That day as per the suggestion of the colleague who was a christian and whose husband and supervisor of my husband's section was a Hindu Brahman, my husband went and met him and told him his predicament.
That gentleman was kind enough to inform my husband that," There is man in AEN Railway office in Eluru, by name Bhasha who applied for the transfer to Vijayawada, it means you may get a mutual transfer, but the thing is he applied in the year 1984, so you need to meet him and get a fresh application from him, and we will try for your mutual transfer."
That day when my husband came in flying colors, to home and informed me that the next day as it was weekend holiday for him in DEN office ,vij , but working day for AEN office, elr. he would go and meet this man B. I knew that the Lord was doing wonderful thing in our life, and that He is going to keep His promise that my husband would get a transfer to Eluru to be a support to me to go to college in time for the next academic year.
So thanking God we retired to the beds that night, and the next morning my husband T Yesuratnam went to the AEN office with great expectations. That afternoon when I came from College he informed me,
" Leela, praise the Lord, B accepted to go to vijayawada as he wanted to do Polytechnic studies, and improve his career performance and he asked me to meet him next weekend that he would draft the letter of application for transfer and give it to me.'
We praise God once again with deep gratitude in our hearts. All through the week we were praising God for His great love for us. Again the week end, Saturday, my husband went to the AEN office with great expectations, but he was utterly disappointed by the answer he received this time.
He told me that weekend afternoon, like this, " Leela, B has changed his promise, he told me that his in laws and his parents live in Thangellamudi, and they do not want him to go to Vij/ on the other hand it seems his wife is BA., B.ed. graduate, and that she applied for Municipality teacher post, and she might get it soon , if only he would pay Rs.30000/- as bribe in the office. Therefore he is not willing to give application for transfer to Vij/ now"
I saw the disappointment in my dear husband eyes, but the voice of God told me that he would get transfer is it not? so I told him, " hubby, this is only an obstacle in great miracle that's going to happen .. So let us pray much more and see how God would do His plan for us" ( I knew God is going to get this transfer, by all means )
So we both took our supplications to the Lord, who knew our problems, our sweat, our agony, One month passed on, no news of any sort, but I knew that he will get the transfer.
That evening he came a bit early from the office, with a suitcase in his hands, Whenver he comes like that, he was supposed to catch a train that night to go to Hyderabad on office work.
I was sitting on the mat along with my two little children teaching them the lessons of the school, we did not have any sofas or good chairs to sit, still we were married in 1979 and that year was 1991.. we had 4 folding chairs for the visitors, and we used to keep those aside.
I saw him all in smiles, so I asked him, 'What hubby, are going to came tonight, you came earlier today?"
He did not answer but sat on a chair unfolding it and took off the shoes still smiling and opened the suitcase and brought out a typed paper, and gave it to me saying, " See, See, what is in it"
I could not believe my eyes, this July 1991, I got the promise from God in the month of May 1991, about his transfer, now what I was seeing in the Government Order was....1) A request Transfer of a man from Guntur to Ongole, 2) A requested Transfer of B from Eluru to Vijayawada, 3) A requested Transfer of Mr. Yesuratnam from Vijayawada to Eluru
It was sealed by the Office of the DEN. and signed by the highest authority of DEN office who was known for his Bribary life.
I found myself in utter joy and merry noise, many ohs ahas I said, " Emandi , what happened, what is this miracle?"
He told me like this like a story in the Suspense novel, That morning the supervisor, the gentleman came to his desk at 10 am and asked him, hurriedly and , "mr Yesuratnam, do you have the copy of the application for transfer you gave to me one month back I need it urgently , very urgent.. can you give it now?"
" yes, sir,"
My husband was known for his meticulous and tidy habits, he keeps the things in order, and in their place all ways., whereas me could not keep pace with him all ways and often get scoldings from him for my untidy way of keeping things here and there, I used to change the furniture or books or things to different positions, which often irks him , who wanted the paper or book in the same place all the time. Because I could not do like that and as I used to change the things often, he used to call me by nick name T><M = Thalakai Marchipadesthavu.... ( You change Thalakai means Heads Marchivesthavu menas you change )
So as per his meticulous habit he opened his his desk draw and picked the application from the file and gave it to him.
