This time India trip was eventful and full of surprises. I almost had a miraculous escape from life!
March 4th was my father’s first memorial (tithi). I was supposed to travel to India on Feb 28th. On February 28th early morning at 3am my brother called me from Australia informing about the war that started few hours ago. Sure enough, sooner I learnt that Qatar Airline flights were suspended indefinitely. I was distressed and was not sure if I could get ticket to reach India in time. Thankfully, I was able to book a Delta Airlines flight to Mumbai via London on March 1st. I had not even imagined that this would be one of the most memorable miracle trips (😢) I ever had. The adventure had just begun…
On March 1st night, for the flight from Atlanta to London, all passengers boarded on time. We sat at the gate for half hour; then pilot made an announcement that there is a major technical issue which they couldn’t fix, and everyone must deplane and reboard the new gate. Finally, after two hours of delay all the passengers boarded from new gate.
At London airport on 2nd March, I was on way to security check after getting off the plane. On the escalator a lady who was three steps ahead of me suddenly lost control and fell on me along with her carryon suitcase and a bag! I had a head-on fall on a moving escalator with 200-pound woman/ her luggage falling on me! Everything happened so suddenly, it was shocking and a terribly bad fall. I was blanked out for 25-30 seconds. Luckily someone stopped the escalator, and a few helped me get up. When I got up with assistance, my head was heavy, ears were blocked, I thought some major internal damage happened. Yet somehow, I walked on the stopped escalator in a shocked state for about 30-40 steps with a big bump and bruises on scalp. I was limping too because all the body joints were hurting.
After the security check, I was still in a state of shock about what just happened to me few minutes ago. I somehow gathered strength to calm myself with few rounds of breathing; got a cup of coffee and took painkillers. I had severe headaches and fatigue. I messaged a few close friends and the blessers worldwide group seeking immediate blessings. A friend messaged me back saying there was an eclipse that day and sent me a link to listen to Guru chants. I was still feeling dizzy after taking painkillers, so I went back again to the coffee shop and requested ice. The lady at the counter saw me in destressed and asked if I was alright. I bent down to show her my head, she was like “OMG that looks horrible, bruised blue, red”. Throughout the flight from London to Mumbai, I chanted Om Namah Shivay to calm myself and to bear the anxiety and pain.
On March 3rd, I reached home in Pune in afternoon and immediately rushed to family doctor. Doctor gave me anti-inflammatory and antibiotics for bruises and cough /cold which was still lingering. Doctor asked me why I didn’t talk to the airline and seek help at London airport. I told doctor that had I notified the airline they would have stopped me from boarding. For me it was super important to be at home for March 4th event for my dad.
My survival from this head-on fall on a moving escalator is Gurudev’s grace and blessings. This unexpected sudden event was nothing short of a miracle that a severe fall appeared more like a brushed off and not a deep injury. On a side note, in mid-February a close friend in India, slipped on a pile of sand on the roadside construction site and to save herself from a head-on fall; she injured shoulder severely and had to undergo urgent surgery next day. Doctors placed a plate and screws, estimated recovery of over 8-9 months. And here I had a sudden fall on a moving escalator having steel sharp steps yet there was no deep scalp injury! I was protected by a strong shield of Guru Grace and Love.
On way back to USA, on 21st March I was barely ten minutes away from Mumbai airport and received text about delayed flight and changed itinerary. Instead of scheduled Mumbai-Paris-Seattle-Spokane flight I was placed on Mumbai-Paris-Salt Lake City-Spokane. Flight from Mumbai was delayed by couple hours. I barely made the next flight to Salt Lake City USA from Paris. Paris to Salt Lake City flight was delayed too which would give me barely 40 minutes layover at Salk Lake city. No way could I’ve done customs/immigration, rechecked bags for domestic flight, made through the security and to next flight for Spokane. I was praying to Gurudev please delay flight to Spokane and that my bags would arrive early. Guess what, that’s exactly what happened. My two bags came along with priority bags within first ten bags. I whisked through customs in less than ten seconds and surprisingly free upgrade to first class! Wow, it was pure bliss in chaos.
We are so blessed to be born when the enlightened Master chose to be on this planet now and that he chose us to be with HIM.
Jai Gurudev
Shubhada Dantale
