A MYSTERIOUS ENCOUNTER

A narrative account of an ordinary man who witnessed something extraordinary...

" Hello, my name is Sanjay. I live in Pali, Rajasthan. Pali is situated near Pali-Jodhpur highway, which is one of the most treacherous roads of India. I will tell you about an incident that changed my outlook towards this world.

It was the year 1996. I had shifted to Pali with my family just 3 months ago. My wife was pregnant and admitted to a hospital since the doctor told us that we could expect our child anytime that week. On an auspicious night, I got a call from the hospital. On the other side of the line were my parents informing me that my wife's labour had begun.

At that time, I was at Rohat, which is 33 km away from Pali. The distance didn't bother me. So I took my bike and rushed away to the highway. After some distance, my bike's tyre got flat and I had to halt. I looked at my wrist watch, it was 12:30. To add to my miseries, there was no one nearby- no commuter passing by, no workshop or mechanic and not even a dhaba. It was all dark and gloomy. I was alone and a very large distance needed to be covered. I just wanted to be at the hospital. I was worrying about my wife who needed me, and I was dying to see the face of my child. 

I prayed to god for some miracle, and it happened. I heard a very familiar noise. It was of a bullet. When I saw a rider coming towards my direction, I jumped on the road and signaled him to halt.

The bullet stopped. It was a 350 cc Royal Enfield bike, which we commoners call a bullet. Sitting on the bike was a man having a thick moustache and a healthy physique. I saw the license plate on which was written 'RNJ 7773'. That was a very unique no. and thus hard to forget.

I told him about my misery and asked him for a lift to Pali. To this the man gently replied,"Sure, why not! I am also going to Pali." I sat behind the man and we set off on his bullet. That man really didn't

talk much. Soon, we reached the hospital. I ran off to the reception and asked about my wife's ward. As I was about to leave, the strange man came to me and gave me my keys saying,"Here! Your keys, you had dropped them outside."

I thanked him for his help and offered to give him some money, but he refused. He had quite a charm on his face. I asked for his name. His name was Om. He was very gentle and humble, like he was in absolute peace with his life, without any worries. I wanted to talk to him more, but then I remembered about my wife. I told Om to wait for me at the reception till I come back, and ran towards my wife's ward.

When I reached there, I saw my parents greeting me cheerfully saying," Congratulations! It's a girl!!"  I saw my wife resting peacefully and beside her bed was a cradle. I looked into it and saw a cute little baby sleeping. I couldn't believe I had become father of such a beautiful child. I was overjoyed and was thanking god for helping me. I went to the reception to tell Om about the good news, but he was not there.

I asked the receptionist about Om, and to my surprise, she told me that I was the last person to enter the hospital and there was no one that came with me or had gone out!! I was shocked. How was that even possible?

The hospital was quite small and there was only one way for entry/exit. Also at that hour of the night, about 2 a.m., there were just a handful of people at the reception, and a man with stature and physique like of  Om could have been easily noticed by the receptionist or the guard. Still they both denied it. It was like Om was never there. 

Anyway, I believed that Om had went elsewhere in a hurry and somehow he wasn't noticed by anybody. Keeping this in mind, I moved on to my daily life. After a few days, my parents told me about a shrine situated at the highway. It was called the Om Banna shrine . My parents advised me to go there and seek blessings for my daughter. I was never interested in going to a temple dedicated to a motorbike!! That felt just plain stupid, but for the sake of my daughter, I went there with my family. 

At the shrine, I saw the holy motorbike. It was a bullet which was ornamented with garlands, strangled with chains and sealed inside a glass casket. My wife and parents had went to buy the 'prasad' and garlands. I saw everybody worshiping the bullet, chanting prayers and bowing before it. I was taking a gig on them. But then I took a closer look at the bike and I stood there in a state of shock. I was trembling with fear, for I saw what was written on the license plate-'RNJ 7773' !!!!!!

I recognized the bike, it was exactly the same!! But how??!?

The first thought that crossed my mind was that it could be just a mere coincidence. But then I saw something. It was a portrait covered in garlands and flowers, and the people were worshiping it.       

I was baffled and my hands were shaking. I felt goosebumps and was sweating very hard, not because of the hot weather but because of the cold, dark fear. 

The portrait was of a man, he was Om!!! The man who had helped me a few days back died in an accident a few years ago..... "