By 3pm the same gentleman brought this GO of transfer order and gave it to my husband.
What happened in the Boss office was explained to my husband outside the office before he started to come home. it seems, That morning at 10am the Boss called the gentleman and told him that he is going to leave for USA next day, as visa is ready that day, and told him if he needed any papers to be signed , he would sign and go, and this trip is top secret, and no body should no about this. so this gentleman asked my husband for the application copy and he drafted the letter then and there and got it typed and gave it to the Boss to sign with other urgent papers. PRAISE THE LORD. Do you know why the boss was so hurry to leave the country..? The month June 1991 was the month we were praying for the transfer, and the Lord send Vigilance on hotline on this Boss to check with his bribe habits and drag him into the trap. Knowing this the Boss left the country immediately without telling any one, and without any news of his departure leaked out to any one, except the Supervisor the gentleman, a Hindu, and a kind person. God used him to help us in this spectacular way. God loves every one , Hindu , Muslim or Parsi, He use any one for His purpose to be fulfilled.
Do not think the story had come to an end.. No no no no.... the real story started that night.
So before retiring to the bed after the family prayer, after the session of praise and thanksgiving, my husband said,' Leela, today Friday, tomorrow even if go to office B cannot give his Relieving letter because he cannot join in Vij because its weekend holiday on saturday. so I have to go to AEN office only on Monday to get my joining report., though I got my relieving letter from today. I said, "ok you can do like that." Then just before he lied down on the bed and say goodnight, he said, " Leela, B is very famous person, he being a muslim a member of the Majdur Union of Railways, its a very strong Union, if B tells them he got transfer like this they would take it a challenge and stop the transfer, on the other hand B got a very close relative an uncle in Railnilayam Hyderabad, in a very high position in Railways, if B called him on phone and tell him to stop the transfer it would be done." I was staring at him the dark night, in the zero bulb light, I did not speak any thing, but as the day was a hectic day for me, very tired, I closed my eyes to sleep. But I had to get up at 3am, wide awake, no more sleep, my thoughts went to the words he spoke at the end of the day. Great fear took hold of me, what if B goes to the Muslim Union, what if he called his influential uncle in Railways Hyderabad, What will happen..? the transfers will be stopped? I got down from the bed, the room was small one I did not have much place after we spread the beds ,everyday , in the night shift them to the wall in the day time. so I got down and make a little space for myself, near the bed, almost my knees under the cot, and poured my fears to Him, my Friend who lends His ears all the time in a crooked place even like this. My Bible was with me , I opened it, it opened at 62 Psalms, I was reading the Psalm, as if God was asking me to read it, "For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation, my fortress, I shall not be shaken. the verse 9th goes like this.----"those of low estate are but a breath; those of higher estate are low delusion, in the balanaces they go up; they ae together lighter than breath. ----hey who is this of LOW ESTATE... surely B, and Mujdhur Union, yea they are just a BREATH to Him. who is this HIGHER ESTATE-----Surely B's uncle in higher position in Railways ---but he too is a low delusion... What will happen to this LOW ESTATE & HIGHER ESTATE both in the balances go up; they are together lighter than breath...
My heart is lighter than the feather reading this 9th verse, they are together lighter than breath, ? I am more lighter than the feather, It is God who is telling me both would go up in the balances; then the last verse of the 62 Psalm
Once God has spoken twice I have heard; that power belongs to God.
Yes God spoke to us ONCE, i.e., Relieving Order is given, once for all, But TWICE I HAVE HEARD. oh yes twice I am hearing that POWER BELONGS TO GOD. , TWICE... twice... the second time ... that is Joining report... Yes Lord I know you will do this , Once your brought him from Vij/ now you will join in him in Eluru. wonderful... Wonderful. !! I was praising God.
Jesus told us that we should believe everything that we possessed already, whatever I prayed for , yes now I knew that He is going to help us in joining in the Eluru office just as he helped us in relieving from vij/ office. I knew it even while we were praying for it.
