THE DAY I GOT A NEW LIFE …..

The date was 14th November. Known to most as the Children’s day, it was made more special as it was Guru Nanak Gurupurab (Birthday of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak) and also the Super Moon day (The full moon hadn’t come this close to Earth since 26 Jan 1948 and won’t come this close until full moon of 25 Nov 2034). Well I guess there were enough reasons for it to be a 'special' day.

For me, it is and will always remain a day and date when I saw the worst and the best of my entire life in a span of two and a half hours.

It was a Monday morning and at around 8:30, as I was getting ready to go for some work, I got a call from my beloved wife who was into her ninth month of pregnancy and had just attended her surprise baby shower a day prior. Since the day we came to know that we were going to have a baby, I had only one wish. To be present with my wife at the time and place to see my baby when he/she is born. I guess that’s what every father-to-be wishes for and it’s a pretty reasonable wish. Something even God wouldn’t mind granting.

I had made only one request to my wife and that was to give me a notice of seven hours as that is the least amount of time it takes under ideal conditions for a person to reach Delhi from where I was, though I knew it was not in her control. So when the call came and I was told that she was going to the hospital, I knew that the clock had begun. I had to make a few calls and pack all my stuff which I thought I may require. By the time I started from my house it was 9:45.

Though my GPS had calculated my ETA at the hospital to be 7:17 in the evening, I told my wife that I will reach by 5 as seven hours was what I had promised her. Had someone used an instrument to measure my heart rate and blood pressure from the moment I left my house till I reached the hospital, that instrument would have blown off.

The approximate distance was about 450kms. I connected my phone to the bluetooth device of my car, switched on some music and left. I kept in touch with everyone at the hospital through out my journey to make sure that I was constantly updated. I had covered most of the distance without any halts, with the air conditioning of my car switched off and windows all rolled up to ensure that all my engine power was devoted to get me to my destination as soon as possible.

It was around 4:10 in the afternoon. I had about 60kms to go and my GPS had brought my ETA down to 4:45 from the initial 7:17. I was cruising in my Hyundai Verna on the Yamuna Expressway with the aim of covering up as much distance in as little time before hitting the traffic heavy, smog filled Delhi.

The day she came into our lives

The car went over a bumpy patch on the highway and the next thing I knew was that I had no control over my car. It was a car me and my wife had chosen after testing almost every car available in India in that range over a period of six months. It was a car with which we had the most amazing memories attached. It was a car my wife used to kiss every time she sat in it. It was a car which was our first love. It had everything I ever wanted from a car. It was a car I loved.

My car and I went from the centre of the road to extreme left and we banged head on against a well dug in iron pole reading ‘No U turn’.

There used to be a pole here

The engine took the brunt and the impact was such that the pole could not withstand and it broke. Thereafter, me and my car were swivelled across the entire highway and the rear wheel banged on the divider and brought the car to a halt. I saw it all happen helplessly from within and when the ordeal finally ended, there were fumes coming out of the crushed engine. My engine oil was spread all acrosss the road. My air bags had been deployed. I was tucked on my seat with my seat belt. The entire impact had shattered the wind screen, crushed my bonnet, broken my engine, pushed the pedals and steering wheel back, bent my doors, broken my front and rear axle.

I  had a scratch on my arm. My dear car had taken it all upon itself to save the man who was on his way to witness the most beautiful event of his life.

How I managed to reach the hospital with all my luggage is a long story. What happened at that moment was nothing less than a miracle. I was told by the gentleman in charge of the highway patrol, that four accidents had taken place since the morning at that very spot. Most of them were fatal. He along with many other so called well wishers and curious travellers came to me and told me how lucky I was while my mind was only trying to find a way to reach the hospital.

I finally did manage to reach the hospital at 6 instead of 4:45 as shown by my GPS. We were blessed with the most beautiful baby girl at 6:28 on that day. I was lucky to be able to meet my wife before she gave birth to our little princess. I don’t think I have ever been more happy to see my wife and my family than I was at that moment.

Holding my daughter and seeing her staring at me with her beautiful eyes open was the most unbelievable feeling I have ever had. She looked into my eyes and I could see the luck she had brought with herself. Papa got a second life because of her. And that’s the reason I will remember it as a day when I got a new life.  

The most amazing moment of my life

It was a truly special day. 

I will never forget that spot on the expressway.

I will never be able to love any car more than my Verna.

I learnt a few lessons that day...

Ø What has to happen will happen. We have no control over anything but ourselves.

Ø When you really want something very badly, God helps you.

Ø Life is too precious to be wasted by being sad, upset or disliking someone.

Ø Love your dear ones. They are the ones who  matters.

Ø Holding your baby in your arms is the most beautiful feeling on Earth. That moment made me forget my entire life. It felt I was holding my life in my arms.

“ Live, Love and be Happy J "