In September 1985, I was deputed to an Exhibition in West Berlin (then West Germany). After the exhibition, I had taken leave to visit United Kingdom and see my cousin sister in Essex. Since I had done a lot of air travel by that time, I wanted a change and took train journey from West Berlin to Hock-Van- Holland port (in Holland). From Hock- Van- Holland, I took a ship and went to Liverpool crossing the North Sea in 8 hours. From Liverpool I went to Essex by train.
After spending a few days at Essex with my cousin sister, I took the same journey back. When I boarded the ship at Liverpool, it was a bright sunny day. I went to the top deck and fell asleep on a bench. After some time, I woke up and went on a side to see where the ship had reached as more than an hour had passed. To my surprise, I found that the ship was still at the shore and had not even sailed. I got worried and went to enquire on the lower deck enquiry (it was an eight storeyed ship).
I was informed that there was a technical defect and the ship could not sail. I told the Deputy Captain that in such an eventuality I would miss the connecting train from Hock- Van- Holland to West Germany and also my connecting flight from Berlin to New Delhi. I requested the staff on duty to send a telex / telephonic message to the authorities in East Berlin to delay the train. They tried but there was no response. It went on like this and I got terribly agitated and worried.
Finally, the ship started four hours late when the Chief Engineer gave the clearance. I became very tense as I would be in a real problem if I missed my flight from Germany to India since I had to report for duty in office in Delhi after ex-India leave and our the then Chairman & Managing Director—Late Sh. Mohammad Yunus was a very strict disciplinarian.
That day, the sea was very rough and the ship was swaying sideways and one could hardly walk straight. I prayed to Pujya Guruji to help me and bail me out of the dilemma. For the first time in the history of voyages (I was told later) that the ship covered an eight-hour journey in just six hours and that too when the sea was so rough. Since more than 500 persons were to get down at Hock- Van- Holland, I took my heavy luggage and stood in the front since there was to be a long queue for visa / immigration. I was amongst the first ones to get the visa clearance and, with my heavy luggage in the trolley, I ran from the Immigration to the train platform. The train to Berlin was still waiting (they had received the message, but not replied as was customary for East Germans in those days ). When I reached near my coach, a heavily build (wrestler like) man asked me if I needed any help. I nodded and requested him to help putting my luggage in the coach.
As soon as I boarded the train, it started moving (as if it was only waiting for me). Little later, I came to know that a major train accident had taken place that day on that route, i.e., Hock- Van- Holland to West Berlin. But ,by the time our train passed, the track had already been cleared and the remaining two hours we covered by train. I had to reach Berlin by 7 A.M., but the train reached about 10 minutes before time. An Indian friend was to come and receive me. He came later than my arrival and enquired if I had a comfortable journey. Outwardly I said, “Yes”, but in the heart of my hearts I had a sigh of relief and profusely thanked Pujya Guruji for taking me out the dilemma. My friend told me that there was lot of time for the flight to take off to New Delhi. He took me to his house. I had a hot bath, took some rest, did more site seeing in Berlin and comfortably took the flight back home to New Delhi.
When I visited Gurgaon on the Bara Guruwaar, Pujya Guruji gave me a smile and said, “O Puttar, toon theek thaak aa gayan wein” (O son, so you have returned in good shape). A true Sadguru is all-knowing and comes to the rescue of his devotees whenever and wherever they remember Him in distress. I had no words to express my gratitude, I just touched his lotus feet and tears rolled down my cheeks.