But the old man still lingered - his desire unfulfilled. At times he would mutter to himself: "I love — but my love is not returned, Will I ever experience that spiritual joy for which my soul is thirsting? To see Him with my own eyes, before they finally close - oh dear God, grant me this one boon. I know He is here, quite near - I can feel His presence," and he would begin to cry like a child.

The young lad named Chando, who looked after him would become very upset, thinking it was his fault that the Rikhiji was unhappy. He was a simple village boy, left at the ‘ashram’ by his mother when she felt her end was near. Since then he had taken on the duties of looking after the old Rikhi, keeping the place clean and milking the two cows, which supplied sustenance to both of them.

The boy learnt all this by heart and repeated it so that he should not forget anything. Then he cried out, "But if you go, what will I do?"

Rikhi: "You can go in search of him. Maybe you will have better luck than I, and maybe when you give Him the message He will bless you and allow you to stay with Him".

The boy wanted to know how he would recognize the person the Rikhi wanted him to find.

Rikhi: "He is tall, slimly built, very strong, young, carries weapons on his person, has long hair and a soft curly beard. He has an aura of power and authority, and his expression is warm and Sweet".

Boy: "But how will I know it is Him?"

Rikhi: "Well, there is one other thing. He has very long arms and when he lowers them, His hands reach to His knees".

The boy was happy to hear this, because this would be easy to check. He immediately stood up to see the length of his own arms and then checked the Rikhi’s arms. He was satisfied that with this clue he would be able to recognize the ‘Avtaar’.

Suddenly a thought struck him, "Rikhiji, will He lower His arms if I ask Him?"

The Rikhi smiled at his simplicity and said, "You stay close beside Him but don’t ask anything. At some time He will surely lower His arms, and then you can see. Once you are sure, fling yourself at His feet and give my message to Him".

Boy: "Does He have a name?"

Rikhi: "I don’t know, but people will refer to Him as "Guru Avtaar".

Boy: "Guru, Guru, yes I can remember that. Shall I go now and look for Him. Then you can see Him with your own eyes? But - but if I go, who will take care of you. If I had a brother I would have left him with you, but I have no - one

Rikhi: "Don’t be unhappy. After finishing your work here, you can go down into the valley everyday and if you meet any passerby, you can ask him. Maybe we will get some news in this way.

This remark cheered up the boy. Happily he began his daily chores, and the moment he was free he ran down to the village. Here he spent his time looking at the arms of the men and gauging their length.

Then he began to ask the people if they had heard of a saint - a Guru - who had recently appeared. Disappointed at the replies he began to walk beside the river every afternoon. He waited eagerly for some passer - by, but days passed and no - one came that way.

The days were becoming extremely cold, and the Rikhi could feel it penetrate his bones, chilling them. One day, he could not even get up to have his bath, and calling Chando, spoke in a feeble voice, "Child, my time has come. My hands and feet are very cold. You have been as a son to me. Don’t forget what I asked you to do and to take my message".

For a minute Chando felt dizzy. Two years ago his mother had died: her hands and feet too had become very cold. He could see the scene clearly. Chando’s whole world had consisted of only two people - his mother and the old Rikhiji. And now he was going to be left alone. He rushed out, wiping the tears with his knuckles. Quickly he lit the small stove and took it inside the hut, and kept it near the Rikhi. Covering him with some more blankets, he ran out and climbed up a near - by rock, looking eagerly down the path - maybe He will come even now?

Two, three times he ran back to the hut, but could see no improvement in the Rikhi’s condition. In sheer desperation, a scream escaped from his throat. The sound revived the Rikhi and in a trembling voice he asked, "Has He come?"

Chando only heard Come’, and shouting ‘He has come! He has come!’ he rushed out. His voice echoed back from the distant hills and then there was silence. He ran on for a few miles and then stopped and looked around. It was very quiet. The only sound was of the water striking the rocks. Like a demented soul, Chando began to run again, but stopped suddenly when he heard voices.

A group of riders came through the trees. One was slightly ahead of the other four. Chando paused and took a long look at him. He felt a thrill run through his slight body, but to be sure, he had to see the arms. Meantime the riders stopped in the clearing. Mattresses were put on the floor and the leader got of f his horse and sat down. Poor Chando. He hid behind a shrub, barely able to contain his impatience. Part of him wanted to rush back to the ‘ashram’, to be with Rikhiji, but some part of him would not let him move - and all the time he waited for the leader to stand up so he could see the length of his arms.

