Ravi didn’t realize it was the Lord who woke him during the middle of the night. As he made his way to the bathroom, he heard shattering glass from the kitchen window. He felt his way through the darkness into the bathroom, closed and locked the door behind him, and crouched in the shower. His heart raced. He pulled the curtain closed. Footsteps, many footsteps.
Dear Jesus, You protected Daniel in the lion’s den. Will You protect me now?
Ravi recognized Mr. Shah’s voice. “You all know what to do. Quick, quick! Adeel and I will go upstairs.” Running footsteps disbursed.
Ravi heard the sleepy protests and the gruff male voices commanding the boys to “shut up or else.”
Dear Jesus, You can protect me from monsters in my imagination. Can You protect me now? Amen.
The next few minutes were a blur of angry voices commanding the boys to “move, move, move.” Ravi heard the heavy adult footsteps and the children’s scared voices. Among the sobs, he could identify Sammy’s voice, “Help me, Jesus!”
“I see you hiding back there,” barked one of the men. There was the sound of a slap, and Wilson’s voice cried out in pain.
“Oh, just pick him up,” shouted another man.
“Fast, fast,” yelled Mr. Shah. Julie’s voice rang out, “What do you think you’re—” then the sound of a fist on flesh and her voice abruptly went silent.
All the children were herded outside. Cars started and disappeared into the darkness, and it was quiet once again.
Only then did Ravi cry and wail into the darkness.
“Jesus, Auntie, help me.” He rocked back and forth with his arms wrapped around his knees. She can’t be gone. She was my new mother. You can’t be dead, Auntie. Jesus, don’t let her be dead.
The voice that had told Ravi to walk told him to go to Julie’s room. His body trembled as he pulled back the shower curtain and crept in the darkness up the outside stairs. He felt his way to her door. Pictures of his dead mother and father flashed through his mind. He feared their bodies might be there on the floor and with each stride he would step on them.
He was afraid to enter the room; he was afraid not to.
“Jesus, Jesus, help me.” He flung open her door and heard a muffled sound. In the dark it sounded like she was dying, croaking out her last breath. A chill ran up his spine, and his breath quickened.
He felt his way to her body, still lying on the mat. Will there be blood? He cringed and forced his hand forward. It landed on her shoulder. He could feel her move, and the horrible muffled sound came again and again.
“Don’t die, Auntie; Auntie, please don’t die. You have to be my new mother.”
He touched her face. What is this? Tape? He worked his fingernails under the edges and pulled hard. There was a ripping sound followed by a cry of pain.
“Ravi, Ravi, you’re OK. I’m so glad you’re OK.” She sobbed. “So glad you’re OK. You’re like my adopted son.” He lay next to her on the mat with his arms and legs clinging around her in the darkness.
“Ravi, turn on the lights and untie me. I want to hug you back.” The light went on, and Ravi was relieved to see only a black eye. Other than being tied up, she looked fine.
In several minutes, he had her arms untied, and she grabbed him and pulled him onto her lap, covering his face with kisses.
“Oh, Ravi. I prayed for Jesus to protect you. I couldn’t lose you. I love you too much.” She rocked him back and forth and they both wept. “You’re safe. Mr. Shah didn’t get you. Jesus protected you.” After several more minutes and what seemed like a hundred kisses, Julie spoke.
“I have to put you down and untie my feet. I have to see if anyone else is here.”
The men herded the whimpering children into the shed behind Mr. Shah’s house, startling the five children already there. “Quiet, quiet, we don’t want to wake the whole neighborhood,” he hissed.
“You can go home now,” he said to his accomplices as he slid the bar lock into place from the outside.
Mr. Shah entered his house, stopped abruptly, and ran back to the shed. He flung the door open and burst inside, startling the children. He shined his flashlight from face to face, then from corner to corner. He yelled at the huddling children, his free hand clenched in a fist. “Where’s he hiding? Where’s Ravi?” When the children looked around and shrugged, Mr. Shah became enraged. He threw his hands up in the air, kicked at the dirt, cursed, and left in his rusty green car, with tires squealing.
Inside the shed, Bhanu and Kumar received hugs. Sashi led the children in a prayer meeting. Each child prayed to Jesus for help.
Julie and Ravi untied the two sisters, one upstairs and the other down.
