Help us Srila Prabhupada
Gaur Kirtan Prabhu, a member of bus party of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Mandir, Chawpatty, narrates this experience:
We went for distribution in an industrial area. Our first company was big but we faced a very uncooperative manager. "Visitors' time is between 10-5 pm only," he said, and thus did not allow us to cover the evening shift and the night shift. We left disappointed. The next company was mediocre. All our hopes were on the final company which had around 900 employees.
When we reached the office the next day, the manager came to meet us. He was a quirky guy with quick phrases and even quicker actions. Before we could speak, he would mumble something, gesture nervously and seem to escape us.
"Come," he said, "See the spot." We followed him as he led us out of the gate, across the main road, walking around 100 meters to the front of a shop. "Put your table here," he said, "OK. I am going." "What?!" my head spun 360 degrees and did not rest. "Who is going to come here," I managed to mumble while being hit by waves of anger, dejection, and frustration that rocked my entire body. It was an automobile company and had a fleet of ten buses that carried the employees from the company to the town. Who would walk out from the company, cross road, and come to the shop we were stationed at? I knew the answer, no one!
I tried to talk to the man, but before I could open my mouth he was gone. I gave up. "Try for some time," advised Haladhar Prabhu. "You do so," I shot back, "I am finished. I will make sets in the bus, you distribute them. I am not coming down."
Then came a call from Panchapandava Prabhu, our advance party man. He told Haldahar Prabhu to hang on for some time. It was hot and sunny afternoon when we opened our stall under our big umbrella and set up books waiting for customers who showed no sign of turning up.
We waited for an hour or more, in vain, when suddenly our driver, Sunil Prabhu, who was chanting before the bus looking right at the photo of Srila Prabhupada hung above the driver's seat, shouted, "Help us Srila Prabhupada! Please help us!" I nearly dropped from my seat and so did Haladhar Prabhu startled by the intensity of the scream.
Half an hour later, in walked the manager accompanied by his deputy, who was a Maharashtrian. The second man looked for some time at Haladhar Prabhu and Sunil Prabhu who were sweating in blistering heat next to the table. Then he whispered something to the manager, who nodded.
"I think it is very hot here," he came to Haladhar Prabhu. "We will arrange a shadier place for you." We packed everything and were in the bus in two minutes flat. The bus jerked and followed him right in to the company campus, under a nice shed next to the time-office where the workers punched their cards. It was a prime spot and many people came for lunch break and we distributed more than 160 sets that day.
Later that deputy told us that the manager belonged to some organization that is against sadhus, and the Chief Manger was a Christian. It did not matter, as I felt that a simple prayer to Srila Prabhupada could help us in all odds.
Thanks
Your Servant
Murari Gupta Das
