FROM ESCAPE TO AWAKENING

His life, he believes, has been a curriculum written by the Divine. God allowed him to stumble but never to be lost. In every low point, people and opportunities appeared to guide him forward. Goa brought another fresh start. He worked as a cook in a hotel for three years, honing his skills, completing cooking courses, and eventually opening a small juice shop. The business flourished, and he moved from a cramped shared room to a comfortable apartment. Outwardly, he was doing well, yet inwardly there remained a hollow emptiness he could not shake. One day, the thought of death struck him like a lightning bolt. For the first time, he questioned what awaited him beyond this life. Although distant from faith for many years, this fear led him to a mosque, where he began to pray and seek answers from scholars. Still, questions about life, death, and past mistakes continued to trouble him. The turning point came one night after performing Tahajjud, the night prayer. A deep realization dawned: his greatest wrong had been leaving home without a word, subjecting his family to years of pain and uncertainty. Overcome with guilt, he prayed for forgiveness. The next day, a friend noticed his distress, and he shared his story. In less than twenty-four hours, that friend had located his family in Bengaluru. The following day, after twelve long years, they came to Goa and brought him home. Returning home marked the true beginning of his life. His uncle, Naseerullah Qureshi, a devoted reader of Al-Risala, introduced him to the writings of Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Reading The Creation Plan of God felt like emerging into light after years in darkness. When he travelled to Kerala to meet Maulana in person, the Maulana’s answer to his question lifted a burden he had carried for years. In that moment, his purpose became clear: to dedicate his life to the CPS Mission of spirituality and peace, living in harmony with his Creator’s plan. Looking back, he sees those restless years as preparation. Every hardship, every mistake, and every journey taught him resilience, reflection, and humility. Like Prophet Moses, who wandered as a fugitive before finding his mission, his wanderings became his training. He had sought work and shelter, but God gave him knowledge and a mission.