Searching for her sons was like looking for a needle in a haystack, and she knew that. Her children themselves were now on the verge of becoming senior citizens. Yet her face bore no expression of worry. She was in complete command of all her faculties and at peace with herself, as if she knew more than a soothsayer could foretell. After an hour or so, she exited the premises and went to the community kitchen to help cook food for the pilgrims. After the meal had been prepared, she washed the utensils, cleaned the floors and then went to her allotted quarters inside the gurdwara. It was a small room constructed along the long wall of the temple. The room had no window. One side was occupied by a wooden cot with a cotton mattress and the other by a small almirah. The bed sheet was old but it looked clean and ironed. Bibi kept her small cotton bag on the bed, took out her towel and went for a bath. Half an hour later, she went to where the black granite stone was placed. It was half submerged in water but the handprint of Guru Nanak was clearly visible. She stepped down the stairs. The pond was filled with colourful fish. They were used to humans and freely swam around the pilgrims’ feet.

Upon reaching the stone, she placed her right hand on top of the imprint. Her fingers fit in and merged with those of Nanak’s. ‘Thank you, O Nanak, for bringing me here!’ she said. ‘If it was not for you, I wouldn’t have been able to survive this long. I know you’ll not send me back empty-handed. It’s just that the mother in me is too eager and impatient to hold her sons close to her chest. I am sure you’ll understand.’ Bibi paused for a moment. There was no one behind her. The water was ice-cold, which is why the other pilgrims had taken a quick customary dip in the pond, touched the stone and made an exit. But Bibi was in no mood to get up. Giving vent to her pent-up emotions, she continued to talk to her lord. ‘I also wish to seek forgiveness for hurting my attackers. Please pardon my acts. I have long forgiven them for what they did. Bless me, O Nanak, to stay alive till I meet my family, I pray. Thank you, Waheguru. I am so grateful.’ Satisfied with her monologue, she drank some water from the pond and stepped out. Her clothes were soaking wet, but she showed no signs of feeling cold. Barefoot, she walked back to her quarters filled with new energy.