Suddenly, one of the other riders came up with a jug of water and requested the leader to wash his hands. He got up and moved a little distance away. Chando stood as if rooted to the spot, holding his breath and not daring to blink his eyes lest he missed any movement, while the tall man washed his hands and then his face. Taking a towel offered by one of his followers he wiped his face, and then he lowered his arms. Chando could not believe his eyes — yes, surely the hands reached down to the knees. Chando let out a shout and completely forgetting his master’s admonitions he rushed up, chanting "He has come, he has come." Then kneeling in front of him, he took hold of his hand, and pulling it down touched it to the knee, then nodding to himself, he said, "Yes, it is so". He looked up and in a pleading tone asked, "It is you? Really you — isn’t it? Please say yes, that you are He — the avtaar, my master has waited for — the ‘Guru avtaar’ — please, please say you are He"?

Guruji stood quietly. His hand held tightly by this innocent boy who tugged at it - his words tripping over each other in his eagerness to establish His identity - looking up at Him imploringly. Guruji looked at him, a gentle smile lighting His eyes, his face wearing a soft and indulgent expression.

Chando s "Please, please tell me - you are He - the avtaar?"

Suddenly Chando’s face darkened, his brows drew together and he said, "I have a message for you, a message from the Rikhi of Kaalsi. He knew you, sir, and he was desperate to have your ‘darshan’, yes he - his voice choked on his tears and he said after a pause, - I am sure he must be dead by now. My mother too was dead in this much time. He had told me that you would have very long arms with the hands touching the knees, and he begged me to find you and give his message to you - and, closing his eyes tightly in concentration he recited the words exactly as the old Rikhi had spoken them.

As the words came to an end Guruji closed His eyes. He held Chando’s small hands tightly in His own. There was a slight movement of His brows and He spoke, "Child, is Rikhiji really dead?"

Chando: "I am sure - sir I So much time has passed. But please tell me that it is you, my master was talking about. Oh, its so late I must go back and take care of the body," and he hopped from foot to foot impatiently.

Guruji (smiling slightly): "No, my child I The Rikhiji is not dead". He turned towards Raja Medni Prakash and said, "Come let us leave immediately. There is a debt on your head which is long over—due. Don’t worry about the food. We will have fresh milk today".

Quickly Guruji leapt on to His horse and at a sign, one of the other riders lifted Chando on to his horse and the party moved of f at a brisk trot.

The Rikhi’s hut was surrounded by a thorny hedge, with a make-shift gate in the middle. Pushing this open Chando rushed in. Rikhiji was lying unmoving as he had left him.

Guruji moved forward and lifting the blanket checked the Rikhi’s pulse and felt his forehead. It was cool to the touch and he did not appear to be breathing. Chando gave one look, then squeezing his eyes shut exclaimed, "Oh, you have died like my mother did, and I was not here to even light a lamp for you. She too had wanted more light, but - but - I did give your message – see?" and then he began to sob.

Guruji’s eyes were moist at the anguish of this simple, loving boy. But His face wore a look of concentration as His hand rested on the old man ‘s chest, which still retained some warmth. Quickly Guruji stepped up to the platform and sitting near the Rikhi, placed his head in His lap and began to rub his scalp softly. He instructed the Raja and his companions to each massage the Rikhi’s hands and feet. Chando stood on one side, his arms across his chest, one fist under his chin, watching all this activity in wonder.

In a short while the Rikhi’s eyes fluttered open but closed again. Chando murmured to himself. "My mother too had opened her eyes once and then closed them forever

The Rikhi’s eyes opened again and his lips moved. Very faintly he said, "He has come?"

After a pause, in a stronger voice he called, "Chando, beta, has someone come? Who is caressing my head so lovingly? What is this warm sensation flowing through me?"

Then he looked at the people seated near his feet and asked, "Who are you? Where is Chando?" Chando moved forward and eagerly said, "Rikhiji, it is He. I found him, I found him " And he clapped his hands joyfully.

The Rikhi took a long breath and looked upwards questioningly. Guruji bent and kissed his forehead.