On Monday, in stead of going to Vij early in the morning at 6am , he dropped me at my college at 9 :15 pm and as he was going back , I told him, "Hubby, I have class in the first period, after it is over, by 11 am I will come down from the first floor to the office. you call me on office phone and I will be there in office, let me know about the office." We both are light hearted and happy. Knowing God is with us.
After the first period of class I was rushing to the office then I heard the phone ringing. The clerk who was sitting there her name Miss Leela. , seeing me entering the office room said,
"Miss this phone call is for your only"
yea I know... I thanked her and told her yea I am expecting this call, and grabbed the phone at once, and on the other end of the line my husband's sweet voice , I heard, "Praise The Lord , Leela" I said, Oh yes, Praise the Lord, what happened? I suppose No problem with B ?
" No , No, poor B he is suffering from fever since three days, so he did not come to office till this morning, and when he is given this GO, he did not say anything but signed and took his relieving order from the Superintendent here, I gave my joining report and joined in the office.
" Oh praise God, I shouted,
he said,
Leela I need to go to Vij now taking some files from here, so now i am going from here, catching some train, so evening I will come back."
" What about Lunch?
" Never mind today I will eat in the cafeteria"
I told leela about this good news, and rushed in one step like to the chamber of Sr. Principal, Sr. Winifred, and entered into it asking "May I come in' , blurted out , 'you know sister, good news, my husband got transfer to Eluru." My face was beaming with a big grin on my face, my godly sister also beamed with joy and an big grin as well, said, " Oh Miss congratulations, so you will be in college by 9;30 am ? hahah ?" she was laughing with joy ful heart. I said, ' Oh no no Sister I will be here by 9:15am itself because he has to be in the office by 9:30am, both of us laughing like little children who found a nice toy to play suddenly.
I rushed to the staff room and not knowing how to tell all the 14 lecturers in the room I shouted, "Hey A good news for all of you" and again I said, oh nono, its a good news for me, its, it my husband got transfer to Eluru." All of them know how much I was suffering because of lack of his presence in Eluru, this group of lecturers belong to the department of ARTS we share every thing with each other so they were sympathetic.
That evening there was a greater narration of the story that happened in his office that morning. my husband told me like this, " Leela do you know what had happened this morning in this office in Eluru, I went there to give my joining report after B gave his relieving report, the superintend said that there is no Head Drafts man post which is mine to work in this office, saying that he wrote with his green ink across the GO underneath of it , that there is no HD post for me and he could not take joining report from me.
At that moment the Head clerk came into the room saw the GO and said, " sir , there is this post in our office, when you were not joined in this office , one week back there was a GO sent from head office that the post for Head drafts man was created.
With this the superintend could not say anything, so he accepted the letter from my husband. After this work was finished and while B and Head clerk and my husband were talking about the Office work then the post man came with a card for B from the man from Guntur, who was transfered to Ongole, in that he w In India there is bribery everywhere, officials and clerks every one beg the money for the work they have to do. Government is paying their salaries, but they think it is paying to them freely, now that they must get money for the work they do separately from persons. Though they get 50 thousand salary, they are much more happy with the money they have taken from the people under the table, even though it is only 10000 or 20000/-
Taking bribe and giving bribe is the common process in the offices. Any work yes any work, to be done one should give some money under the table. To get electric connection or water connection to the house the owner should pay to the officials , some money, to get transfer one should pay to the officers.
some shameless ask the other person or some shamelessly tell others that apart from the salary they would get some "other"money in that "seat" of the office work. Even the parents check with the bridegroom how much 'other' money he gets, and on basing on the other money they bargain the Dowry .. and buy the groom for their daughters.
All this is so hateful to think even but in our country as they do not feel any shame for any thing, like even worshiping the male and female sex organs by pouring milk and flowers on it in the temples. They do things which are so utterly shameful and never think that they are doing a shameful thing.
so even Christians also do not think that giving bribe or taking bribe is sin and shameless thing.
Dowry taking and giving is not a shameful thing even for Christians in India. There is a money god in our country, so they worship that idol too and they worship those paper money too or some coins. If they slipped the paper money or a coin on the floor , they feel so remorse and take it and put those to their both eyes asking that idol to forgive them.
