The recent unfortunate crash of the Air India 787 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad brought back memories.
I am a 74-year-old actor, model, author and scriptwriter residing in Malcolm Baug and wish to share a mystical experience. On the morning of August 2, 2016 I received a call from a production house asking whether I would be willing to fly to Ahmedabad that evening for a small promo shoot and return to Bombay immediately after, in the early hours of the next morning. I agreed, and they sent me e-tickets.
Table set for the Mushkel Aasaan prayers
The shooting in Ahmedabad began at 11:30 p.m. and wound up at 1 a.m. I was advised to leave immediately for the airport to catch the 3 a.m. flight for Bombay.
The cabbie drove me to the domestic airport. The security guard pointed out that my ticket was on the outbound flight to London via Bombay. He directed me to the international terminal some distance away.
There were no rickshaws, taxis or private vehicles to transport me. It was past 2:15 a.m. so I decided to walk. Panic gripped me. I walked fast, lugging my trolley bag on the lonely, dimly lit road. I began to pray the Yatha Ahu Vairyo and Ashem Vohu and called out to Mushkel Aasaan Behram Yazad sahib, the angel who helps resolve difficulties, to come to my aid.
A little way ahead I saw a parked rickshaw. A tall, hefty driver was seated in the vehicle. I could barely see his face in the darkness. I requested him to take me to the international airport and he nodded, asking me to get in. What a relief! He spoke not a word nor asked any questions. Around 2:55 a.m. he dropped me off at the international airport. The meter showed a fare of Rs 30 and I had exactly three notes of Rs 10 in my pocket. I paid him, said a hurried thank you and ran into the terminal.
I boarded, took my seat and noticed it was a brand new 787 Dreamliner aircraft. As we took off I wondered what would have happened had the rickshaw driver not been there or had refused to take me. I began to wonder who he was. Could he have been Mushkel Aasaan Behram Yazad himself who had actually come and saved me?
RUSI MISTRY
rusi.mistry@gmail.com