That afternoon I went for my usual stroll in the garden. I was still bemused by my dreams. But now something else was added. It was as if I felt a strange delight and joy, a peace beyond anything I had ever known before. It was as if I were close to the Presence of God. Suddenly, as I stepped out of a grove into a sun-flooded open area, the air around me seemed to be alive with another lovely fragrance. It wasn’t the fragrance of flowers-it was too late for any of the garden to be in bloom but a very real fragrance nonetheless.
Seeking Answers
In some agitation I returned to the house. Where did that fragrance come from? What was happening to me? Who could I talk to about what was happening to me? It would have to be someone with a knowledge of the Bible. I had already swept aside the thought of asking my Christian servants. In the first place it was unthinkable to ask information of them. They probably had never even read the Bible and wouldn’t know what I was talking about. No, I had to talk to someone who was educated and who knew this book.
A Risky Decision
As I considered this question a shocking idea came to mind. I fought the thought. That would be the last place I should go for help. But a name kept returning to me so compellingly that I finally rang for Manzur. “I want you to get the car out for me.” And then as an after thought I added: “I’ll be driving myself.” Manzur’s eyes widened. “Yourself?” “Yes, myself, if you please.” He left, reluctantly. Rarely had I taken my car out that late in the evening. I had been an officer in the Royal Indian Army women’s division in World War II and had driven ambulances and staff cars thousands of miles over all kinds of terrain.
Stepping Out
But wartime was one thing and even then I was in the company of someone. The daughter of Nawab nobility was not expected to drive her own car in normal life, especially not at night. But I knew I couldn’t risk Manzur knowing what I was about to do and resultant servants’ gossip. I was convinced there was only one source where I could find the answer to my questions: Who was John the Baptist? What was this fragrance all about?
The Visit
So it was with extreme reluctance that evening that I headed for the home of a couple I barely knew, the Reverend and Mrs. David Mitchell who had visited my garden that summer. As Christian missionaries, they were the last people with whom I’d want to be seen.
To be continued…
Miraculous Monday: 24th July 2023
Miraculous Monday 049
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