So taking or giving bribe is not a shameful thing in India, even Christians think its the rule of the day. They cannot trust in God who can do everything possible. They do not want to take risk or wait upon the Lord.
Yes its really a difficult think, we will be looked down by every one, our work will not be done, we will never get things done the way we want them to get done, or in the time we need to get those, but still its worth waiting upon the Lord.
We tried many times and applied for a transfer to Eluru to my husband, but we knew those applications were thrown into the dustbin is we did not even think of giving bribe. His boss is briber, he is known for his bribing talent. He never look at any personal file if the money is not given before the file go to his table and in front of him.
But that summer, 1991 when I was accused by my staff that I am not keeping the timings of the college to the seconds , I promised the principal I will not be so, thereafter, and gave a paper signed by me that for the next academic year I will keep the punctuality at any cost. So I prostrated in front of my saviour and prayed and got the promise from Him that 'my husband would be my 'help' in going to college in time. and when I asked Him, how could it be, His answer was straight and simple, ' he will get transfer'--- That settled my mind and heart, no more tears, no more fears,and I was enjoying the verse alive in my life,i.e., Ephesians 5:19 'singing and making music in my heart for the Lord.
As usual he was going early in the morning at 6 am and coming in the evening only after 10pm. sometimes he runs for the passenger train to catch , because he would not misuse his set of Railway Passes by travelling in the super fast trains, or avoiding theT C to sign on the pass.
In case the passenger train is late to go , and if he is late to sign in the register one 5 minutes, they put red x mark in his place of signature, and there were days he could not come back to Eluru that time, and so he used to work that morning in the office even though there is leave granted forcefully to him. He is not a person who lingers hither and thither and waste time in office hours, or not a person to go out and spend time with friends etc, so those forceful leaves were nightmare for him.
One day , after I got an assurance from my Lord, that he would get transfer and he would be a help for me to take care of household affairs, and children care along with me so that I can go to college in time, it so happened that the passenger train was stopped at Singhnagar halt just before the Vijaywada railway station some 15 kilometers away. he waited and waited for the train to move to railway station where his office DEN office is nearby.
As the train is not going further, and the time for sign was short, he got down and begged some sccoter wallah to give him lift to Ramavarappadu where he was going, there he was dropped and got another scooter fellow to drop him at Benz company circle, ( ring road circle) from there he got a Lorry which was going to wards the railway station, there he got down and with lunch carriage basket he started to run in the DEN office compound to go and climb the steps to reach his office. At last he reached and signed.
That afternoon one lady who is known to him asked him that she saw him running in the compound furiously and asked him what was the matter. Then my husband answere her' What to tell you mam, my life is so miserable....' and he started to tell her all that happened that day . to reach the office.
After hearing him she sympathetically said, " Ayyo sir, so sorry to hear this , why don't you try for a transfer to Eluru?"
Even for that my husband told her that he tried so many times for transfer and applied but it could not be done.
Understanding the plight of my husband she said,' sir, again you try , your supervisor is my husband, i too will tell him about your problem."
This time its the turn of my husband to be shocked. because he never thought or knew that she was the wife of his supervisor, because this lady is Scheduled caste person, and the supervisor was a Brahman man by caste.
Without another word , he thanked her and went and met the supervisor and when he was told to submit an application for transfer he did it and he came and told me about all this episode. In heart of hearts I knew that God, my Father started to move the pawns to do what He promised me to do about the transfer of my husband. I knew that God in His great mercy arranged all these steps to happen in a beautiful way.rote, Dear B I got transferred to Guntur which I asked for one year back, now I think I do not want to go on transfer, so you too do not give the relieving report, we both will go to Hyderabad this week and try to stop these transfers. " that was the gist of the post card which was read by B aloud for my husband, and HC.. head clerk said now we cannot do any thing as Mr Yesurathanm all ready joined 10 minutes back.
When my husband was telling me all this , I heard him intently and said to him, " Hubby, I often had an idea before my conversion that my dad would do any thing , he is so powerful as a Police officer, , in this case as an earthly father he might have helped us in one step or two steps, but not in so many steps, like this ..7 steps.... oh yes we walked 7 steps with the Lord.... and its wonderful to walk with Him.
