thoughtsbypooja

Four months ago, God planted a thought in my mind—to visit the Omkareshwar Temple.

I opened the IRCTC app and checked the tickets. The dates I had in mind were outside the booking window, as it was still too early. So, I estimated the date when the booking would open. The dates were already fixed in my mind for when I wanted to go.

Little did I know that I would be travelling during the holy month of Sawan.

I was completely unaware of this when the thought first came to my mind, and even when I eventually booked the tickets.

Two months before the trip, I booked my tickets. Unfortunately, my ticket from Delhi to Omkareshwar was not confirmed. It was RAC, although the return ticket was confirmed.

I felt bad, but I was hopeful. There was still plenty of time, and I thought the ticket would eventually get confirmed.

Again, I had no idea that I was travelling during a peak period.

So, I forgot about it.

As the journey date came closer, however, the status of my ticket remained the same. I started getting worried.

How would I travel overnight with only half a seat?

For those who don’t know, in RAC, you can board the train and travel, but you are allotted only half a seat.

Days passed.

Then, one day before the journey, the status changed to RAC/1.

I was still worried. It was still not confirmed.

At that moment, I simply prayed to God.

And then came the day of the journey.

The chart is prepared four hours before the journey, and I received a message from IRCTC.

It had my berth and coach number.

The ticket was confirmed!

I was more than happy.

I boarded the train, and to my surprise, it was three times overcrowded. While sitting on my seat, I got into a conversation with my co-passengers.

During the conversation, I came to know that one of their relatives had cancelled their journey at the very last moment.

He told me that my seat number had originally been allotted to them.

Because they cancelled, my seat got confirmed.

What a wonder!

Had they not cancelled their journey, my ticket would not have been confirmed.

A small decision made by someone else, at the last moment, had somehow created a place for me.

A true example of meant to be.

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After booking my tickets two months earlier, I was scrolling through Instagram.

And you know how AI works—obviously, my feed was suddenly full of Omkareshwar reels.

One day, I came across a reel where a devotee was talking about how long it took him to get darshan. He had been standing in a long queue for hours and suggested booking the online pass in advance to avoid the long queues.

Since I had already visited other Jyotirlingas, I knew exactly what he was talking about.

So, without giving it a second thought, I booked the online passes.

But later, I realised that it was not really about the passes.

It was about how beautifully Mahadev was arranging everything so that I could have the best trip of my lifetime.

This journey was never about me wanting to go.

It was about Him making sure that I come.

He paved the way for me in the most unimaginable manner.

It felt as though He was putting flowers on my path and removing every thorn along the way.

The thought came first.

Then the dates.

Then the tickets.

Then the confirmation.

Then the pass.

And every little thing somehow fell into place exactly when it needed to.

Maybe this is what faith looks like.

Sometimes, we think we are making plans.

But perhaps, somewhere beyond what we can see, the plans have already been made for us.

This was meant to be.

And I am sure the reason behind it is even bigger—something that will unfold at the right time.

Until then, I will simply be grateful that I was called.

Har Har Mahadev!!