“Where’s Shara?” asked Ravi.
“They must have taken her after they hit me.” They all ran back to Julie’s bedroom.
Julie looked stricken. “Jesus help us,” she cried, staring at the vacant spot on the mat.
“We have to rescue Shara and the children,” shouted Chanda.
“Where did they take them?” wailed Champa.
“We need to pray,” blurted Julie. “The Lord will fight for us and the children! Lord, please guide us. We don’t know what to do.” Julie listened so hard that her face was scrunched, but she didn’t hear the Lord’s voice. “Aaarrrgggh,” she clenched her fists. “We need to pray harder.” She stood and paced. Her desperation was apparent. She looked at Chanda and Champa. “Have you heard anything?” They solemnly shook their heads.
“I know what to do,” announced Ravi.
“Ravi,” said Julie, “I know you want to help, but we need to hear from the Lord. Oh, Lord,” began Julie, “please show us Your ways. Guide us and protect the children. Lord, we’re begging, we don’t know what to do unless You reveal it to—”
“But—”
“Not now, Ravi.” Please, Lord, speak to us. As Julie paced, Chanda and Champa looked at Ravi. They both smiled, which was enough encouragement for Ravi to blurt out, “I know what to do because Jesus just told me what to do!”
“Oh, Ravi, I’m sorry. What did Jesus tell you to do?”
“We should go to Mr. Shah’s house right now.”
Julie gasped. Oh, Jesus, can that be You? We could get captured or worse. “Ravi, are you sure? Are you sure it was Jesus and not your imagination?”
Ravi didn’t answer. He ran out the door, motioning for everyone to follow. Julie was alone in the bedroom. She quickly followed Ravi, Chanda, and Champa outside and down the dark stairs.
Fear had crept into Julie’s thoughts. “Maybe we should wait for Daya. He’ll be here in the morning. He can help.”
Driving toward the orphanage, Mr. Shah yelled to nobody, “I had a thriving business until Ravi showed up. I’ll make him pay. He’ll pay for all the kids he stole from me, and then I’ll make him pay some more.” He hit the steering wheel. “I’ll show him what happens when you double-cross me. No one double-crosses me and lives to brag about it.” He cut the lights and pulled to the curb.
“Wait,” said Ravi. “Jesus just said we should go out through the backyard.”
Oh, for goodness sakes, what difference does it make? thought Julie. But the sound of a slamming car door changed her mind. “Go, go, go.” They ran into the backyard, out the gate, and ran for several minutes.
“Wait, we can stop now,” panted Julie. She looked around, and they were on the street. “Maybe we will recognize where we are.” Julie looked around, trying to get oriented.
OK, Jesus, I need to hear what to do. Now would be a great time to speak.
Julie, I am speaking. I’m just not speaking to you right now.
But, Jesus, I’m responsible for these people, she pointed to Ravi and the sisters. And I’m responsible for the orphans. I have to know Your plan.
Julie, I was under the impression that I’m in charge of rescuing the orphans and that I can do that any way I please. Trust My leadership through Ravi. It’s time to grow his faith muscle.
She took a deep breath. OK, Jesus, You’ve provided for us. I choose to trust You. “Which way, Ravi? Lead us.”
“This way,” Ravi gestured emphatically. Julie had to hustle to keep up with them.
Mr. Shah had climbed back through the broken window and inspected every room, every closet, and any place a small boy could hide.
“Ravi,” he sung out in a pleasant voice. “I have sweets for you.” He narrowed his eyes. “Where are you, my son?”
He exited the back door and saw the gate standing open. He kicked the house, cursed, and stormed back to his car.
After several more right and left turns, Ravi pointed.
“That’s the house. His car is gone. Let’s go.”
Julie wiped her sweaty palms on her pajamas and took several deep breaths. Ravi led the way to the shed in the back and slid the lock. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, please protect us all.
The four of them stepped silently from the moonlight into the darkness.
“Thank You, Jesus, for answering our prayers!” shouted Wilson. Pandemonium broke loose as the pajama-clad orphans swarmed their four rescuers. “You came to get us,” squealed Sammy. Bhanu threw his arms around Julie, and Ravi hugged Kumar.
Julie breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Nilaya sitting, rocking Shara. “Thank You, Jesus.”