That gentleman was kind enough to inform my husband that," There is man in AEN Railway office in Eluru, by name Bhasha who applied for the transfer to Vijayawada, it means you may get a mutual transfer, but the thing is he applied in the year 1984, so you need to meet him and get a fresh application from him, and we will try for your mutual transfer."
That day when my husband came in flying colors, to home and informed me that the next day as it was weekend holiday for him in DEN office ,vij , but working day for AEN office, elr. he would go and meet this man B. I knew that the Lord was doing wonderful thing in our life, and that He is going to keep His promise that my husband would get a transfer to Eluru to be a support to me to go to college in time for the next academic year.
So thanking God we retired to the beds that night, and the next morning my husband T Yesuratnam went to the AEN office with great expectations. That afternoon when I came from College he informed me,
" Leela, praise the Lord, B accepted to go to vijayawada as he wanted to do Polytechnic studies, and improve his career performance and he asked me to meet him next weekend that he would draft the letter of application for transfer and give it to me.'
We praise God once again with deep gratitude in our hearts. All through the week we were praising God for His great love for us. Again the week end, Saturday, my husband went to the AEN office with great expectations, but he was utterly disappointed by the answer he received this time.
He told me that weekend afternoon, like this, " Leela, B has changed his promise, he told me that his in laws and his parents live in Thangellamudi, and they do not want him to go to Vij/ on the other hand it seems his wife is BA., B.ed. graduate, and that she applied for Municipality teacher post, and she might get it soon , if only he would pay Rs.30000/- as bribe in the office. Therefore he is not willing to give application for transfer to Vij/ now"
I saw the disappointment in my dear husband eyes, but the voice of God told me that he would get transfer is it not? so I told him, " hubby, this is only an obstacle in great miracle that's going to happen .. So let us pray much more and see how God would do His plan for us" ( I knew God is going to get this transfer, by all means )
So we both took our supplications to the Lord, who knew our problems, our sweat, our agony, One month passed on, no news of any sort, but I knew that he will get the transfer.
That evening he came a bit early from the office, with a suitcase in his hands, Whenver he comes like that, he was supposed to catch a train that night to go to Hyderabad on office work.
I was sitting on the mat along with my two little children teaching them the lessons of the school, we did not have any sofas or good chairs to sit, still we were married in 1979 and that year was 1991.. we had 4 folding chairs for the visitors, and we used to keep those aside.
I saw him all in smiles, so I asked him, 'What hubby, are going to came tonight, you came earlier today?"
He did not answer but sat on a chair unfolding it and took off the shoes still smiling and opened the suitcase and brought out a typed paper, and gave it to me saying, " See, See, what is in it"
I could not believe my eyes, this July 1991, I got the promise from God in the month of May 1991, about his transfer, now what I was seeing in the Government Order was....1) A request Transfer of a man from Guntur to Ongole, 2) A requested Transfer of B from Eluru to Vijayawada, 3) A requested Transfer of Mr. Yesuratnam from Vijayawada to Eluru
It was sealed by the Office of the DEN. and signed by the highest authority of DEN office who was known for his Bribary life.
I found myself in utter joy and merry noise, many ohs ahas I said, " Emandi , what happened, what is this miracle?"
He told me like this like a story in the Suspense novel, That morning the supervisor, the gentleman came to his desk at 10 am and asked him, hurriedly and , "mr Yesuratnam, do you have the copy of the application for transfer you gave to me one month back I need it urgently , very urgent.. can you give it now?"
" yes, sir,"
My husband was known for his meticulous and tidy habits, he keeps the things in order, and in their place all ways., whereas me could not keep pace with him all ways and often get scoldings from him for my untidy way of keeping things here and there, I used to change the furniture or books or things to different positions, which often irks him , who wanted the paper or book in the same place all the time. Because I could not do like that and as I used to change the things often, he used to call me by nick name T><M = Thalakai Marchipadesthavu.... ( You change Thalakai means Heads Marchivesthavu menas you change )
So as per his meticulous habit he opened his his desk draw and picked the application from the file and gave it to him.
