I joined Bal Vikas in 1990 when I was in my sixth grade of schooling in Mumbai. A year later,  some of the Bal Vikas Gurus in Mumbai came together to plan a weeklong trip to Prasanthi Nilayam with a large group of Bal Vikas children. My birthday fell on the week that was chosen for the trip. I was delighted that I would be celebrating my birthday in Prasanthi Nilayam. 

In Prasanthi Nilayam, as the day approached, my Bal Vikas Guru helped me to get ready with the birthday tray filled with chocolates, the holy yellow grains, and cloves for Swami. We were given a separate block to sit for Mandir sessions. Those days, there was no Sai Kulwant Hall. Bhagawan stayed in the first floor of the Mandir. The flooring of the Mandir courtyard was made up of concrete, and its edges were lined with coconut trees and arches. 

On the morning of my birthday, I sat in the first line along with Bal Vikas children. Swami arrived for Darshan and as He turned towards our block, I got up on my knees with my birthday tray held high. Looking at my eagerness, He walked straight to me, took a fistful of chocolates from my tray and sprinkled them on the crowd. I was thrilled to see Swami so close for the first time. 

After He threw the chocolates, He looked straight into my eyes and asked, “Where did you come from?” I said, “Swami, Bombay”. Little did I know that He was asking the most fundamental question of life on my birthday. Then he asked, “Where is your wife?” I said, “Swami, no wife.” Swami gave a broad and comforting smile and said, “When you come next time, get your wife also.” I just nodded my head in affirmation. Then Swami asked me to take Padanamaskar, and moved on to complete Darshan.

After Darshan, I was swarmed by my Bal Vikas brothers eager to know what Swami told me. Most of them laughed when I mentioned ‘wife’. Later, back in the hall where we were put up, I narrated the entire conversation between Swami and me to my Bal Vikas Guru. She explained Swami’s message so beautifully that I remember even today. She said, “Every word of Swami has a deeper meaning. Wife means attachment. And at your age, wife or attachment represents your parents. Since you came to Prasanthi without your parents this time, Swami has asked you to come next time with your parents.” 

Time sped by. Exactly a year later, on my next birthday, it so happened I was Prasanthi Nilayam with my parents. This time, there was no block reserved for us. I requested the Mandir authorities to permit me to sit in the first line for the morning Darshan for my birthday. I rushed to Mandir to occupy the first line with my birthday tray. I was expecting a repeat performance of the previous year. Swami came out for Darshan and He simply walked past me. I tried my best to attract His attention by kneeling, showing my birthday tray. But, Swami moved on without giving a glance. My heart sank. 

After Darshan, my parents came running towards me asking if Swami blessed me. I shared my disappointment. They gave me solace and suggested that I try again during the evening Darshan. We rushed to Mandir authorities with a request for the first line. They refused, but looking at my desperation, they relented.

In the evening I was back, with a tray in my hand and prayers in my heart. Swami arrived, and as He took a turn towards our block, he once again passed by as if I did not exist. My heart boomed, and my thought-word-deed came together to broadcast my intense prayers probably using the full bandwidth available to reach Swami. And suddenly, Swami took a pause. He then turned around and walked back straight to where I was sitting. took chocolates, sprinkled them in the crowd behind, asked me to take Padanamaskar, gave a mischievous smile of recognition, and moved on. 

I learnt many lessons that day. One, “Prayer is God’s only weakness and man’s only strength!” Two, “You take one step towards God, and God will take ten steps towards you.” In fact, through that one step of intense prayer born out of keen interest in God, little did I know that Bhagawan was taking those steps towards my Heart to install Himself permanently. Three, ‘Mind readers are many, but Heart reader is one!’ And the one who reads our Heart is the permanent resident of our Hearts.

Swami says, “My true Birthday is when Divinity blossoms in your Heart!” And He chose no better occasion than my two birthdays to enter my Heart and installed Himself as a permanent resident sitting on that single seat sofa of the Heart.

Siddharth Bhatt B.Com in Brindavan, MFM in Prasanthi Nilayam, 1997 – 2002. Currently Deputy General Manager – Strategy & Competitive Intelligence Practice at Tata Sons, based in Mumbai. He is a member of the Samarpan team in Mumbai and a member of the organising team of Online Satsang under the banner ‘Sai Sessions’ since the commencement of the lockdown period in April 2020. He has also anchored many study circles and is an active member in youth activities.