Mr. Shah was ready to pull in his driveway when he noticed the door standing open. He parked on the street and crept to the shed. Inside the orphans were still rejoicing. When he saw Julie and Ravi, he let out a mocking laugh. This is too good to be true.
Mr. Shah’s silhouette in the doorway plunged the kids from delight to terror. He stood with legs spread and his hands on his hips.
“Enjoy your party, because tomorrow morning it’s over!” He scowled at Ravi as if remembering his transgressions, then drew his finger across his neck in a slashing motion. He slammed and locked the door and laughed all the way to his bedroom.
Julie’s legs buckled under her. She hit the floor. What does he mean, “tomorrow morning it’s over”?
The silence was broken by crying. First one child, then the next. The three original captives clung to each other and watched the new arrivals.
“What’s he going to do to us tomorrow?” wailed Kumar.
“We’re going to die,” cried Madhu.
Chanda and Champa knelt and embraced the two boys.
“It’s all right. Jesus will protect us,” whispered Champa.
Sammy squeezed Ravi as hard as he could. Before Julie could get her wits about her, Ravi shouted, “We all need to pray. Jesus will tell us how to rescue ourselves. Remember how He rescued Daniel from the lions?”
“That’s right,” said Julie. “He can surely rescue us. Ravi, tell them to hold hands in a circle and pray. Have everyone praying now.”
Slowly the balance shifted from crying to praying. A gift of faith flooded the room and the voices grew louder and more confident. A few of the children were on their knees, having entered into travail.
Madhu noticed a primitive, heavy crutch made from a tree branch lying beside one of the original captives. After chatting with the boy, he held it up.
“I can dig under the door. Then I will crawl out and unlock it.”
“I’ll look for something else to dig with,” said Praveen. He returned with a small metal dish and a short stick about 12 inches long.
“Ravi, tell everyone to keep praying, and Wilson and Praveen, you dig, too.”
Praveen and Wilson joined Madhu scraping at the dirt.
“Faster, faster,” pleaded Julie. “Ravi, keep the others praying.”
The monkey was sitting on the foot of Mr. Shah’s bed. Mr. Shah was having trouble sleeping. His mind kept flipping back and forth to what he would do to Ravi. I have to make him an example. I can’t risk any of these new ones being defiant. Should I do it slowly? Knife? How to instill the most fear? Make them think I’m going to kill them all?
What about that pesky woman who lives at the dump? Who would miss a homeless woman in this town? No one. She’ll be the second to go.
He fluffed his feather pillow and flipped it to the cold side. This Ravi deal might just turn out fine. I have about ten new workers overnight, and after I finish with him and the woman, none of them will consider disobeying—ever.
After 15 minutes of frantic digging, a pile of dirt was mounded by the door.
“Let me try now,” said Wilson.
“You won’t fit. Get Nilaya!” shouted Madhu. “Nilaya, wiggle under the door, then I’ll hand you this stick and you can slide the lock.” Nilaya lay on her back, pushed with her legs and wiggled her head and shoulders into the night.
She stared up and saw Mr. Shah, monkey perched on his shoulder, glaring down at her. He cursed, then spit in her face, and with his boot against her head, shoved her back under the door. She screamed in pain.
The door flung open. Mr. Shah burst in. The monkey leapt to a rafter. The children cowered together, standing in the middle of the dark room. Kumar fell to the ground, locked in a fetal position. Sammy’s eyes were transfixed with horror. Julie felt a sickening wave of terror rising up inside.
He stood menacingly, his hands on his hips and his legs spread. A carved ivory knife handle protruded from the sheath attached to his belt. Julie, Ravi, Sashi, Madhu, Chanda, and Champa continued praying silently.
He paced in front of them, pounding his fist into his open palm.
“So you thought you could escape from Mr. Shah? I should kill you all right now for your disobedience,” his eyes narrowed with contempt. He turned toward the children, crossed his arms, and paused to let the thought strike them. “I should kill you all, right now!”
Just then Shara let out a shrill, piercing wail followed by loud crying. Mr. Shah sent her a scorching look.
“Take that baby over there and shut it up now before I shut it up myself!” He pointed to the corner of the building behind him. He patted the knife at his side. “Now!”
