The Story of a Soul

Undated?

We had come to know about the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in early 1953, when Ambalal B. Purani from the Ashram was in East Africa. He was inspired to visit our estate, where he met my family. One day while they were meditating together my mother had an extraordinary experience, which Purani related to the Mother and many other people when he returned to the Ashram.

At that time I was in Bombay with my brother Maganbhai and his wife, after our return from Europe. My mother joined us there on May 23rd.

My eldest brother Laljibhai wrote to us from Africa that we must all visit the Ashram. So my mother, my brother and his wife left for Pondicherry on Saturday June 13th, leaving me behind to take care of my brother's children, in a big apartment on Marine Drive—the necklace of Bombay. I was not happy about the arrangement, but could not help it.

They stayed in the Ashram three days, and then went on a tour of South India. The time passed slowly for me. At last they came back, early in the morning on June 23rd. The report they gave me about the Ashram did not satisfy me. My true self remained positive, sure of the final victory of my soul. But from the outer point of view I suffered and grieved greatly.

If I had accompanied my people to the Ashram, I would certainly not have returned, and would not have had to go through that tedious marriage ceremony in December 1953.