By 3pm the same gentleman brought this GO of transfer order and gave it to my husband.
What happened in the Boss office was explained to my husband outside the office before he started to come home. it seems, That morning at 10am the Boss called the gentleman and told him that he is going to leave for USA next day, as visa is ready that day, and told him if he needed any papers to be signed , he would sign and go, and this trip is top secret, and no body should no about this. so this gentleman asked my husband for the application copy and he drafted the letter then and there and got it typed and gave it to the Boss to sign with other urgent papers. PRAISE THE LORD. Do you know why the boss was so hurry to leave the country..? The month June 1991 was the month we were praying for the transfer, and the Lord send Vigilance on hotline on this Boss to check with his bribe habits and drag him into the trap. Knowing this the Boss left the country immediately without telling any one, and without any news of his departure leaked out to any one, except the Supervisor the gentleman, a Hindu, and a kind person. God used him to help us in this spectacular way. God loves every one , Hindu , Muslim or Parsi, He use any one for His purpose to be fulfilled.
Do not think the story had come to an end.. No no no no.... the real story started that night.
So before retiring to the bed after the family prayer, after the session of praise and thanksgiving, my husband said,' Leela, today Friday, tomorrow even if go to office B cannot give his Relieving letter because he cannot join in Vij because its weekend holiday on saturday. so I have to go to AEN office only on Monday to get my joining report., though I got my relieving letter from today. I said, "ok you can do like that." Then just before he lied down on the bed and say goodnight, he said, " Leela, B is very famous person, he being a muslim a member of the Majdur Union of Railways, its a very strong Union, if B tells them he got transfer like this they would take it a challenge and stop the transfer, on the other hand B got a very close relative an uncle in Railnilayam Hyderabad, in a very high position in Railways, if B called him on phone and tell him to stop the transfer it would be done." I was staring at him the dark night, in the zero bulb light, I did not speak any thing, but as the day was a hectic day for me, very tired, I closed my eyes to sleep. But I had to get up at 3am, wide awake, no more sleep, my thoughts went to the words he spoke at the end of the day. Great fear took hold of me, what if B goes to the Muslim Union, what if he called his influential uncle in Railways Hyderabad, What will happen..? the transfers will be stopped? I got down from the bed, the room was small one I did not have much place after we spread the beds ,everyday , in the night shift them to the wall in the day time. so I got down and make a little space for myself, near the bed, almost my knees under the cot, and poured my fears to Him, my Friend who lends His ears all the time in a crooked place even like this. My Bible was with me , I opened it, it opened at 62 Psalms, I was reading the Psalm, as if God was asking me to read it, "For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation, my fortress, I shall not be shaken. the verse 9th goes like this.----"those of low estate are but a breath; those of higher estate are low delusion, in the balanaces they go up; they ae together lighter than breath. ----hey who is this of LOW ESTATE... surely B, and Mujdhur Union, yea they are just a BREATH to Him. who is this HIGHER ESTATE-----Surely B's uncle in higher position in Railways ---but he too is a low delusion... What will happen to this LOW ESTATE & HIGHER ESTATE both in the balances go up; they are together lighter than breath...
My heart is lighter than the feather reading this 9th verse, they are together lighter than breath, ? I am more lighter than the feather, It is God who is telling me both would go up in the balances; then the last verse of the 62 Psalm
Once God has spoken twice I have heard; that power belongs to God.
Yes God spoke to us ONCE, i.e., Relieving Order is given, once for all, But TWICE I HAVE HEARD. oh yes twice I am hearing that POWER BELONGS TO GOD. , TWICE... twice... the second time ... that is Joining report... Yes Lord I know you will do this , Once your brought him from Vij/ now you will join in him in Eluru. wonderful... Wonderful. !! I was praising God.
Jesus told us that we should believe everything that we possessed already, whatever I prayed for , yes now I knew that He is going to help us in joining in the Eluru office just as he helped us in relieving from vij/ office. I knew it even while we were praying for it.