Before Julie could intervene, Nilaya scampered to the corner. When she arrived, Shara immediately quit crying. That’s strange, thought Julie. She sounded like she would cry for hours.
Mr. Shah glared at the children again and smirked, “I’m really quite a nice man until you cross me. I can be your best friend or your worst enemy.” He patted the sheath on his hip. “Ask Ravi, Sammy, or Kumar. They’ll tell you that I sat them at my table and fed them the best food and treated them like a son. Isn’t that right, boys?” Sammy and Ravi shook their heads.
“I said, ‘Isn’t that right, boys?’”
“Yes,” they squeaked.
“For some reason, Ravi didn’t want to stay with me, and next thing I knew, others were gone. There are few things I despise worse than a thief,” his lip curled in disgust. He took several steps toward the group and backhanded Ravi across the face. The children’s eyes widened in alarm. Blood dripped onto Ravi’s shirt. Julie’s face grew ashen.
“I hate it when people steal from me.” He spit out his words with contempt. “I can’t let that go unpunished; next thing you know, I’d have no business.” He fixed a smoldering eye on Ravi.
“Everyone would think, ‘I can steal from Mr. Shah and nothing will happen.’” He cracked his knuckles. “I have to set an example. I’ll show you what happens to anyone who crosses me.” His eyes raked the room as he pulled the knife from its sheath and held it up, pretending to examine it. He slid his finger down the long, curved blade.
He smiled maliciously. “Ravi. I think I’d like to talk with you.” He kicked Ravi in the ribs, grabbed him by the arm, and jerked him forward. Ravi, his face contorted in pain, was bent double clutching his ribs. Julie flew to his side.
Mr. Shaw looked at her with contempt, took a step closer, and spit in her face.
“Who are you, and why are you always in my way?” He gave Julie a shove that sent her sprawling. She wiped the spit from her face and stood up, took a few steps forward, and thrust out her hands pleading with Mr. Shah.
“Ravi, are you able to translate?”
Looking directly into Mr. Shah’s steely eyes she spoke, “Take me, please! Let Ravi go. He’s a little boy. Take me, let them all go.” She made a sweeping gesture with her arm. “You can make more money with me,” she swallowed the lump in her throat and continued, “than all these children combined. You don’t want them. You want me.
“I stole Ravi from the street corner. It was me.” She fought to keep her voice steady. “And I helped him steal Sammy and Kumar, too. Ravi was just my puppet. Does he look like a leader? I’m the one who’s in charge here. This is my gang,” her heart hammered in her chest. Please, Jesus, don’t let him hurt Ravi. She continued, “It’s me you need to deal with, not Ravi. Pleeaase,” she pleaded, “let them all go, and I’ll, I’ll work for you.” She looked at Ravi. “Tell him, Ravi. Tell him what I said.” Mr. Shah shifted his steely gaze to Ravi.
Ravi was still hunched over holding his ribs. He tried to straighten up. Tears streamed down his cheeks, and his body shook. Auntie loves me and all the children. She would sacrifice herself for all of us just like Jesus did. Ravi knew there was only one thing to do. With all his effort, he stood up and stared directly into Mr. Shah’s eyes. In his most convincing voice he spoke, “She says she will take all the children and leave and promises with her whole heart to never, ever tell anyone what has happened here tonight. Please let her and the others go.”
Mr. Shah snorted. “Tell her she’s next.” He turned toward Julie and hissed, “You’re already a dead woman.”
Tears flowed down Ravi’s cheeks. He turned to Julie and patted her arm.
“Auntie, he says he’s going to think about letting you and everyone go. He’ll decide in a minute.”
Julie could feel her body stiffen in apprehension as she waited for Mr. Shah’s next move. She closed her eyes, Jesus, please fight for us. We need You. You have good plans for Ravi’s life. I know You do. Help us.
When she opened her eyes she saw Nilaya had left Shara in the corner and was tiptoeing up behind Mr. Shah.
What’s she doing? Mr. Shah will take her out with one punch. Oh, Lord, please don’t let him kill little Nilaya.
The other children saw her, too. She was about 15 feet away. Praveen began to fidget. Madhu inconspicuously scraped up a hand full of dirt. The monkey watched.
