My father was asked to look after another temple in the village. Bhogilal promised him that his education would be taken care but he should look after the upkeep of temple and do daily pooja there. My father managed both very well. Bhogilal's Mumbai-based son was impressed with my father's capabilities. My father's handwriting was very good so he took him to Mumbai to keep his account books. My father found a boy for Sarswati in Julasan. That is how our lifelong connection with Julasan began.
He then moved to Mumbai for further studies and took up a job. He became a stockbroker and got married. But his first marriage didn’t last long because his wife died of tuberculosis. She left behind two children.
Inheritance of the father
My father also had contacted Tubercolosis at a young age. Whenever he would have an attack of TB, he would go to Julasan. In Julasan, he started a money-lending business. Here he had network of friends who would discuss philosophy, spirituality and religion.
My father would read a lot in those days. He married my mother Rambhaben in Julasan. Every evening, my mother and father would go for walk on the farms. At that time he would talk a lot about religion, mythology and spirituality. My mother absorbed this knowledge well. Whenever sadhus would visit Kadi, my mother would invite them home, feed them and talk about God and spirituality. We would witness this and learnt a lot. Evening time was always story-telling time in our family.
My American marriage
I think whatever is written in fate, it will happen. I had a girlfriend in Mumbai when I was studying. We were toying with ideas like getting married and thought we will settle down in some small village and serve the people.
Image: Sunita was accorded a grand welcome in Julasan village in Gujarat.
Photograph: Vaihayasi P Daniel
Also read: 
Sunita at the Sabarmati Ashram
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