Courage

As I type this note four men are at the Jeevan Sahara Kendra. Two of them are burly brutes - very much fitting the local tough-types - another man is inebriated - the final one is HIV positive.

Its the last one - Mr. Shrishti - one of our long-term HIV positive friends who has brought the three to our centre. The inebriated one is his own brother. Wanted by the police as a suspect in a murder case.

Last month Mr. Shrishti was in hiding. His brother was absconding - having fled to his village. The police constables were looking for Mr. Shrishti. He himself left his 5 month pregnant wife and was hiding at his work-place.

In the mean time we talked to Mr. Shrishti. He listened. We prayed together. Then he did a very brave thing.

Mr. Shrishti went to the police station.

He told them that he was innocent.

They told him to produce his brother - and they will stop harassing him.

We thought that this is another stalemate. That Mr. Shrishti will go back into hiding.

But Mr. Shrishti brought his brother back from the village. They are going to go over to the police station this afternoon. He brought his brother over to us at JSK for counselling before they make the short journey to the local constabulary.

Its no wonder his brother is inebriated. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of our enforcement agencies. The questioning administered can be brutal.

Rahul is talking with them.

We are seeing courage in action. Would that we have a happy outcome to this story...