Life Is a Mirror: A True Story of Humanity Amidst Hate

Mirror of Life

It all happened in minutes. I had just arrived from Bangalore by bus and was having tea in the stall opposite to the bus stop.

There was sudden commotion and instantly I could see the bus which I had just got down pelted with stones n go up in flames.

I watched in horror as the bus became a huge bonfire lit in front of my eyes. Those were the most gloomy, most gut wrenching days of my life.

It was the time, when the Cauvery issue between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu had touched its peak. Nasty mob politics had destroyed the relationship between the neighboring states.

At this juncture, I was working in a beautiful provincial town in Tamil Nadu in a district tertiary care hospital. I had built up a very good practice with most of my patients on a single name basis and most of patients coming specifically asking for "Bangaluruu doctor".

Mr. Periasamy was one of my earliest patients. He was a portly heavy set man with a huge Verappan style moustache. He spoke in a booming voice becoming of his police background.

Saar! I heard him as he entered my consultation room later in the afternoon. I shall send my car from today to take you from home to hospital. These are bad times he boomed.

Earlier, I had decided to leave to Bangalore because there was hate everywhere and I feared for my life. My car which had Karnataka number plate, was hidden in the basement. I was living alone since my wife and my puttu luckily were in Karnataka.

Saar! Periasamy spoke. I know the situation here is difficult. Plz don't go. You will be safe here. I shall see to that!, he thundered. Our people here need your healing touch and care. Stay sir, he said.

I was in turmoil. My people from Bangalore wanted me to come back. They insisted it was not safe.

But, I had a strong belief in goodness of people. I thought, if I was doing good by caring for people, why should they hurt me? Do good n good will come back. God will protect...

Finally, I decided to stay in the mayhem of mob violence, hate war and irrational scenario of fear n horror.

Mr Periasamy kept his word. He ferried me from home to hospital in his car with himself personally accompanying me for the next two months. He never allowed me to go unaccompanied outside the house. And food..yum..hot steaming food lovingly cooked at home was home delivered by him personally.

I continued to treat patients normally at the hospital as before, despite the parochial atmosphere which prevailed everywhere. It was a different world in the hospital, where love, caring n smiles prevailed.

Patients too flocked to the Bangalore Saar with much love, faith n trust.

I survived the traumatic times. Thanks to Periasamy and all the goodness of the common man and trust in God. I felt safe in my belief that if you care, people will care for you. Help people, make a difference, share a smile, and people will go out of there way to share and care for you. Send goodness into the world, and goodness has to come back to u.

Life is a Mirror, you see and get in life what you are. You get back, what you give to the world multiplied multifold. .....