KILLERS OF FAITH

Kabir believed in equality of every religion which was also the reason for changing his name. The word Kabir didn't tell his religion,caste or community as it belonged to a saint poet of 15th century India who was equally followed and appreciated by Hindus and Muslims of that time. He married Dhara who also believed in the same way this was the reason they came close and married against their families' wishes. They both visit each temple,sufi shrine,mosque,gurudwara and churches and giving alms to poor was their routine during those visits.

While visiting different places of different religion they noticed a beggar common to all these places. He was handicapped but during a long drive at night, they saw him walking with both feet. They were shocked and decided to caught him red handed next time they visit a temple or a mosque. They also informed police about this con-man. Next day when they visited a temple police accompanied them. Kabir snatched his crutch to show police his real face. When he stood straight he asked him the reason for his behaviour.

"Sir I am very poor,I tried for work but nobody gave me a job. To run my family it was necessary that I would beg and who gave alms to a healthy person?" " But you are playing with people's faith." " I am playing with people's faith? I am not sir! I am doing this only to rear my family, killers of faith are those who mint money in the name of god ,who raped girls hiding behind godly masks,who make charity to hide their black money,who instigate riots backed by political parties.I also believes in every religion like you the only difference is that I am poor."

Kabir didn't know what to say. He didn't have counter questions for him. He asked police to leave him and gave him peon's job in his company. 

RIGHT TIMING

"Mom where we will go now, " asked Arnav when her mother told him to pack his things."Mom you said that if I wouldn't misbehave and pray daily god would do some magic to change our life." She remain quiet because she knew that magic is fictitious but how she would tell that to a ten year old who was hoping against hope for the change of fortune due to magic of his prayers.

Everything ruined with the death of Radha's husband last year in a road accident. Somehow with his savings and her jewelry she managed her house and Arnab's education for few months but that didn't last long, after which she started working but since she was not well-educated the job she got gave her meager salary less enough for her household expenses. Since Arnab's education was important their rent remain unpaid for about four months.

Her landlord was her husband's friend but after his death he tried to take sexual advantage in lieu of the rent which she strongly denied. He started threatening her to leave the house. As she was thinking about her past and future the door bell rang. Her landlord entered the house with some papers in his hand. She send Arnab inside being aware of his character. " Radha see! What I have brought for you?" He showed her some papers in which he transferred his house to Radha's name." I will take care of you and Arnab only you have to share nights with me. It is so simple." He touched her face. She slapped him," Get out you scoundrel,we will leave the house today." He laughed," keep these papers darling and think about my offer I will be back tonight." He put papers on table and went out in haste.

He was so excited as he came out from there because he was sure she wouldn't deny his offer. His idea would do magic on her. Suddenly a car hit him from behind. He stood up in pain removed dust from his clothes and  moved forward saying that it was magic to survive such an accident without looking back at the crowd gathered around his dead body. Radha who was following him to return those papers saw towards sky and thanked god. That house was now hers without any condition. Magic depends on timing and that was the right time for it. 

World Temple would be a place of worship for all

"World Temple would be a place of worship for all." As teacher finished the lesson school bell rang and all students started leaving the class except Mridul. The idea of world temple where every religion would be equally worshiped struck him so strongly that he wanted to know more about this theory. He ran towards his teacher and inquired the details.

" See Mridul this chapter put forward this idea in sync with 'all world is a home concept'. Holy books of all religions would be kept there,there would be walls inscribed with stories and teachings of Islam,Hinduism,Christianity,Sikhism,Judaism,Buddhism,etc. All caste,culture,creed,color would be allowed in this temple. All world would be equal there as humans and not as Hindus or Muslims or Christian or anybody else." " Sir who will build this temple." His teacher's answer that he didn't know made Mridul more curious. He went home and told her mother about what he learnt in the school and asked the same question from her. She averted the topic and asked him to be ready for lunch.

That day he didn't go outside to play with friends. Everywhere in news he saw hatred at its peak,people making demeaning remarks for other religion or region. World temple would be full of love for everyone. He asked this question about world temple from many around him in the building where he lived but all ignored him. They didn't knew the answer of his question. They never thought about that, how its possible that each religion resided with harmony with other religion under same roof.

 In the evening when his father returned from office he explained his lesson and asked the same question to him. His father smiled patted his back and said," You will build this temple my son." " Me Dad!" He looked surprised." Yes my son,world temple is in you. It's in everyone who respect all religions equally.Those who keep God in their heart and not in any religious place. It will be a place for god loving people rather than god fearing people." His father's answer satisfied him. He gave a promise to his father to construct a strong world temple and to spread its roots to others as well.

A DAY

One day changed everything for her. A day before she was free,independent and an earning child who was taking all responsibilities of her mother and in a day's time she was sitting silent in a room surrounded by some girls and women chatting about her marriage and her husband. Whole world has turned 360 degrees for her.New family,new home,new atmosphere,everyone around her was a stranger. After few minutes all left her alone in the room to wait for her husband.

She remembered arguments with her mother when she told her to marry. She was against this marriage because her brother was still studying and she didn't want any extra burden on him and her mother. But her mother denied her opposition as such a good match was rare ." He was educated,well settled,well behaved,what more do you want? Soon you will be overage then who will marry you?" " But what about you and Ashwin who will take care of you both and what about my job? You know that my salary runs this house ?" She was not satisfied with her mother's answer that they would manage themselves but she kneel in front of her mother's emotional blackmail and pressure. She was required to marry an unknown,unseen person which she did.

