After several hours, Ravi regained consciousness on the car’s back floor, clutching his Silly Putty®. He ached all over, his left arm had a huge gash, he was bruised, but nothing seemed broken. Unaware of what had happened he cried out, “Momma! Daddy! Momma! Daddy!”
His mother’s arm was draped over her seat, but there was no life in it. His father was dead, too. All the windows were smashed. With great effort, he pulled himself up on the backseat, and the shattered glass cut into his knees. He placed the astronomy book gently into the suitcase, threw it outside, and climbed out the window.
The sun was going down, and night was already creeping into the valley. The torrential rain continued. The front of the car was smashed into his parents’ seats. Ravi slid under the back of the car next to the rear tire to find shelter. He clutched the Silly Putty® egg. His blue shorts and yellow t-shirt provided little warmth, and his teeth chattered. He fell into shock and dozed.
At 2:30 A.M. he awoke with a start. His body ached, his leg was stiff, and the left side of his face was so swollen he could barely see out of that eye. When he remembered where he was, he cried again. Through sobs he pleaded with his Hindu god, “O great Ganesh, rescue me.”
Ganesh did not hear Ravi’s prayer, but there is one true God who did. He is the Creator of the universe and Ravi’s creator. And even though Ravi had never heard of Him, He knew everything about Ravi.
Ravi, before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.1 You have a great destiny. Now you must leave this place.
Even though Ravi didn’t hear his Creator God out loud, he knew he had to walk. To where, he didn’t know. Ravi struggled out from under the car, held the back bumper, and pulled himself upright. He cried out in pain. In a few seconds, he was soaked.
He was careful to keep his back turned because of the hideousness that lay in the front seat. Ravi opened his suitcase, carefully placed the Silly Putty® inside, and grabbed his grey cardigan sweater. Pain shot through his body as he stretched his arms behind him to put it on. It was soon soaked and did nothing to warm him.
He looked at the massive hillside looming above him, took a deep breath, and began the climb. Though the rain was subsiding, the hillside was muddy and slick. Each step sent shooting pain through his body, and several times he slid almost back to the bottom, scraping and bumping his chin, knees, and the palms of his hands.
He climbed again but realized he couldn’t make it carrying the suitcase. He removed the astronomy book and put the Silly Putty® in his pocket. He let the suitcase go and watched it slide to the bottom of the hill, spilling its contents.
After continuing to struggle, he reluctantly lay the astronomy book among the branches of a bush and ran his hand over the cover. Balancing carefully, he removed his sweater and gently laid it over the book. He patted the egg in his pocket and climbed again.
After a 20-minute laborious climb, he reached the ridge and rolled over onto the flat ground. Dirt was caked under each fingernail, and his new clothes were covered with mud and blood. He’d lost one sandal on the steep bank and left it behind.
He crawled back toward the edge and peered down into the ravine, but the car was obscured from view. With fresh tears in his eyes, he crawled behind a bush beside the bridge, clutched his Silly Putty® and fell asleep.
Ravi woke with a start in the darkness. He sat up quickly and grabbed his head. It and his whole body throbbed. He slowly lay down again, as memories of the bone-jarring accident, his mother’s limp hand, and worse played in his mind again and again. He grabbed his Silly Putty® and held it to his heart—the last remnant of his normal life.
Then the rain began again, first a sprinkle, then the lightning and thunder, then the downpour. Soon he was soaked and shivering again. I want to go home. I want mommy and daddy! His child’s mind could not conceive of what had happened to him in the last 12 hours. His parents were dead. His home was gone. His friends were gone, and at nine years old, he was on his own. It was entirely too much for anyone, especially a young boy, to deal with.
He heard the voice again telling him to “walk.”