Unknown to the rest of the world, a small step for secularism was taken with the wedding of Baliram and Laxmi at the Mukta Jeevan Hospital (MJH) at Vehloli village, Vasind, in Shahapur taluka of Thane district, today. A centre for leprosy patients, the MJH believes in liberating life from leprosy through modern scientific medicine, from deformity through reconstructive surgery and from hopelessness through counselling. Moreover, as the raging debate between pro- and anti-proselytists grows louder, the communal divide simply melts away at the gates of the 66-acre residential complex run by missionary nuns, who havearranged for the marriage of seven of their patients in traditional style till date. ``When we don't understand something, we rely on the patients to teach us,'' smiles Sister Leela, who is in charge at the centre.

Established by the Helpers of Mary in 1987, the Vehloli centre (more home than hospice) has treated 85,748 out-patients and 2,116 in-patients so far.

The Helpers of Mary, which works with people from various sections of society, runs 46 centres countrywide, 19 of them in Mumbai. Three of these are homes for leprosy patients.

``We need to remember that just because someone has leprosy the need to love and be loved is not diminished,'' adds Sr Leela. Explaining that she had advised both Baliram and Laxmi to make sure it wasn't infatuation even though both had been with the centre for years, she says the decision hinged on whether marriage would make a qualitative difference to their lives. So how did Laxmi and Baliram meet? Laxmi was first admitted to the Dahisar leprosy centre which is alsorun by the Helpers of Mary, in early childhood.

``The nuns are like parents to me,'' she says. Little surprise then that the nuns did the honours when it came to the kanyadaan today. Says a coy Laxmi: ``I'd only dreamt of getting married but I never knew it would come true.''

After some persuasion, she lets on that though both she and Baliram had developed an interest in each other, Baliram had not proposed. So she did, early last year. Explains Baliram: ``I felt I had nothing to offer her.'' He too had been afflicted with leprosy in childhood and the lack of early intervention has led to disfigurement.

Like most of the others at the centre, Baliram and Laxmi have nowhere to else go. Says Sr Leela, ``We try to send them back home as far as possible because re-integrating them with their families and communities is the best thing after they're cured. But this is impossible for many of them as they are destitute and homeless.'' Which is why the centre, which has two, 76-bed wards for men and womenrespectively, is a permanent home to several patients who have long since been cured. Apart from the wards, the centre houses a hospital, where specialists from outside administer treatment.

Every time a couple gets married, the nuns present the woman with a mangalsutra, the couple receives a hamper, a few utensils and a home. The latter, which are furnished, unattached rooms, stand amid a riot of colours and greenery on sprawling grounds.

Harishchandra Dhone (25), who was married to another patient, Bakula (20), early last year, works at the loom in the textile department. The couple already has a month-old daughter, Bharati. Says Harishchandra, who is now cured: ``My parents may reluctantly accept me back but not my wife and daughter. Since getting a job will be difficult under the circumstances, we have decided to stay here.'' Asked to explain what prompted her to place a picture of the Virgin Mary and Jesus on the altar among deities of the Hindu pantheon, Bakula says, ``This is the god that curedme.''

Apart from leprosy cure facilities, the complex also includes a home for senior citizens. In February this year, the nuns opened their newest facility: a ward for abandoned and destitute HIV-infected children. Here, eight cherubic faces greet visitors with a song and a smile on their lips. The children, referred by social workers and others, also receive a regular education under the UNICEF's Gramshala project.

At sundown, the rolling grounds resonate to the sound of the tabla and cymbals as the predominantly Hindu patients gather for their daily bhajan session. Explains Sr Leela: ``Religion is a personal matter. We do not discourage them from praying in their own way just because this is a Christian institution.''