She was sweating even in air conditioner thinking about her new life this one day has brought for her. She was worried about her partner,his nature,would he allow her to meet his family,would he let her go to work,all such questions werefrightening While she was thinking about her past and future,she heard someone opening the door. Her husband entered the room and sat beside her. She was trembling. He raised her head and stretched his arm in a position to offer to shake hand," Hi! My name is Naveen will you be my friend."

His words put smile on her pale sweating face. Her fear and hesitation were gone. He made her so comfortable that she talked her heart out.She explained her concerns about her mother and brother to which he said that she could work if she wanted and could give salary to her mother. As that night was approaching to end she realized that one day has changed her world in a better way. 

PROPAGANDA

Police force gathered for a short briefing on law and order situation at minister's office. "See what happened yesterday was not a good sign for me. Your force stopped killing of those people who killed few men of our religion." "But sir we have arrested the culprits. Killing every one on basis of religion is an act of inhumanity absolutely  unconstitutional and undemocratic. " Don't teach me democracy commissioner and remember that for next two days I will handle every thing close your eyes remove your phone connections and just stop listening complaints. Two days would be enough for our reactions on their actions. "

Minister informed his associates and party workers about next day's plans. They were ready with arms and ammunition to eradicate people of those religion with whom they were living in harmony for years. They started giving hate speeches to instigate common people so they could spread fire of hatred amongst them. But people remained calm and quite , people  of both religion shook hand and hugged each other in front of them. They were surprised to see such reactions. Their speeches were not changing their relation like before.  Soon police also reached there to catch rioters because someone leaked a video of minister's briefing of last night to the media which helped in failure of this political propaganda.

" Sir you exposed the minister with your plan." An officer told the commissioner. "Shhhh! don't tell anybody else about this. Let him think who made this video. If  someone has exposed them last time thousands of innocent lives could have
been saved. "

PUNCTURED TYRE

"Damn,the tyre couldn't have chosen a better time to get punctured." Divakar shouted but restricted himself to speak abusive language as his kids eight year old Aaliya and six year old Aarav was with him. He was going to drop them at school. He was not late but the road where his tyre get punctured was going to be sealed by police as protesters headed by Chief Minister were going towards Ministry of Home Affairs for demonstration to sack some police officials.

Police was sealing the road to halt their movement. Divakar knew that protesters were soon came on this road and than it would be impossible to pass the way. He was in favor of that protest since he at several occasions became a victim of police atrocities and corruption but he didn't imagine that the protest would have such an adverse effect on common people like him. He came out of the car to change the tyre when a police officer asked him to quickly took away his car.

He saw a huge crowd coming towards police barricade shouting slogans against police and the central government. He looked at his children they were crying out of fear, he stopped changing the tyre and locked his car. He crossed the road with his children to go away from such noises but people were coming from all directions,they were in attacking mode. He took his children and stand near a media van " I think this is safe,stop crying they will soon pass that road", he consoled both the kids.

Soon crowd passed that road towards their prescribed agitation spot after pushing and hustling with police. Divakar came towards his car to change the tyre and noticed that his hand was wounded in running and crossing roads. It was difficult to change the tyre with wounded hand,he looked around. A policeman was watching Divakar. He approached towards him," Brother I think you need help." " No, I can do it myself." Police officer took Band Aid from his hand which he was trying to apply to his wound and helped him to put it right. " You are afraid of me? " " N... No...", Sir,sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye , your hatred against me is clearly visible in your eyes and I can feel it," he started changing the punctured tyre. " But it's not your mistake some of us have indulged in many criminal activities which made our image bad in public's eyes but we all are not the same."

" We worked all day and night in difficult situations,on holidays too to ensure your safety and what we got for this nothing. Today also we are protecting a man who was against us because it's our duty anyways your tyre has changed, now go your children are getting late for school." Divakar was unable to say anything,his children thanked the officer. He was speechless,he drove the car to school thinking about the other side of the issue. His punctured tyre helped him to inflate new thoughts in him.

JOURNEY

After reading spiritual books,listening spiritual teachers he started considering all relations,all things in this world futile. He wanted to meet god and for that he went to a journey to sacred places. He left no place and traveled every pilgrimage regardless to any religion.As much he travel his anxiety increased more and he was unable to find god. He found no result in his meetings with different priests,maulvis,pandits,etc. One day he encountered a hermit who told him to go back home because god was there only. He returned without understanding his meaning.

When he reached home he saw his mother and father in very pathetic condition without him. He used to be the sole earner of the family without him they were unable to fed themselves properly owing to their limited resources. He cried after seeing them in such condition." How I can find God leaving my parents in this condition. To make them comfortable in this age was my first duty, I was running from that to have God?" He hugged both of them and apologized for his wrong doing.

He had spent all his savings in this traveling to search god. He would start again his journey of life. But now he was certain that he need not to travel the world to search god. They were with him. 

One can't get god by hurting others,Bulle Shah once said that :

                                        

                                        मस्जिद ढा दे ,मंदिर ढा दे ,ढा दे जो कुछ दिसदा,

पर किसी दा दिल न ढावीं,रब दिलान विच वसदा। 

Break down mosque,temple and everything in sight,

But don't break any one's heart, God in it resides.  

So travel you inner self to have a glimpse of God and don't hurt others.