*CASE ON A PLANE* (true story)

*CASE ON A PLANE*
(true story by Malika Mala Devi Dasi, a preacher in Russia and Kazakhstan)

Malika-Mala: Once with Mataji Kirtirani, we performed some festival in Astana, Kazakhstan. We did not have time to have dinner and rushed to the plane because we were going to be late for the flight. The local devotees handed us a big bag with Prasadam.
I said: Krishna! The flight from Astana to Alma-Ata is just an hour and a half. We don’t need anything. Especially at night.
But Kirtirani said- I’m hungry!
Devotees insisted: Take it all, please. Treat someone in Alma-Ata.

Having gotten into the plane it turned out that we are in different rows. But next to me there was a spare seat. So I waved to Kirtirani to come and take it- Come on in. Sit next to me.
Next to me there was a guy who looked pretty unfriendly. His clothes were all dark colors. He was obviously in a bad mood. Okay. We’ve settled. Kirtirani says:
-Krishna! I’m so hungry! Malika-Mala, can I start to eat?
– Sure.
As soon as the plane took off she started to rustle with plastic bags full of Prasadam.
– Oh! They got this! Oh! And they got this also! – She looked so happy. – Malika-Mala, are you sure you are not gonna eat?
– I’m not hungry. Have you offered some to our neighbor?
He interrupted:
– Do not do this!!
– Oh, ok.
The stewardess comes up and delivers food. And in a whisper, he said: “I am a vegetarian.”
Kirtirani turned to me and said:
– Malika-Mala, he ordered a vegetarian meal!
– Wow! So, you treat him!
– Excuse me, please excuse me, I accidentally found out that you ordered a vegetarian. And we have just the same vegetarian.
“I said no!” – shouted the man.
– Ai. Okay.
He looked really annoyed.
She started taking prasadam, commenting:
– Oh, how delicious!
She offered him again: – What about some sweets?
“I said no!” – shouted the man.
But she didn’t stop: Oh, look, here’s another thing we have! Well, why should you eat airplane food?? We have homemade food here!
Finally, he said: OMG! Why is this happening to me?! Why is this happening to me again and again??!
He went on: “I know you! You are Malika Mala!” (We were shocked, he called me by my name)“. He continued: as soon as I spotted you on the plane, right that moment I knew you would be sitting next to me!”

My eyes got big. What’s the matter? What is going on?
He continued: “And of course, you called her to sit here too! And yes, you started offering me Prasadam! I know what you want!! You want to always remember Krishna! But I want to FORGET Him! Do you understand??!! I want to forget him!!”
We were sitting there shocked and speechless.
Then it turned out that he was a devotee, and he quarreled with some devotees. It often happens. There were insults. He even used to be a pujari in London Temple. But then, due to quarrels he left the devotees and ended up alone. However, he remained a vegetarian.
Then he said: “You understand?! It is impossible to get away from Krsna! I do not want to be friends with Him, but He does not stop being friends with me. Whenever I go, He would certainly send me prasadam. He would surely send me devotees. He would definitely leave Bhagavad-gita to me or something else. He is so friendly! You just can’t imagine!”
Kirtirani and I both started to cry. There were tears in his eyes too.
“Can you even imagine what kind of friend He is ?! It is impossible to get away from Him! Impossible! And you know why it is happening now? I am coming from the funeral, my father died. This is a Kazakh funeral. There was only meat, only meat. All these days I only ate tomatoes and cucumbers. I’m so hungry. I know why He sent this prasadam!“
I thought: “Lord! So He worries about him so much that He made devotees provide us with a big amount of Prasadam for this short flight. It was meant for him!”
Crying, I told him: “You strengthen our faith! Right away. Right here. Please help yourself!”
He started taking prasadam. And then he asked: “Can I take some with me too? I missed prasadam so much!”
“Of course! Of course!
Such was the story about friendship with Krishna! Hare Krishna!