16th Nov 2008
————-
Bhadra Balaram Prabhu and myself, Maha Varaha dasa, are on night shift. It
was almost 8 p.m. when we reached Hinduja hospital. Ganga Prabhu was feeding
Guru Maharaja with hospital food — two kinds of vegetable soup, yogurt and
custard. Guru Maharaja is being encouraged to take a soft diet (without
onion and garlic, of course); even if it be just 3-4 tablespoons, we offer
the same and personally feed him.
As we were feeding Guru Maharaja, he made a sign with the fingers, of his
left hand, that he wants to write something. We brought in a notepad and
pen and tried putting the pen between his fingers . . . . . . but he had no
strength to hold anything, whatsoever.
Then a brilliant idea occured to us. We said, “Guru Maharaja ! We will point
out every single alphabet, printed on the alphabetical laminated board ! Put
out your tongue whenever we come to your alphabet !”
Dr.Shiromani Mataji held the laminated board (with all the alphabets printed
on it) right in front of Guru Maharaja’s face, and began to point each
separate letter, as we read that same letter aloud. When we reached ‘F’,
Guru Maharaja stuck his tongue slightly out. We noted down ‘F’. In the
second and third rounds, he moved his tongue when we reached the letter
‘O’. The fourth round was ‘D’.
‘FOOD’ !. But, just to make sure we got the message right, Ganga Prabhu
asked, “Guru Maharaja ! Are you still feeling hungry ? Do you want some more
food ?” He was silent.
Then I asked him, “Do you want temple prasadam ?” He again pointed his
tongue slightly out. Ganga Prabhu asked, “Do you want kitcheri?” Maharaja
pointed his tongue out. “Do you want dahi with kitcheri ?” Again, he
pointed his tongue out !
We assured Guru Maharaja that Dr.Shiromani Mataji would ask Dr. P.P. Ashok
for permission to bring prasadam from the temple. Guru Maharaja nodded his
head gently.
17th Nov 2008
————-
Dharesh Prabhu called from the hospital at ten, this morning, with
the auspicious news that Dr. Ashok had given permission to bring special
prasadam, for GM, from the temple. We immediately informed Vasudeva Prabhu
(Guru Maharaja’s personal cook from Mayapur) to start cooking.
Astonishingly, another message came from Hinduja, at 10.45 a.m., “Guru
Maharaja wants prasadam right now !”
Vasudeva Prabhu jumped into action . . . . . . . . “Maha Prasadam ki Jai !”
Ys,
JPS Servants