December 13, 2011
It was my good fortune to have known a happy and loving family in Bangalore. It was a close-knit family and a perfect example to others.
Daniel was a lecturer in a Pre-University College and his younger sister Laveena was working as a social activist in Mundagod at Hubli district. His father was a postman and mother was a housewife. They had experienced a tough life.
Daniel loved and cared for his only sister and parents. He had a passionate love for Laveena and Laveena too had the same bond towards him. They used to share all their life’s experiences with each other. In fact, they knew each other’s inner life. These two were highly talented in studies and their hearts beat for the poor.
His father being a postman was transferred to Dadar in Mumbai. So Daniel’s family moved to Mumbai but Daniel stayed on in Bangalore for his work. Laveena too went along with her parents. It was a crucial moment for both Daniel and his family as they bid each other farewell. Tears flowed down like a river from their eyes at that moment, though it was just a matter of staying away. Laveena came forward and said to Daniel, “I am leaving you now but you will always be in my heart” and so saying she hugged him tightly and both cried. The words were strange for Daniel. He did not understand them at that moment.
Daniel was staying with his friends in the room. He was committed to his work. For his sincerity and humane service he had received praises from the college staff and from the students. Besides his college work, he frequently visited the Blessed Sacrament where he felt happiness. But he had never forgotten to speak with Laveena daily. In fact, both their conversation was to know about each other’s life. At the end of all their talk, both felt happy and it enhanced their joy.
Laveena as a social activist was working for uplift of the poor. Within a short span of time, she had a great impact on the poor. People always longed to see her. She was always on the move and courageous enough to challenge the rich and the rowdies. She dedicated her life to the service of the marginalized. Besides this, she opened a house for orphaned children and women. So she was known as the second mother Teresa there.
It was 13 July 2011. The heart breaking news reached Daniel. He got a phone call from home saying, “Laveena died in a bomb blast”. He was shocked and fainted. Somehow, his friends took him to Mumbai for the funeral. He could not accept his sister’s death. His heart became so heavy that he cried and cried bitterly. When he gazed at the burnt body of Laveena, he was devastated. It was a terrible situation to lose his most loved one. Tears were continuously rushing through his eyes. People were flocking to have a glimpse of the saintly body of Laveena. In fact, everyone paid their last tribute praising her. From the crowd there came a voice saying, “She became the patron of women through her martyrdom”. It was a tragic death, and made people very sad with grief.
After the funeral ceremony, he sat in the dark corner of the house and mourned his sister’s death. Finally, he decided to leave his job and stay with his parents. He was consoled by relatives and visitors. But he was mentally totally exhausted. Whenever possible he remembered the words of Laveena, “I am leaving you now but you will always be in my heart”. He never expected that she would leave him so early.
A few days later, a girl knocked at the door and entered Daniel’s house straight away. Daniel was perplexed looking at her. He asked, “Who are you?” She had come from a nearby hamlet and her dress revealed her status. Hence, he enquired about her. She knelt before him and started to cry. Again, he asked, “Who are you? What happened?” She began to pour out her heart saying she was saved by Laveena. “Laveena sacrificed her life and gave her life for me,” she said. It made Daniel more curious. This girl was caught up with traffickers. In fact, like her, many girls were trapped and they were ill treated and threatened by traffickers.
When Laveena came know about it, she was furious and with a brave heart, she fought legally against them and put them in prison. It was July 13, 2011, afternoon. Inspite of that scorching sun she was able to bring satisfaction and happiness in the lives of those girls. But the evil of death was after her. She had arranged a car to send those girls back to their houses. Hence, she was waiting for a car a few yards away from the spot. People were moving very freely and happily. Schoolchildren were returning home. Everything was normal in the city. Suddenly the joyful faces faded away, as the massive explosion caused fatal death. Within a fraction of second fifty people were burnt alive, Laveena was one among them. People rushed her body to the hospital, but in vain. Finally, she breathed her last. There was dead silence. This death had caused havoc in Daniel's life and he became more arrogant towards God. He was convinced that God took away Laveena from him.
One day he happened to meet his old Parish Priest, Fr Tom. He was working in the Mumbai slums. He took Daniel to his house and offered him a cup of coffee. After a while Fr Tom asked, “Hey, you look haggard and pale. What happened ?” He was not aware of the tragic death of Laveena. Daniel in a low voice poured out his agony to Fr Tom. As he was speaking, he angrily raised a question: “Why did God take away my sister? She was leading a saintly life. Why did it happen Father?” He started to cry. Fr Tom was speechless, but he exhorted him to stay with him that night.
In the middle of the night, Fr Tom woke Daniel up and took him in the bike frantically, to an unknown place. Fr Tom showed him how the innocent people were brutally killed and tortured by the rich secretly. Looking at the brutality Daniel was taken aback. In another place, prisoners were pulverized by police cruelty. As they went ahead, they saw a group of girls with the traffickers, who were experiencing hell. Abuse and ill-treatment were inevitable to them. Daniel experienced the pain of the innocent people and he was restless, yet it was a hapless situation. At another place, Fr Tom showed the poor children, who were locked up in the chains of heavy work and misused ruthlessly.
All these incidents happened before 4 am. At one point Fr Tom said, “It is the world of malice and envy. It is our reality”. Daniel became aware of the traumatic situation. He slowly accepted his sister’s death. As both were ruminating about this situation intently, a voice screamed for help, as they were about to leave that place. Suddenly both of them turned back. Gangsters were chasing a girl. Fr Tom grabbed her and hid her in a place. The furious gangsters tried to attack Fr Tom and Daniel. Both of them started to run. But they caught Fr Tom and stabbed him deeply on his stomach, and left him half-dead. Daniel escaped from them. As he noticed that Fr Tom was still alive, he rushed him to the nearby hospital. Unfortunately, all his blood was spilt on the road. He was kept in the ICU and was in a critical condition.
He called out to Daniel and said, ”Death is not the end but a beginning of a life for service. How long we live is not important but how we live is important. I have paid my price to Jesus, who had sacrificed His life for me”. After saying these words, he breathed his laSt Daniel was standing speechless as the dawn came upon him and the sunrays flashed on Daniel’s face like the flashing presence of the Holy Spirit. Simultaneously he heard the church bell ring. Interiorly he was convinced and understood, what life meant. As he turned right, he saw the embracing picture of Jesus. He fell to the ground in utter shame.
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