The Price of Patience: A Father’s Test at Tirumala
My three-year-old daughter, Dhani, knew something special was happening. She watched with wide, curious eyes as my wife, Namrata, packed the bags. Her big brother, Rishi (11), had already packed his own kit with the independence of a young man. We were a massive, joyous troop—four families, eight adults, and six children—headed for the holy hills of Tirupati. We chose a weekday, naively hoping the crowds would be thin. We were prepared for the Sarva Darshan —the commoner’s queue. We knew it would be longer than the paid "Special Darshan," but we were ready to endure 8 to 10 hours. After all, isn't patience the only currency needed to see God? We reached Tirumala at 3:00 AM. The hill town, home to Lord Venkateswara, was wrapped in the cold, foggy embrace of December. The children—Dhani, Rishi, Om, Sai, Puchu, and Himani—shivered not just from the cold, but from excitement. Seeing their innocent joy, we adults felt a surge of spirituality. We roared in unison, “Govinda – Go...
