I guess I'll go to Darshan in a day or two. That day they will send the maid servant to look after Vidya.

I renewed my visa a couple of days before Ugadi. They just accepted my application requesting another year, with a smile. So there you have recent news! Hope you're all fine!

Love,

Divya