Swamishri was in Sarangpur for the Jal Jhilani festival. I had come especially for Swamishri's darshan, my age then being 15 or so I guess. When Swamishri came to do pradakshinas at the then small memorial shrine over Shastriji Maharaj's cremation spot (above which stands the present Yagnapurush Smruti Mandir), I sang two kirtans I had been taught by the sadhus: 'Ava ne ava re...' (Stay before my eyes like this forever and ever…) and 'Re sagpan Harivarnu sachu...' (True matrimony is that with God…). Swamishri's fleeting glance convinced me that he had taken note of me. 

After the pradakshinas, Swamishri walked back to the mandir. On the way, he held onto my wrist and said, "You sang beautifully." I was sort of expecting him to say that, but what came next, I definitely hadn't anticipated. Swamishri added, "Do you want to get 'married'?"

I was embarrassed. Timidly, I explained, "Swami, in our family, they prefer for the kids to get a little older."
Swamishri smiled. How was I to know that Swamishri wasn't talking about marriage in the literal sense!
"Not with somebody from this world. I'm talking about God!"

Now it made sense. Swamishri was talking about becoming a sadhu. I explained my situation to Swamishri. "Bapa, all of my family, right from my forefathers, believe in Shivji. I don't think they'll agree to me becoming a sadhu."

Swamishri patted me on the back and gave me the moral support I needed. "Just mention it. Maharaj will work things out for you."