“Sir, my fifteen-year-old, only son, Suresh Benhur is stranded for the last six hours on the ledge. Please sir, rescue him,” pleaded Mrs. Mary Benhur to the Group Captain, who is responsible for the entire rescue operation in the flood affected region in Gondrail, a town about 150 km away from Hyderabad.

The Captain explained patiently, “We have come all the way only for this rescue work. As the 14 helicopters which we are having are busy evacuating the stranded at Kurnool which is facing the worst flooding in hundred years, we are getting another copter from the Hakimpet Air Force. It has to travel 150 km and we expect it anytime.”

“Sir, he wont last that long,” sobbed Mrs. Mary Benhur.

“Ma’am, have courage, we will rescue every one of them.”

“I am not talking about the ten students who are stranded near to the shore; I am talking about my son who is further down the river. Actually he needs help urgently than this ten, as he was holding on to the ledge for more than six hours”

“Ma’am, we will rescue every one of them,” assured the Group Captain again.

The wireless crackled and the Group Captain waiting for an opportunity to escape from the grieving mother, walked away hurriedly. He turned and saw Mrs. Mary Benhur still kneeling, with her eyes closed.

And he murmured in the wireless “Everyone’s praying. We all need praying. When are you reaching the site?”

“By 4.30 pm, in another ten minutes, Sir.” 

The helicopter landed exactly at 4.30 pm. Looking up at the clouds which looked ominous and threatened to rain, the pilot asked. “Captain what’s the instruction?”

Seeing the life jackets being loaded he replied, “As you have very little time, our top priority is to rescue the ten students, before dusk and or before the storm again lashes.”

“But sir what about that lad struck on the ledge downstream. He cannot survive the night. He has also to be rescued immediately.”

“Pilot, we stick to the instructions. We cannot rescue him as he is nearly a kilometer away. First we rescue the ten and if light permits we rescue that lad downstream, otherwise we just drop him a life jacket and hope he latches on to it. His mother is praying hard. Hope her God listens to her prayer.”

Hearing the helicopter’s roar as it took off towards the ten students, the crowd waiting on the shore shouted with joy.

The helicopter was in no time over the top of the ten students. A ladder was dropped and with the help of the megaphone, instructions were shouted “One at a time, please.” Sadly the ten paid no heed as all of them clambered and held on to the rope. The pilot, shocked, picked up the megaphone and shouted assuring that all the ten would be rescued. “Please one at a time. We will help every one of you.”
But to no avail. All the ten held on tightly to the ladder endangering the helicopter which started swinging dangerously. The pilot foreseeing the predicament broke off the ladder and let go all the ten students. Quickly dropping life jackets to the ten students, the helicopter took off towards the direction of the lone boy stranded downstream.

Lowering a ladder, the pilot rescued the boy. They made it to the shore just in time as the thunder; the lightening made the dark clouds burst, unleashing its stifled fury. 

Joining his mother, who was still kneeling, Suresh Benhur collapsed near her, exhausted. The commotion made her open her eyes and she was stunned to see her son, wet and motionless. The paramedics rushed in and covering him with a woolen blanket, administered first aid, reviving him. Suresh seeing his mother, smiled weakly.

“Praise God,” shouted Mary and hugged him. “I knew you will be rescued. At one time I was doubtful, but I prayed incessantly. I know the Good Lord will rescue you.”
And she fell on him and cried to her heart’s content.
“But Suresh, How did you it happen?” she asked.
“The copter tried rescuing the ten, but as everyone clamored on to the ladder the pilot had no choice but to cut the ladder and come after me.”
“Thank You Jesus, for the miracle. No one believed that you will be rescued and everyone was trying to console me.”