In the 3rd century, a Christian saint was imprisoned.
Before his execution, he restored the eyesight of his jailer’s blind daughter.
His name was Valentine, and his death is celebrated as St. Valentine’s Day on 14 February every year.
Historically, this Christian feast was about selflessness and martyrdom, unlike the contemporary celebration of romance and/or desire.
While the majority are looking for partners, some are looking for answers.
Among them was Dr. Himanshu.
Let me give you context.
Dr Himanshu was a man of science.
Much like Doctor Strange, he established himself as a child prodigy, before building a reputation as one of the best surgeons in the country.
His approach to life was practical: look out for the cause, interpret it, and then act on it.
This left little space for things that one couldn’t explain through known senses and techniques.
Divinity was one such phenomenon.
He had seen his father struggle through poverty and debt. Despite years of praying, no god had come to the family’s rescue.
His education, hard work, and professional success ended their hardships.
But things always change, don’t they?
His father fell terribly ill.
His network of medical professionals failed to diagnose the ailment.
He reached out to top researchers over the world, but none of them were able to help.
His father was in immense pain but relatively calm. “Ishwar will help me. Have faith in the divine,” he kept repeating.
But Dr. Himanshu was agitated hearing this. He loved his father, but couldn’t tolerate this attitude.
The condition worsened. It seemed that uncle was only days away from death.
Dr. Himanshu was extremely tense. He saw this as his failure and blamed himself.
He wouldn’t eat. He couldn’t sleep. His body trembled.
His anxiety was so intense that he took a break from surgery.
His father asked him to stay calm, but when have these words ever consoled a troubled mind?
On one such sleepless night, he did the unthinkable.
He finally accepted that he was out of options.
He was desperate enough to turn to the divine and ask god for help.
Dragging himself out of bed, he went to an old temple on the outskirt of the city, fabled for miracles that he’d always dismissed.
Climbing the steps with heavy feet, he tried to ignore the internal battle – how could Dr Himanshu, the city’s best surgeon, rely on a carved piece of stone for such a major life problem?
But desperate times call for desperate measures.
He was wondering what he would say when he heard crying.
He walked deeper into the temple when he saw the source of the sound.
Arjun was sitting at the feet of the idol and crying his eyes out.
Dr. Himanshu didn’t want anyone to see him beg god, so he wished for Arjun to leave quickly.
When that didn’t happen for a while, he approached Arjun.
“Why are you crying, young man?”
Arjun turned to Dr Himanshu, wiping his tears. “Oh, I am so sorry – didn’t realize my sobbing was disturbing your prayers.”
“That’s alright, I just entered. But why are you crying? I can see that it isn’t helping you. Can I help you instead?”
With tears rolling down his face, Arjun replied,
“My name is Arjun. My father is very ill, fighting for his life. But we’re too poor to afford treatment. My boss refused to give more than 2,000 as advance salary. Tomorrow is the last day to pay the fees. Since I had nowhere to go, I came here to seek help.”
“What do the doctor’s say? How much does the treatment cost?”
“Rs. 10,000, dear sir.”
“That’s it? I have that in my wallet. Come with me to the car and take it. I wouldn’t want you to lose your father over Rs. 10,000.”
Arjun’s eyes lit up. After weeks of struggle, he found hope.
As Dr. Himanshu handed five crisp notes of Rs. 2000, Arjun returned one.
Not resisting, Dr. Himanshu pulled out his visiting card and told him “Keep this. Here are my contact details. In any emergency, please contact me.
Arjun briefly looked at the card, and then at the idol.
With a smile, he said, “Thank you, but I already have an emergency contact. We’re standing in his home.”
He continued, “He has helped me before, he’s got you here today in the middle of the night, and he’ll help me in the future. I respect your sentiment, but he will get me everything I need.”
Arjun touched his head to Dr. Himanshu’s hands, bowed to the idol and left the temple.
Dr. Himanshu looked at Arjun’s lean frame in oversized, tattered clothes as he walked down the stairs. And then his content face.
Who’d truly helped Arjun? He or god?
He had given the money, no doubt. But what decided that he will come to the temple tonight of all nights?
Was Arjun stupid to trust the divine despite so many problems?
Or was Dr. Himanshu stupid to not be grateful for all positives in his life?
He closed his eyes to find answers, and slowly opened it when he couldn’t find any.
Smiling, he joined his hands. Perhaps his new emergency contact good give some clarity.
