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My Search for Life After Death(continued) As I had already decided, I left for Anne Besant's Ashram. I traveled
light with just a heavy backpack and a handbag. The train carried me
to Darjeeling, and from there I took a rattling bus to Thimpu. I reached
the town late in the evening and was lucky to rent the last available
room in the only hotel in the town. It was a dingy, small room with
a string cot, a wooden table, and a cane chair. I opened the small window,
filled my lungs with the clean fresh air, and enjoyed the sight of Mt.
Everest and its sister peaks. Next morning at seven, I went to the bus stand. A volunteer from Besant's
Ashram was there. At eight the bus arrived, and the volunteer greeted
fifteen foreign tourists, and directed her sherpas to take hold of their
luggage. I approached the red-haired, tall volunteer and asked her permission
to join the group. "You're welcome; give your luggage to the sherpas." "Thanks, I can manage that." The volunteer addressed the group:"My name is Tresa, and I'll
conduct you to our ashram. It's a steep, five-mile climb, and I'll move
at the pace suited for you. You know Mother Besant passed away in 1940,
and Mother Amrit has taken her place." "Amrit is an Indian name; is she an Indian lady?" I questioned. "No, like Anne Woods who adopted the Indian name Besant, she's
a German lady and took the Indian name 'Amrit,' which means nectar." After four hours we reached the ashram. Tresa gave us a tour of the
place and assigned us our rooms. We had dinner, and then Tresa took
us to meet Mother Amrit. As I stepped in the meditation hall, I saw
many flickering lamps and people seated cross-legged with closed eyes.
We walked to the corner and saw a white-haired lady seated over a marble
dais. There was a glow on her radiant face; she was Mother Amrit. She
raised her hand and said, "Children, you're tired now; take rest
and meet me at five in the morning." We bowed our heads and left the hall. Next morning I stood in line to seek a private audience with Mother Amrit. When my turn came, I greeted her with folded hands and said, "I want to contact the spirit of my wife." She opened her eyes and said, "Let me try." I felt a cold blast and the wafting of Indian perfume, Cahammeli, pleased
my olfactory senses. This had been my wife's favorite perfume. "Your wife, Jeeto, is standing in front of you; you can speak
to her," Mother Amrit said. "Jeeto, how are you?" "Fine, but you are creating problems for me." "How?" "Your tears are making a slippery mess for me." From the
tone of the voice, I was sure I was talking to my Jeeto. I also remembered
that many years ago Grandpa's spirit had told me to inform his wife
to stop crying. So Jeeto must be in the same predicament. "I'll do my best, but I miss you very much," I said. "Well,
are you in Heaven?" "We're not allowed to talk about it, " she said. This reminded
me what I had read: Sir Oliver Lodge and Sir Conan Doyle couldn't get
this information from their sons. There is a strict discipline in the
life after death. "Jeeto, I feel depressed and lonely." "Get out and meet people, pray, and take care of your health." "I'm miserable and need a companion," I said. "Would
you mind if I take a wife?" "No, I want you to be happy, but you don't have much time left." "How many years do I have?" "Not years, but days," she said. "Great! I'm delighted to hear that," I said. "Are you
sure?" "Yes, remember that in our world there is no limitation of time
and space." I recollected the experiments made by Sir Oliver Lodge
and Sir Conan Doyle with the spirits of their sons. The spirits' predictions
turned out to be correct. "Darling, soon I'll join you." I said "I'm waiting for you," she said. I felt a soft kiss on my lips. The lamps flickered and the spirit left
the place. I thanked Mother Amrit, touched her feet, and moved out of
the room, and the next visitor took my place. I returned home, bubbling with joy. My family and friends were surprised
to notice the sudden change in my mood — I hugged everyone and
forgave the wrongs done to me. Finally, I took a bus to Ludhiana to
meet Jeeto's parents.
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