The Rikhi’s face glowed suddenly and with new - found energy, he reached up and clasped Guruji’s hand - sometimes kissing it, sometimes placing it on his forehead and then holding it tight against his chest as if he would never let it go.

All who watched were profoundly moved at this scene of love - and the fulfillment of a life - time of yearning and devotion.

Chando looked on, not understanding, but feeling the warmth and wanting to be part of it. He looked at the long slender hands which reached to the knees and he too wanted to hold and kiss them. But he hesitated, knowing that these hands were infusing fresh life into his beloved Rikhiji, and he did not want to intrude. And so he stood trembling, in a corner.

The Rikhi’s eyes were gazing up at Guruji, gratefully, adoringly and he said, "SHUKAR" (thanks to the Lord), and then repeated it again and again.

Guruji spoke, "Nihal, Nihal, Nihal " (blessing him)’ Say Waheguru ’ And it was as if each and every part of him echoed, "Waheguru".

The Rikhi was fully recovered now and he thought, "Truly He has come. It was not a figment of my imagination. He is here, but I have not even greeted Him and bowed at His feet, and he tried to get up. But Guruji held him in His arms and told him to lie still until full strength had returned.

Now Guruji turned to the Raja and said, "Please get some hot milk for Rikhiji. It will revive him further".

Hearing this Chando jumped up. He had been looking at Guruji’s hands without blinking but now at the word ‘milk’ he quickly ran out and soon brought a bowl of fresh milk of his favorite black cow. Guruji took it from him and helped the Rikhi to sip it, saying, "Come, drink it, O beloved of my Lord" and the old man eagerly drank, feeling new life coursing in his feeble body. The Raja came forward with a cushion and arranged it so that the Rikhi could rest against it comfortably.

Now Guruji got up and looking at Chando, smiled and said, "Come, my son, bring milk for us too. We are guests in Rikhiji’s house. Since he is not strong enough to do the duties of a host, you must look after us. Hurry, child and serve all of us.

Chando was in two minds. Part of him wanted to rush out to obey the sweet command. But the other side of him could not think beyond the single - minded wish, which had been in his heart as he had started at Guruji’s beautiful hands.

He hesitated, but Guruji was only too aware of the struggle going on in the child’s mind, and smiling He extended His right hand. Chando leapt forward like a puppy and catching it in both his hands, began to shower kisses on it only pausing to look up adoringly at Gurujis face.

In his childish delight, he was not aware of the solemnity of the occasion nor of the magnitude of the gift being showered on him. He was only aware of an acute joy which made him stutter out, "Wah, Wah, Waheguru !" His eyes closed and he became still.

Guruji lifted Chando in His arms saying gently, "Awake, my son, awake Chand Rai, to eternal life. Come we are all thirsty and hungry. Arent you going to offer us milk?"

Chando looked as if he was in seventh heaven. He picked up the pitcher and was soon back with it full of foaming, warm milk. Guruji filled bowls and gave to everyone and then to Chando. Finally He too had some.

The sun had set and darkness was spreading. They made camp and decided to leave at dawn the following day.

In the morning the Rikhi requested Guruji to let him stay back in the ‘ashram’ as he did not wish to be a burden. "I cannot serve you in any way, my Lord, please leave me here." he pleaded.

But Guruji reassured him and helped him into the wooden palanquin in which he would be confortably carried to Paonta.

Chando waited for Guruji to tell him what to do. Guruji gave him an enquiring look and asked. "Chando, beta, what do you want? Would you like to stay and look after the cows?"

Chando ran forward and catching Guruji’s beloved hand said in a pleading tone, "I want to be with you, but you go ahead, and I will follow with the cows. I can look after them in Paonta and get fresh milk for you, thats all I want".

Guruji laughed and said, "All right, I promise to drink the milk of your cows only".

Leaving two attendants to guide Chando and the cows to Paonta, Guruji and Raja Medni Prakash left for Paonta with the Rikhi accompanying them.

Many people had come to Paonta from far and near as it was Guruji’s birthday and lavish celebrations were planned by Guruji’s family and the ‘Sangat’.

When Guruji failed to return on ‘Saptami’ day, everyone was filled with disappointment. But the next day when He and His party reached Paonta, a wave of gladness swept the place, and everyone rushed forward to greet Him.

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