Please click here for part nine.

After the aarti, we were asked to rush to the meeting room. This is it! It’s time to say hello to my Divine! People were already sitting/waiting outside the meeting room. I took my boots off and grabbed one of the chairs; they were nicely arranged in one line. We had four people ahead of us and one more last person after. The previous person was our dear “Love,” waiting with us, holding his guitar.

Although there were a few butterflies in my stomach, “There is no need to be so sentimental,” I warned myself. Shubs has known me most of my life and has never seen me cry. I remember my 1st trip to the USA; Shubs and my dad were in the car with us. They both were crying till we reached the Mumbai airport. And, Me? Not a tear!

Shubs was there, holding my hand at my dear late husband’s funeral six years back, and also, when mom passed away almost 19 years back, she saw me calm and collected both times. I don’t get emotional in front of people; that’s how I have become over the years. Truthfully, when I was little, that was a whole different story.

But today, all the bets are off! I cannot hold my tears rushing down. Shubs warned me, very concerned, “Sona, please try not to cry when we go inside; I am not sure what’s happening to you today.” I nodded yes; I agreed and decided to put myself together. Now, I was feeling calm and not weeping anymore. I got my “chill person” hat on. I was good to go.

Swami Vidyananda Ji gave us masks to wear. We were waiting for our name to be called. It was no more than 10 min, but it felt like an eternity. Finally, he called our names.

We both kept our belongings on the chair outside and wore our masks. I opened the door, and we entered the room. The meeting room was big and long. At the far end of the room, HE was, sitting on his asana. As we walked toward HIM, I started feeling emotional again. HE was looking all divine and glorious. His halo was bright, spreading love and kindness all over the room. His face is shiny and radiant as if he takes three facials daily!

I couldn’t look directly into HIS eyes, which was strange. I always look straight in the eyes and talk to people. But little did I know HE is not just a person. HE gave us the gentlest smile and said, “Hello Sona, Hello Akshata (Shubs name), please have a sit”; how are you both doing”?

I just mumbled, “Good, thank you for asking.”

Not paying keen attention to his kindest greeting, my brain immediately wandered off, thinking, “How does HE know our names? This ashram is amazing. Do they always tell HIM the names before devotees enter the meeting room? But we walked in immediately after the previous person left; there was no time in between to give HIM that info! Impressive, Nice!”

HE looked at me with a very mischievous twinkle and said (something on this line), “Sona, they don’t tell me who is walking in every time, plus they wouldn’t know how to tell me which one is Sona and Akshata. I would not know from them.”

Ok, now I am in shock! My mind: “What? How did he know what I was thinking? Can he read my mind? Is he reading my mind? How would he know my name? How does he know I am Sona and not Shubs? Does he know who I am? OMG! Does he know my every thought? Ok, stop thinking, Sona. Just breathe! Just breathe!”

Nevertheless, with the biggest embarrassment, I gave HIM an apologetic smile and sat on the floor next to Shubs, respecting the distance between HIM and us. And, of course! My tears started rolling down. Words refused to come out of my mouth. Why do these tears never listen to me? Why do they show up when they are not supposed to? “Go away, tears, calm down, Sona, put yourself together, or else he will think I am such weeping willow; I have no words to express.”

He looked at me Oh so gently, like a mother would look at her colicky child. To break the silence, HE mentioned that it was an excellent time to ask HIM if we had any questions. I was in no position to ask HIM any questions. So, I just looked at Shubs. Finally, she started talking and said something along these lines, “Swami Ji, I came here with Sona; I am not familiar with your teachings, but I would like to have your blessings for my family and me. I am pleased to be here.” HE blessed her and her family and told her they would always have his blessings. It was beautiful. I was thrilled that she received the Divine’s blessings.

Please click here for part eleven.