The year was 1972 and Shri Nathji was resting incognito from the crowds of the
plains in the hill resort of Naini Tal in the Himalayas!
He was staying at the Hotel Metropole one of the oldest hotels in Naini Tal and a veritable heritage hotel from the days of the British in India.
Shri Nathji's dress and royal bearing made people think that he was a Maharaja. But every
He was staying at the Hotel Metropole one of the oldest hotels in Naini Tal and a veritable heritage hotel from the days of the British in India.
Shri Nathji's dress and royal bearing made people think that he was a Maharaja. But every
one was
struck by the unearthly glow and extraordinary beauty that his face was endowed
with. It was as if he was some being from another world, with an aura of divine
love around him that made everyone stop and stare at him.
Most of the people staying at the hotel were big shots, wealthy business magnates from Delhi and Bombay and Calcutta come on a holidaying spree.
These wealthy people were scarce concerned about the comfort of others and had drunken parties in their rooms all night. When Priya Nath asked one of the waiters why didnt the hotel management
complain to the magistrate, the waiter said that the magistrate was enjoying himself in their parties and was the life of the party!
Priya Nath went and met the owner of the hotel and his wife, - they were a handsome Parsi couple, so handsome as if to be movie stars on par with international actors. Their names were Baji and Zarin Tawadia.
They had met Shri Nathji briefly at the hotel and had also assumed that he was a Maharaja.
As they had no control over these all powerful and all mighty wealthy folk that appeared to own the world, they helped Shri Nathji and Priya Nath secure a room at another hotel, the Grand Hotel .
But Shri Nathji was sad at heart. There was something in the Parsi couple that had attracted his heart. After a brief stay he chose to go back to the Metropole. He stayed for a short while and then one day decided to go home to Delhi.
All the waiters of the Hotel had lined up outside his room, and had tears in their eyes as he bade them farewell. It was as if they were losing their dearest Loved One.
Just then Zarin and Baji came inside his room to bid farewell and to finalise the bill. Shri Nathji's divine glory was at its peak as this young couple came before him, his words flowed out like the nectar of life, flooding the hearts of the young couple. Both were in tears as Shri Nathji spoke to them. They called him "Our Divine Father!"
Shri Nathji said to them: "It takes just a fraction of a second for a photograph to be taken, but that photograph remains forever!
In a like manner this relationship of Divine Love has been established in one moment - but it will remain forever!"
And indeed it was a relationship that lasted over the years till the time Shri Nathji left his earthly frame in 1992.
The Tawadias had presented a thermos flask to Shri Nathji on parting-- and Shri Nathji kept it next to his bedside all these years, calling it the "Tawadia Flask" with love.
The relationship exists even now. Zarin and Baji are on Facebook. And I am in touch with them with the same feelings of love as had existed when the relation was first cemented by my father HH Shri Nathji.
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Most of the people staying at the hotel were big shots, wealthy business magnates from Delhi and Bombay and Calcutta come on a holidaying spree.
These wealthy people were scarce concerned about the comfort of others and had drunken parties in their rooms all night. When Priya Nath asked one of the waiters why didnt the hotel management
complain to the magistrate, the waiter said that the magistrate was enjoying himself in their parties and was the life of the party!
Priya Nath went and met the owner of the hotel and his wife, - they were a handsome Parsi couple, so handsome as if to be movie stars on par with international actors. Their names were Baji and Zarin Tawadia.
They had met Shri Nathji briefly at the hotel and had also assumed that he was a Maharaja.
As they had no control over these all powerful and all mighty wealthy folk that appeared to own the world, they helped Shri Nathji and Priya Nath secure a room at another hotel, the Grand Hotel .
But Shri Nathji was sad at heart. There was something in the Parsi couple that had attracted his heart. After a brief stay he chose to go back to the Metropole. He stayed for a short while and then one day decided to go home to Delhi.
All the waiters of the Hotel had lined up outside his room, and had tears in their eyes as he bade them farewell. It was as if they were losing their dearest Loved One.
Just then Zarin and Baji came inside his room to bid farewell and to finalise the bill. Shri Nathji's divine glory was at its peak as this young couple came before him, his words flowed out like the nectar of life, flooding the hearts of the young couple. Both were in tears as Shri Nathji spoke to them. They called him "Our Divine Father!"
Shri Nathji said to them: "It takes just a fraction of a second for a photograph to be taken, but that photograph remains forever!
In a like manner this relationship of Divine Love has been established in one moment - but it will remain forever!"
And indeed it was a relationship that lasted over the years till the time Shri Nathji left his earthly frame in 1992.
The Tawadias had presented a thermos flask to Shri Nathji on parting-- and Shri Nathji kept it next to his bedside all these years, calling it the "Tawadia Flask" with love.
The relationship exists even now. Zarin and Baji are on Facebook. And I am in touch with them with the same feelings of love as had existed when the relation was first cemented by my father HH Shri Nathji.
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Zarin Tavadia In
all humility, firstly many thanks for putting US at that glorious a
'height' we do not belong to or deserve to be; Baji & I merely did
our duties and, in fact, were honoured to
have you and your Divine Father stay with us at Hotel Metropole - and
reiterate that we are privileged to get to know you, even bette,r thru'
your various posts on FB, (including) being informed regularly in
excerpts about your dear parents' lives; your enlightening and
interesting 'contributions' & 'revelations' on FB, on life in
general, have been a pleasure to read, comprehend and learn from,
through the years of our memorable association firstly by 'ordinary
mail/post' we used to utilise to correspond and, now, thanks to modern
technology, vide email and texts (smses) depending on the 'substance' to
be shared, conveyed or expressed - both in public and in private! In
conclusion, let's say 'Cheers' to our indelible memories and (still)
keep hoping to 'rendezvous' happily, in future ... probably in the
Mussourie hills this time .... God willing! Meantime, with lots of
pranaams to Ujwallaji & yourself - from Tavadias, 'The Parsi Couple'
who bow their heads gratefully - for giving US an opportunity to serve
(and know) both HH BHOLANATHJI & you, in the not-too-distant a past!
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