Mr. Shah lunged at Ravi and held him in a headlock against his body. Ravi stiffened. He poked the knife against Ravi’s throat, the pressure indenting his flesh. Julie shrieked, “No,” and lurched forward. Mr. Shah glared at her with total disdain and pushed harder on the knife. She could see the fear in Ravi’s eyes, and she stepped back, raising her hands in surrender.
Nilaya tiptoed closer.
Mr. Shah glared ruthlessly from child to child, demanding all attention in the room in preparation for his next action.
“Watch closely, children, and don’t ever forget, THIS is what I do to anyone who disobeys me.” He pulled the knife away from Ravi’s throat, getting ready to plunge it in when Nilaya stepped close and crouched behind his legs on her hands and knees.
Wilson and Praveen surged forward and toppled him backward over Nilaya. Still in his grasp, Ravi went down, too. Madhu flung the dirt at point-blank range, blinding him. Mr. Shah released Ravi and the knife to scrape at his eyes. He tried to cry out, but could only produce a violent cough.
Wilson, Praveen, and Bhanu all let out a war cry and were on top of him in a flash. The monkey screeched from the rafter. Julie saw the knife land and retrieved it. She clutched it in both hands in front of her, watching the brawl on the floor, unsure how to help.
“Jesus, will fight for us!” she yelled.
“Yes,” yelled Sashi and the other girls, who began crying out in prayer.
Fists were flying. Mr. Shah, still coughing and with eyes squinting closed, flailed and boxed at the air, but rarely landed a punch. Unable to see where the next blow was coming from, he folded his arms in front of his face to protect against the boys’ direct hits.
The Lord whispered to Chanda, Daya is at the house now.
“I’ll get Daya,” she shouted as she ran out the door.
Julie was still holding the knife, praying. Lord, what should I do?
It’s under control, Julie. Just trust Me.
OK, Lord, I know You have a future for each of these precious children. I know You promised You would fight for us.
Mr. Shah’s bloodcurdling scream filled the air as Sapna bit into his leg. While Wilson, Praveen, and the others held him to the ground, Ravi brought the brawl to an end when he whacked him in the head with the “Y” shaped end of the crutch, knocking him cold.
The shrieking monkey leapt onto Mr. Shah’s chest and repeatedly punched him in the face.
Ravi pulled the monkey off. It climbed into his arms, tipped its hat, gave Ravi a candy, reached in other pockets and handed Ravi a toothbrush, a safety pin, and his Silly Putty®! Tears welled in Ravi’s eyes.
“We need to tie him up,” shouted Praveen, “but we have no rope.”
Madhu stepped forward. “I know what we can use.”
A few minutes later, a car door slammed, and Daya burst through the doorway looking intense, his gun drawn, followed by Pastor Kandal and Chanda. Daya looked at Mr. Shah on the floor, and his intensity faded. Pastor Kandal put his hand on Daya’s shoulder and pointed. Pastor laughed; Daya howled. Chanda blushed and put her hand over her face.
Mr. Shah’s pants were wrapped several times around his ankles and tied and his shirt was wrapped and firmly tied, binding his wrists.
“He wears funny underwear,” laughed Wilson, pointing to the white boxers with red hearts.
Chanda held Shara, who was miraculously sleeping.
Daya cuffed Mr. Shah and hoisted him over his broad shoulders.
“Come on, Sleeping Beauty, you’re going to wake up in jail.” Before exiting, he turned and gave the guys thumbs up. “You are all awesome warriors!”
Julie was still hugging Ravi, who was hugging back ferociously.
As Daya exited the group clapped, shouted, high-fived, and hugged. Tears flowed.
Nilaya beamed as Wilson and Praveen boosted her on their shoulders, and the whole group sang and applauded.
Kumar led Pastor Kandal to the four other captive children, a boy blind in one eye, one without a foot, and a girl without a hand. They all accepted a big hug from him.
“We have a safe place for you to live. Mr. Shah is gone, and he will never hurt you again. You can come with us, and we will be your new family. You will be safe and well fed.”
Julie used her new pajamas to wipe the blood from Ravi’s face.
“Ravi, translate,” said Julie. “Get everyone in a circle; we need to thank the Lord.”
Nilaya was the first to pray. “Jesus, thank You for telling me to sneak up behind that bad, bad man….”