On Monday, in stead of going to Vij early in the morning at 6am , he dropped me at my college at 9 :15 pm and as he was going back , I told him, "Hubby, I have class in the first period, after it is over, by 11 am I will come down from the first floor to the office. you call me on office phone and I will be there in office, let me know about the office." We both are light hearted and happy. Knowing God is with us.
After the first period of class I was rushing to the office then I heard the phone ringing. The clerk who was sitting there her name Miss Leela. , seeing me entering the office room said,
"Miss this phone call is for your only"
yea I know... I thanked her and told her yea I am expecting this call, and grabbed the phone at once, and on the other end of the line my husband's sweet voice , I heard, "Praise The Lord , Leela" I said, Oh yes, Praise the Lord, what happened? I suppose No problem with B ?
" No , No, poor B he is suffering from fever since three days, so he did not come to office till this morning, and when he is given this GO, he did not say anything but signed and took his relieving order from the Superintendent here, I gave my joining report and joined in the office.
" Oh praise God, I shouted,
he said,
Leela I need to go to Vij now taking some files from here, so now i am going from here, catching some train, so evening I will come back."
" What about Lunch?
" Never mind today I will eat in the cafeteria"
I told leela about this good news, and rushed in one step like to the chamber of Sr. Principal, Sr. Winifred, and entered into it asking "May I come in' , blurted out , 'you know sister, good news, my husband got transfer to Eluru." My face was beaming with a big grin on my face, my godly sister also beamed with joy and an big grin as well, said, " Oh Miss congratulations, so you will be in college by 9;30 am ? hahah ?" she was laughing with joy ful heart. I said, ' Oh no no Sister I will be here by 9:15am itself because he has to be in the office by 9:30am, both of us laughing like little children who found a nice toy to play suddenly.
I rushed to the staff room and not knowing how to tell all the 14 lecturers in the room I shouted, "Hey A good news for all of you" and again I said, oh nono, its a good news for me, its, it my husband got transfer to Eluru." All of them know how much I was suffering because of lack of his presence in Eluru, this group of lecturers belong to the department of ARTS we share every thing with each other so they were sympathetic.
That evening there was a greater narration of the story that happened in his office that morning. my husband told me like this, " Leela do you know what had happened this morning in this office in Eluru, I went there to give my joining report after B gave his relieving report, the superintend said that there is no Head Drafts man post which is mine to work in this office, saying that he wrote with his green ink across the GO underneath of it , that there is no HD post for me and he could not take joining report from me.
At that moment the Head clerk came into the room saw the GO and said, " sir , there is this post in our office, when you were not joined in this office , one week back there was a GO sent from head office that the post for Head drafts man was created.
With this the superintend could not say anything, so he accepted the letter from my husband. After this work was finished and while B and Head clerk and my husband were talking about the Office work then the post man came with a card for B from the man from Guntur, who was transfered to Ongole, in that he w In India there is bribery everywhere, officials and clerks every one beg the money for the work they have to do. Government is paying their salaries, but they think it is paying to them freely, now that they must get money for the work they do separately from persons. Though they get 50 thousand salary, they are much more happy with the money they have taken from the people under the table, even though it is only 10000 or 20000/-
Taking bribe and giving bribe is the common process in the offices. Any work yes any work, to be done one should give some money under the table. To get electric connection or water connection to the house the owner should pay to the officials , some money, to get transfer one should pay to the officers.
some shameless ask the other person or some shamelessly tell others that apart from the salary they would get some "other"money in that "seat" of the office work. Even the parents check with the bridegroom how much 'other' money he gets, and on basing on the other money they bargain the Dowry .. and buy the groom for their daughters.
All this is so hateful to think even but in our country as they do not feel any shame for any thing, like even worshiping the male and female sex organs by pouring milk and flowers on it in the temples. They do things which are so utterly shameful and never think that they are doing a shameful thing.
so even Christians also do not think that giving bribe or taking bribe is sin and shameless thing.
Dowry taking and giving is not a shameful thing even for Christians in India. There is a money god in our country, so they worship that idol too and they worship those paper money too or some coins. If they slipped the paper money or a coin on the floor , they feel so remorse and take it and put those to their both eyes asking that idol to forgive them.
