Mahatma and the Jalebis

Year 1850, Delhi was the central hub of Indian Culture and tradition. Red Fort and its big walls ruled the city and was the pride of Delhi. View of Jama Masjid and pigeons sitting on top of the tombs and huge terraces added to the scenic beauty and smooth flow of Yamunna behind the fort added to the serenity. Big grounds around the fort were always filled with people enjoying kite flying or sitting in groups betting on bird fights. Crowded and neatly decorated bazaars and food shops presented the other side of the city. Standing tall at Lahori Gate and looking down at the city you can see the bi-lanes and people sitting outside pan shops or below a tree enjoying a scented hukka and sharing lines of urdu poetry.
At one of these lanes called 'Mithi Galli', Gulabi Ram owned a sweet shop. Gulabi Ram was famous for the ‘Jalebis’ which he and his family had been making from decades.
Every evening he would put up a canopy outside his shop; place some wooden stools for people to sit. He himself would sit on a bit elevated shop floor, next to a big black 'kadai' in which he would make his jalebis. The 'kadai' seems as old as Gulabi Ram himself with years of oil burnt and stuck on outer side. Gulabi Ram himself was a big fat man of 50. He was always seen in his trademark off-white kurta and blue check dhoti, and was famous for his shrewdness and arrogant behavior.
Whatever it was, but his jalebis were very popular. No one could pass the shop without having a bite or two. From kids to old people every one used to come to his shop everyday and return satisfied. Gulabi Ram always felt proud of his popularity and used to think that he could even make dead people wake up and have his jalebis. Many a times he used to have bet with people where they have to stand outside the shop without eating them for one hour. No one could remember if he ever lost. Such was his glory that shopkeepers around him used to say that he is the sugar in this 'mithi galli'.

One day a 'Mahatma' happened to pass by the ‘mithi galli’. The God man was medium but strong built. Dark Saffron color dhoti and kurta added to the grace, turban on the head matched the color of the dress. He had a glow on his face which he had got after years of meditation and yoga. An aura of calmness and purity surrounded the man who had given whole of his life in search of God.

Mahtmaji felt a strong aroma of saffron and rose in the air. He soon realised that it was coming from the jalebi shop, and immediately decided to have a look. As he went near he could see people enjoying jalebis and praising the shop keeper. Mahatmaji saw big display of round saffron color Jalebis stacked one over other. Rays of sun falling on the jalebis added an extra sparkle to them. The air smelled sweet and jalebis looked just crisp and inviting.
'4 anna for a kilo, Mahatmaji' came a voice from the shop. Mahatma immediatly went down to his kurta pocket to take out some money only to realize he was not carrying anything. Mahatma had a look at the jalebis again. He gave a disappointed smile to Gulabi Ram and decided to back off. The sweet smell was very intoxicating and it was having his effect on him. But he had no option but to turn back and walk away. He turned around a few times to take a look at them. The picture of jalebis and its sweet smell just got imprinted on his mind.

The same night Mahatmaji left for his ashram in Dehradun. Somehow all along the journey he kept thinking of the jalebis he so dearly wanted to have. He finally reached his destination in few days and got busy with his daily activities. But the feeling of not having jalebi had not left him. He thought of having some other sweets, thinking that it will satisfy its urge but nothing could make the feeling go away. He was not able to concentrate and meditate also. Every time he tried to close his eyes and find peace, picture of sparkling saffron jalebi would haunt him. He tried his best to divert his mind but nothing was working. A week had passed and feeling was getting stronger day by day. He had completely lost his peace of mind and concentration.

He thought to himself what those jalebis had that he became slave of them so easily. It had made him week and somewhere inside him he was cursing himself of not being able to control his desires. Years of practice of self control and brahmcharya, all had gone waste. He could hear his inner voice getting stronger. But somewhere he thought that it was only jalebi, he's not committing any sin that he should be ashamed off or feel low about. Inside he was completely torn into two parts. One which constantly reminded him of jalebis, and one which was telling him to be strong. It was this self control and strong will that had made him leave the worldly desires and chores. But after years of separation, the desires were back to haunt. Mahtmaji could feel his heart was getting heavy and he had to so something, and it had to be done fast. Right at that moment he decided to go back to Delhi. Delhi, where the jalebis awaits, where his destiny awaits.
Finally after 2 days of long journey he reached ‘mithi galli’. Strong aroma which he had felt few days back felt even better and stronger. He could count his steps as he approached the sweet shop. From distance he could see people standing and eating jalebis. There was a sense of urgency in his walk, almost running and hurriedly he reached the shop. Gulabi Ram was sitting and handing over jalebis to other people standing around.
'Mahatmaji how much?' said Gulabi Ram with a smiling face. 'one killo' said the mahatma handing over 4 annas to Gulabi Ram. Gulabi Ram neatly packed hot jalebis for Mahatma and slightly got up to hand them over. Mahatma extended both his hands to take them. He had a big smile on his face as he took a long look at them. 'I knew you would come back. No one crosses this shop without having them. You were the first one and now I will tell everyone that even big mahatma cannot resist my jalebis. Big kings and generals come and have jalebis from here only.' Mahatma could feel the sarcasm in his voice.

Mahatma gave him a smile and nodded his head, as to confirm and support Gulabi Ram's words. He then moved his gaze from Gulabi Ram to look around. There was a small boy standing near the shop. The boy was standing a bit away from shop but was constantly staring at the jalebis with hungry eyes. Mahatma turned towards the boy and went straight to him, got down on his knees and handed over the packet to the boy. 'Go and share it with your friends' said Mahatma in his calm and smiling voice, moving his hand on the boy’s head. The boy ran away with the packet. Gulabi Ram was watching all the events from a distance. Mahatma got back on his feet and turned towards Gulabi Ram. Gulabi Ram was looking puzzled and trying to understand what he just saw. Mahatma gave him a smile and took a big sigh of relief, as if the burden he was carrying all along had been taken off. He raised his hand as if to give blessings to the master of sweets. Gulabi Ram was standing with his hands folded and accepted the blessings by slightly lowering his head. Mahatma turned back and started walking in the opposite direction without even looking back. From the side you could see his sparkling eyes and smiling face which just tasted the sweetest thing in the world.