Moses

On a very hot summer day, by about 2 pm I accompanied my elder sister, Ammini and my auntie
Ammama for cleaning clothes and dip in the waters of the rivulet ,( Varattar, then a tributary of the
Achan Kovil river running close to our home.) - a usual sight in villages in those days. While Ammama
was busily engaged in rinsing the clothes, we children were playing in the knee deep water on the
basement below the culvert. Merrily running here and there, walking and swimming farther and
farther, splashing and spitting longer and longer, howling and bowling higher and higher, we played
in the cool for a long time. Alas! forgetting the strict warning of Ammamma not to go beyond the
basement as the water level from there was very deep, I ran amok and crossed the Lekshmana Rekha like the disobedient lamb in the Lamb and Wolf 'story and slipped in to the deep.

It is still afresh in my memory, how I went down, down, down in the murky water, gulping water,
reached the bottom and rose up once with raised hands. Seeing my fingers above the surface, sister
who was screaming aloud, caught hold of them, but the strong under current pulled both of us to the
fathom.

Hearing the screaming, Ammama turned around, finding both of us missing, cried aloud for help. Being a very hot mid day, there was none in the vicinity. Ignorant even of the very basics of aquatics, she could
hardly do anything but to cry out " Ayyo, Ayyo , Odivaranee" ( come quickly), the children drowning ".

Miraculously, a stranger reached the scene, plunged into the water, dived to the bottom, fished us
both out of the water. "I thought only one, but now it is two, bear in mind, it is God who saved you". So
saying, the stranger disappeared. Nobody knew who the savior was, from where he came and where he has gone. I firmly believe that it was an angel sent by God to save the hapless kids from drowning at the tender age of seven and nine. How considerate and protective, my God is!

Hearing the incident and seeing us safe and sound, Valliappachen hugged me, kissed me and called
me Moses, which means, " I drew him out of water". Holding my sister against her heart, Valliammachy
thanked the Merciful Lord for saving both us from drowning.

After the incident, my sister happily lived for another sixty and odd years and myself, continuing the
long sojourn in life until my Lord and Savior would call me to join those of my dear ones who have
already reached the Eternal Home of JOY. Hallelujah, Praise the Lord, day in and day out, for countless are his blessings

Amen