God's Plan

17th May, 2024

An extract from my Diary:

Who knew, that children will remember you? Who knows. whatever comes out as speech. Who puts those words in your heart? Who designed the day in such a perfect manner, when someone out of the blue texted me.

Her name is Alia( not mentioning real names for privacy purpose). Let me start over my day once again for you incase you are reading this and want to witness God's Plan through these pages and words.(in my diary)

Last year was tough for me. I went to Teach For India(NGO)>met a good friend>went to his academy in Vikhroli>came to know he runs it completely different from other schools- all of this I did with no plan of action; it was random. With no ulterior motive did I spend time with them: the children and the staff. On my first visit, I had biryani. On my second visit, I had an interaction with them and we kept silly names for each other based on our personalities. I told them, I'd come every Saturday . At that time, they were working on a water project. I had an interaction with them even more and gave some lousy explanation, pushed them to think more, ideate more. Cut back to the project showcase day( So in this school, after every curriculum/ topic gets over,they have a showcase day for everyone to see what they have done in action!). The first and best move to showcase their children's learning to the world. Ok, so that was done.

Now, the co-founder of the academy, Isha is a very good person and I remembered her face, but not her name. It had been a long time ever since I went to that academy again. Life got busy. I got busy. Three days before today(17May), I got a message from someone called "Alia". She said, "I am sorry I didn't save your number and I came across your chat now, so I texted you." I thought it was Isha!( I didn't remember her name, right!)

Anyway, I texted her back saying I am good and made a plan asking when can we meet...

"Can we meet this Sunday?"

"Are you open?" ( Is the academy open?)

Like this we shifted the plan to Monday but on that day my father was home and I saw a post of their academy that they were having another showcase of how filmmaking is done and they had made their own films.

So I told her that I will come on Tuesday. She said "perfectt" (with a double t)

Tuesday- True Scenarios

1) After school, I go to collect frames for my father everyday. Today I texted I will not collect the frames. Turns out, the frames shop itself was closed today.

2) I bought peanuts for myself after school because I was starving. I went to station, I had an inkling if someone is there who wants to eat; I will give the peanuts to them. I ate one packet and shared the other with an old man I found on the platform just like my intuition had told me. I remembered a beautiful line:"Charity and fasting is good for you, if only you knew." I told to myself that some food will be arranged for me as well, so I shared the peanuts with that man even though I was starving. Sure enough I got garlic bread and popcorn to eat at the academy ! ( Which I had no idea would be arranged for the guests)

3) I reach the Academy. The day before, I had bought sweets thinking I would give those to Alia ( who in my mind was Isha, the co-founder of the academy)

FREEZE: You must be asking, who is this Alia then? Even I didn't know it would make such a big impact when I  had met her then! You remember, I talked about the water project day? Yes, on that day itself I was sitting beside a stranger. Her name she told me was Alia. She has two of her children who were there with her on that day. We had some small talk, she told me of her ventures. (To be honest, I just remember bits and pieces of this dialogue, nothing byheart.) So yeah, that's Alia for us to know from this point on.

Not Isha!!!!

Now, let's come back to:

Fairy lights. Beautiful dim lit room. Meaningful words exchanged. There were posters of movies. Behind the scenes photos. The process of film making. Mingling with the crowd. Parents, people from the area......and people from the TFI(hello my past).....all of them had come.

4) I met Shriya, a good acquaintance I had found at TFI! It was the first surprise I received for the day. She was so simple and grounded. Had she..changed? She was talking slow.She was talking to really get to know the person. She was accompanying me. She was really good and kind, Gratitude.

5) The children remembered me. They were so happy! So nervous. So excited!! So innocent..

Our names were kept according to our personalities: Lady finger, Ferrari, Cricketer.... you get the gist. Thank God. They brought up the promise I had made with them and with some contempt said that I had told them that I would come every "Saturday". One of them, one of them (yes I had to say this twice, because even I don't believe this) had actually thought about the water project post our discussion (remember, long back?) and she wanted to discuss it with me. Hopefully, with God's will, we will. But beautiful. Amazing. 

Reflection: In my life, new connections are being formed. These bonds I never even knew existed. ( All I heard as a child was parent-child, teacher-student, husband-wife). This bond was different. I don't know what to name this yet. Same way my bonds with a stranger on a bus till I am travelling, what to call that?! No idea.

6) Last  but not the least, someone came from behind. She gave me a tight hug and I hugged back. I smiled knowing Isha(Alia) is here! The moment I had entered the academy I was asking where is Alia (Isha), they said she is downstairs. I gave the sweets I had brought to Fin( another co-founder of the academy and my friend from TFI). Somewhere even they were wondering, why am I asking for Alia (who was Isha for me) so much?!!!

Actually Alia was downstairs making popcorn and garlic bread and other snacks (donut and a water bottle, which I distributed later)

When she(Alia) moved away from me and I could see her at my eye level distance, I realized that Isha has changed alot!!!! WHY IS HER FACE NOT MATCHING WITH THE ONE I HAD IN MY HEAD?!!!! Bells started ringing. All this time,I thought it was someone else. I was excited and came here because of someone else! Or a delusional part of my brain who was not the least bit consoling said, "It is Isha, you just forgot how she even looks!!!". But Thank God, Humans don't really forget faces. We recognise faces real fast.

But anyway, with some context (that I mentioned earlier about her meeting me on the water project day, having a talk about her ventures) I figured out who she was. Mind you, I had to remove that context out of her still making her feel as if I remembered her! It took all of my communication skills and efforts to get that out of her. phew!

In the end, Fin was happy to receive me. The children,....by God, were very happy. It was all a design and plan of God, who by His Grace, allowed me to witness all of His plan unfold infront of my eyes. Thank God.

7) When I came out of the academy, I could see the half moon hidden behind the clouds.It was a beautiful sight. Last time was the same, when I had come here. Tomorrow will be a new day, a new beginning. A new year.