So taking or giving bribe is not a shameful thing in India, even Christians think its the rule of the day. They cannot trust in God who can do everything possible. They do not want to take risk or wait upon the Lord.
Yes its really a difficult think, we will be looked down by every one, our work will not be done, we will never get things done the way we want them to get done, or in the time we need to get those, but still its worth waiting upon the Lord.
We tried many times and applied for a transfer to Eluru to my husband, but we knew those applications were thrown into the dustbin is we did not even think of giving bribe. His boss is briber, he is known for his bribing talent. He never look at any personal file if the money is not given before the file go to his table and in front of him.
But that summer, 1991 when I was accused by my staff that I am not keeping the timings of the college to the seconds , I promised the principal I will not be so, thereafter, and gave a paper signed by me that for the next academic year I will keep the punctuality at any cost. So I prostrated in front of my saviour and prayed and got the promise from Him that 'my husband would be my 'help' in going to college in time. and when I asked Him, how could it be, His answer was straight and simple, ' he will get transfer'--- That settled my mind and heart, no more tears, no more fears,and I was enjoying the verse alive in my life,i.e., Ephesians 5:19 'singing and making music in my heart for the Lord.
As usual he was going early in the morning at 6 am and coming in the evening only after 10pm. sometimes he runs for the passenger train to catch , because he would not misuse his set of Railway Passes by travelling in the super fast trains, or avoiding theT C to sign on the pass.
In case the passenger train is late to go , and if he is late to sign in the register one 5 minutes, they put red x mark in his place of signature, and there were days he could not come back to Eluru that time, and so he used to work that morning in the office even though there is leave granted forcefully to him. He is not a person who lingers hither and thither and waste time in office hours, or not a person to go out and spend time with friends etc, so those forceful leaves were nightmare for him.
One day , after I got an assurance from my Lord, that he would get transfer and he would be a help for me to take care of household affairs, and children care along with me so that I can go to college in time, it so happened that the passenger train was stopped at Singhnagar halt just before the Vijaywada railway station some 15 kilometers away. he waited and waited for the train to move to railway station where his office DEN office is nearby.
As the train is not going further, and the time for sign was short, he got down and begged some sccoter wallah to give him lift to Ramavarappadu where he was going, there he was dropped and got another scooter fellow to drop him at Benz company circle, ( ring road circle) from there he got a Lorry which was going to wards the railway station, there he got down and with lunch carriage basket he started to run in the DEN office compound to go and climb the steps to reach his office. At last he reached and signed.
That afternoon one lady who is known to him asked him that she saw him running in the compound furiously and asked him what was the matter. Then my husband answere her' What to tell you mam, my life is so miserable....' and he started to tell her all that happened that day . to reach the office.
After hearing him she sympathetically said, " Ayyo sir, so sorry to hear this , why don't you try for a transfer to Eluru?"
Even for that my husband told her that he tried so many times for transfer and applied but it could not be done.
Understanding the plight of my husband she said,' sir, again you try , your supervisor is my husband, i too will tell him about your problem."
This time its the turn of my husband to be shocked. because he never thought or knew that she was the wife of his supervisor, because this lady is Scheduled caste person, and the supervisor was a Brahman man by caste.
Without another word , he thanked her and went and met the supervisor and when he was told to submit an application for transfer he did it and he came and told me about all this episode. In heart of hearts I knew that God, my Father started to move the pawns to do what He promised me to do about the transfer of my husband. I knew that God in His great mercy arranged all these steps to happen in a beautiful way.rote, Dear B I got transferred to Guntur which I asked for one year back, now I think I do not want to go on transfer, so you too do not give the relieving report, we both will go to Hyderabad this week and try to stop these transfers. " that was the gist of the post card which was read by B aloud for my husband, and HC.. head clerk said now we cannot do any thing as Mr Yesurathanm all ready joined 10 minutes back.
When my husband was telling me all this , I heard him intently and said to him, " Hubby, I often had an idea before my conversion that my dad would do any thing , he is so powerful as a Police officer, , in this case as an earthly father he might have helped us in one step or two steps, but not in so many steps, like this ..7 steps.... oh yes we walked 7 steps with the Lord.... and its wonderful to walk with Him.
