Counting my Blessings - Jaako Raakhe Saayian Maar Sake Na Koye

We had recently moved to a new city and were in the process of settling down . Coming from a very busy metropolitan city, we were slowly getting accustomed to the pause of this beautiful place with exotic beaches - Visakhapatnam.

Starting from buying new curtains to the little things of the house, we were taking it slow, just like the beautiful serene city.

We were put up at a transit accommodation until our allotted house was completely ready to reside.

So, it was a routine for me to start all activities, the moment Diya would leave for school.

Since I took a little break from my busy corporate job, I had all the time in the world to make sure everything was done perfectly to start a new life in this city.

Everything was almost ready, except one of the most important requirement of shifting to the new abode. Any guesses ? The cooking gas connection. As Murphy law indicates, we were just not able to locate our previous gas connection books. The previous stint abroad had played havoc on all our important documents. So, finally it was clear that we had to apply for a fresh new connection. Luckily I never had one against my name and I hopped onto the opportunity at the blink of an eye.

Soon the home was up and running and it was time to shift to the beautiful home located on Dolphin Hills, overlooking the city.

I connected one gas cylinder and the spare one was kept aside this one.

Thanks to my strong smelling instincts, I sensed that the spare cylinder was leaking. We have a small open area connecting the servant quarters, from the kitchen. I had not found a maid yet, so the servant quarter was vacant. I kept the cylinder in this open passage and immediately reported the leak to the Emergency Gas Contact centre at around 3.30 pm. As per the Standard operating procedure, during such an urgency, the centre is supposed to immediately send a representative and retrieve the cylinder back.

However , no one turned up till evening. I called up again and they advised me to keep the cylinder outside, in open atmosphere (As if I was waiting for their advise!!) and wait until the next day as they were running short of people that day. I did not know how to react and just kept the cylinder little more away from the house. This made me little worried , but I kind of pushed the negative thoughts away.

We carried on with the rest of the day and wrapped up after dinner. Sudeep & I checked the cylinder before sleeping . The slight smell was evident.

Suddenly, a loud ring of the bell struck me and I felt as if I was dreaming. It rang again and I woke up with a heavily palpitating heart. I realized that someone was ringing our doorbell. I checked the time and it was 3.22 am . My mind was flooded with hundreds of thoughts about who could be at the door at this hour.

I woke up Sudeep and we rushed to the main door. To our surprise , all our 5 neighbors were standing outside with their spouses . I instantly knew the reason and my heart skipped a beat. Even before they started talking , I rushed to the back door and was horrified to see the cylinder look nothing less than a live missile which could fire any time. It was making a heavy whistling sound with the emission of white gas. I just froze. That instant we realized that our entire house was filled with LPG which emerged from the leaking cylinder.

All our neighbors homes apparently was smelling of LPG and I could see a similar terror of fear on every one’s face. My daughter Diya and our pet dog Oscar were peacefully snoring oblivious to this incident or the smell. In that moment of fear, we exactly did what should never be done. We switched on our kitchen lights and kitchen backdoor lights where the leaking LPG was kept. We switched on our mobiles and took a video. We kept staring at this miniature missile in the back yard with our minds and hearts, both, racing fast. Then the fauji spirit rose and with lot of courage we picked up the cylinder and took it out in the open area outside the home and out on the main road. Luckily we have a very broad and spacious area outside the building. After leaving it there ,we stood speechless looking at it intensely for alteast 5 minutes. The white fumes kept flaring.

We all then headed back home and ventilated the house. We then tried to sleep and I am sure none of us could sleep peacefully.

The next day first thing in the morning, I called up the agency and gave gave left right centre to the representative .Within the next 15 minutes the cylinder was collected. I was so scared that I didn’t touch the burner until lunch time, doubting the presence of LPG in the house.

We filed a case against the agency. The agency apologized. We didn’t want anybody to be punished financially because we felt extremely grateful to the Angel soul or The Higher Power who did not let any mishap happen. Although we made it a point to report to the highest authority possible, so that this lackadaisical and nonchalant response, even inadvertently, never gets repeated and nobody faces these few hours of terror and fear.

When I look back today , I can not thank God enough. This episode could have actually resulted in a catastrophe and the thought of it, itself makes a chill run down the spine.

One more miracle added in our adventurous life. Counting my blessings and my faith in Him increases multi folds .

So my dear readers , believe in the power of Miracles !!