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Recharging My Car Battery

GURMIT KAUR

 

 

 




We hereby introduce with pleasure sikhchic.com’s newest columnist …




While driving with my husband once, he spoke of an occasion when his car had broken down. I was quick to mention I have never had a car breakdown. 

Just as I uttered those words, I regretted doing so, because I was now tempting fate.

So began one normal Saturday afternoon routine of dropping the kids off to the Punjabi class at Gurdwara Dasmesh Darbar.  After doing some seva in the kitchen, I returned to my car. 

I had left the headlights on and my car was making strange noises and would not start! 

Immediately my mind turned to negative thoughts, such as being told off by the Punjabi class teacher for not attending last week and I began to feel sorry for myself. I called my husband who called the emergency breakdown service for me. 

Despite being advised of a three hour wait, they turned up promptly and checked the car. Eventually they told me my car battery was not just flat but needed to be replaced. 

He gave me the option of either replacing it straight away or charging it and choosing a garage at which to replace it. I rang my husband again, who advised it was best to replace the battery there and then.

So the car battery was promptly replaced in the car park of Gurdwara Dasmesh Darbar.

Now with hindsight I thought I could have been driving late at night, in an unfamiliar area. I was thinking of going to a reinsabahee (all-night kirtan session) that evening. 

If you are going to have your car break down, then there is no better place than on the premises of Dasmesh Darbar.  

Again and again, my own, personal batteries have been worn out with the pressures and stresses of daily living, but they were promptly replaced in the court of Dasmesh Pita.

For a quick fix just being at the Darbar Sahib brings peace and tranquillity.  If I choose to stay and listen to kirtan and gurbani, the worries of the week are washed away and I feel strengthened again to continue.

Actually, I like these remedies, I think I will take them home with me, listening to nitnem in the morning, I trust the day belongs to you, Lord, rather than my wandering mind.

Rehras … I renew to face the evening chores. Kirtan Sohela … I reflect on the cycle of life itself and prepare for the night.

Yes, with hindsight, I was extremely lucky and blessed to have broken down at the car park of Dasmesh Darbar.

 

Gurmit Kaur is a creative writer and artist with a background in health research. She lives in London, United Kingdom, with her husband and two boys.

November 23, 2014

Conversation about this article

1: Harry Rakhraj (India), November 23, 2014, 3:48 PM.

No more 'muddling' (a word I learnt from you) along but now a full-fledged writer! Way to go, Gurmit Kaur ji!

2: Sangat Singh (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), November 23, 2014, 4:46 PM.

A warm welcome to Gurmit Kaur ji, our new columnist. We look forward to more delightful stories. May I add to the fund of humour? Years ago I had inherited an old battered Mini Morris and one day it just threw up its hands and gave up. I called our nearest garage run by an old Sardar. He promptly arrived riding his old Norton 350 motor cycle and looked under the bonnet while fingering his long flowing beard. I chipped in and said: "Bhai ji, I have just changed the battery." "Yes, that's fine. Just keep the battery and change the car!" was his suggestion. Gurmit ji, you had a cheaper option.

3: Gurmit Kaur (Gants Hill, London, England), November 25, 2014, 7:00 AM.

Dear Veerji's: Thank you for welcoming me. I am delighted to be a part of the global community ... and Veerji from Malaysia: That was very funny:-)

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