Metamorphosis: Episode 10
The Challenge
Sidhak frowned as she read the letter. It was from the college. There was a serious problem with her status. This must be a mistake, she thought. She took a few deep breaths to compose herself and then marched to the dean's office. This needed to be resolved as soon as possible.
When she headed home that day, she was very quiet. The meeting with the dean had not gone well, and their position had not changed. She was going to be removed from the pre-med program by the end of the week. It was a shock to get this sudden news. But the college was adamant. Nothing she could say would convince them to change their decision. They informed her in no uncertain terms that they were very strict about policy, and it was not a trivial matter to just modify or change it ad hoc.
Before returning home, Sidhak stopped at the Gurudwara. It was evening, and there were a few sangat members sitting in silent meditation, while some sevadar's worked in the kitchen, cleaning and preparing the evening meals. It was a serene and peaceful atmosphere. The ragi jatha were performing kirtan, and everything seemed to be tranquil and meditative. Sidhak stood before the Guru Granth Sahib with her head bowed and the palms of her hands pressed together.
She performed her Ardas and then made a humble request for strength and guidance. In her mind, she isolated each of the emotions she was feeling, the stress, the worry, the anxiety, the fear, the anger, the helplessness. She took all of those emotions, identified them, expressed them to the Guru, and then wrapped them all up together into a bundle. She placed the bundle at Guru's feet. "Please help me," she beseeched the Guru. "I don't know what to do. Please help me."
Then she took her seat among the sangat, closed her eyes, and focused on the sounds of kirtan and the shabad. She forgot her problems and worries, and got lost in the words and sounds of the shabad.
On her weekly trip to the hospital after delivering langar to the Sisters of Mercy house, she met with Jean again. She still looked old, but had gained a renewed energy and vitality and seemed to be in much better spirits. She welcomed Sidhak with a tender hug.
"Did you follow my advice and find a nice young man?" she eyed Sidhak with mock indignation.
Sidhak laughed. "I haven't been looking," she admitted.
"What's wrong, dear?" Jean was looking at her intently, "something is bothering you."
"Oh, it's just—"
"Tell me, honey. I may be an old dinosaur, but I have seen a lot of years of life. That's the upside to being so old."
"Well, you remember I'm in the pre-med program? I got a letter from the college yesterday. It said they were cutting me out of the program, because they claimed I had cheated on some of my last exams and assignments."
"Cheated!? How did they figure that?"
"They said they had some proof, but wouldn't disclose it. I went to talk with the dean. He was not very helpful. I demanded that they show me proof, but he said they had to maintain the confidentiality of the other students. So, basically, somebody made up a false accusation against me for some reason."
Jean took Sidhak's hand. "Oh now, my dear, why would anyone want to do such a horrible thing?"
"The world is not all sunshine and roses."
"I know, dear, I know." Jean smiled at Sidhak. "You know what this situation calls for?"
"I have no idea."
"A big, nasty, mean, attorney! And I know just the person. He's a dear old friend, and he will take this case."
"But I can't afford—"
Jean waved Sidhak's concerns away. "He's a dear old friend. He won't charge you a dime, dear. Trust me, he lives for this kind of stuff. I will call him today."
Sidhak's eyes watered as she smiled and hugged Jean. "Thank you," she whispered.
Sidhak was sitting in the langar hall of the Gurudwara, sipping hot tea and talking with the other sangat members. They were sharing their personal stories. When it was Sidhak's turn, she smiled a little and then told them about the letter from the college.
"They want to cut you out of the program?" others gasped in astonishment.
"Based on an unsubstantiated claim from some other student? That's so wrong!" another lady quipped indignantly. "That's illegal!"
"They can't just cut you out, they have to investigate first!"
"Did you go talk with them?"
"Yes," Sidhak answered, nodding, "I talked with the dean, but he said that it was their policy and they take the code of conduct seriously and won't tolerate any kind of cheating on exams or assignments."
"They are ones to talk about conduct," someone retorted.
"Can't you appeal?" someone else asked.
"I asked about the appeal process, and he told me that this kind of thing is not something that would likely be approved. But I told him I was innocent, and that they really need to prove the accusation. He sort of said some vague things there."
"See! They know they're wrong!"
"How come you are so calm about this?" a keen observer asked.
Sidhak thought for a moment.
"At first I was very upset, and scared," she admitted, "but now, I guess I kind of feel that I'm lucky in a way. Things could have been so much worse. I mean, I have so much to be thankful for, my good health, my family, friends, opportunities for seva. When I put it in perspective, this doesn't seem to be such a huge thing, although it might have been. I feel like it was just a thorn that pricked my foot."
The others nodded their heads in agreement and understanding. They all knew the story she was referencing about the Sikh whose foot had gotten pricked by a thorn on his way to pay his respects to the Guru.