It was an air-conditioned lounge built luxuriously to accommodate 10 to 15 people. The cushioned sofas sank dangerously deep when you sit on them and the TV screen was muted; you could see the dancing damsels but you could not hear the song.
It was an air-conditioned lounge built luxuriously to accommodate 10 to 15 people. The cushioned sofas sank dangerously deep when you sit on them and the TV screen was muted; you could see the dancing damsels but you could not hear the song.
It was the office of Ganesh Astrology Center run by Prof. Govind who had a rich clientele which consisted of senior state officials, wives of local industrialists and the upcoming politicians. They consulted him on every possible thing under the sun, and the lounge was always crowded, in spite of the high consultation fee. This morning a rugged looking stranger, tired after a long wait, enquired his neighbor on the sofa if the astrologer was an expert in his profession.
"Of course" the neighbour said. "He is very accurate in his predictions but his charges are high. His fee for a sitting is Rs. Five thousand, I have brought ten thousand rupees to be on the safe side."
"I have an appointment at 12 noon; it is already 11.45." the rugged man called Mahendran said. "The whole place is so quiet and there seems to be no one to remind Prof. Govind about my appointment."
"Prof. Govind is always punctual. His PA will call you exactly at 12.noon. The Prof. has been meeting clients from 7.00 am and he has already made 50 thousand rupees, you know ? What is your problem?"
"I have three issues to discuss with him. I plan to contest the coming general elections. I am planning my son’s marriage in a couple of months, and I am trying to expand my company which is making original parts for windmills. I want to consult him on these issues."
"He is the best man to help you. He will diagnose your problems just by looking at your face. He will also counsel you on how best to solve them."
Prof. Govind’s PA called: "Mr. Mahendran, have your brought the appointment letter?" After looking at it, he said "Pay Rs.5,000/- in advance, plus service charges of Rs. 500. The GST is extra."
"What is service charge?"
"No questions, please. Now you can go in. Prof. Govind is waiting for you"
"Good morning, Prof. Govind."
"Come in Mr Mahendran. It is going to be a very good morning to you.. You will contest the coming elections and win, but the difference in votes will be very narrow."
"Oh my God, Prof. How do you know that I have come to consult you about this?"
"Your party will not select you as its candidate, but you will contest as an independent candidate, and later, after your victory, you will be inducted back into the party."
"The situation in the party circles is just as you say. Are you an astrologer or a magician, Prof?"
"You have some more questions? Will you ask them yourself or shall I tell you what they are?"
"Go on, Prof. Please tell me."
"You want to test me? Well, there seems to be no chance to celebrate your son’s marriage this year."
"Why do you say that? We have already held the engagement ceremony."
"It will certainly not happen. If it happens, you will lose the elections."
"I am banking on the dowry to meet the election expenses, and you say there is no chance of a marriage this year."
"You will get enough money for the election expenses. The loan you have applied for will be sanctioned before the elections."
"Prof. You are a god. I don’t know what to say. Your fee of Rs.5,000/- is too small for you. You deserve to be paid more than Rs.10,000/"
"You are welcome, Sir. Only clients like you are my asset. You can pay by cheque, if you please."
"I will gladly pay in cash, Prof. But I am sorry my son’s marriage will not happen this year. Can’t you do anything about it?"
"I am not a magician, Mr. Mahendran. I am only an astrologer. But I am deeply religious and believe in god’s blessings. I will perform a pooja for you."
"The marriage will happen this year if you perform the pooja?"
"I can’t say. It may happen or may not. But nothing is impossible if we have god’s blessings. Your stars say your son’s marriage will happen only after the elections."
"It is all right, Prof. as long as it happens."
"Then remit Rs 15000 in the office. We will perform the navalokha pooja and send you a sacred thread after two weeks. Tie it around your son’s wrist and he will certainly get married as you have planned. After the elections. May be as the son of a state minister."
"Are you sure? My god, I don’t know how to thank you. I will be in the cabinet? The marriage will be with the same bride ? It is a good family and has assets of more than 100 crores."
"The same alliance. The sacred thread I am going to send you is a very powerful one. It will endanger your life if you misuse it. From now onwards, don’t eat meat; worship Lord Vinayaga every morning after a thorough bath. You should visit Pillayarpatti every full moon and worship the deity there. You and your wife should sleep apart, you understand what I mean?"
"I certainly understand, Prof."
"Now you can go after remitting the money. I have another appointment at 12.30."
The Prof rang the bell and his PA entered. "Now Madhavan, close the door tightly. Who is the next customer?"
"He is a Tehsildar and he has been expecting a promotion for a long time in the Dept as the deputy collector. He is very anxious."
"The micro phone in the lounge is working wonderfully. Who is the first client in the afternoon?"
"He is a college Principal, and he has been tight lipped all through the morning. We have no clue as to what he wants to talk about."
Prof.Govind thought for a while. "Cancel all appointments for the afternoon. Tell them I have received a phone call from the Prime Minister’s office, and I am taking the next flight to New Delhi this afternoon itself."
"An excellent idea, Prof. Govind".
It was the office of Ganesh Astrology Center run by Prof. Govind who had a rich clientele which consisted of senior state officials, wives of local industrialists and the upcoming politicians. They consulted him on every possible thing under the sun, and the lounge was always crowded, in spite of the high consultation fee. This morning a rugged looking stranger, tired after a long wait, enquired his neighbor on the sofa if the astrologer was an expert in his profession.
"Of course" the neighbour said. "He is very accurate in his predictions but his charges are high. His fee for a sitting is Rs. Five thousand, I have brought ten thousand rupees to be on the safe side."
"I have an appointment at 12 noon; it is already 11.45." the rugged man called Mahendran said. "The whole place is so quiet and there seems to be no one to remind Prof. Govind about my appointment."
"Prof. Govind is always punctual. His PA will call you exactly at 12.noon. The Prof. has been meeting clients from 7.00 am and he has already made 50 thousand rupees, you know ? What is your problem?"
"I have three issues to discuss with him. I plan to contest the coming general elections. I am planning my son’s marriage in a couple of months, and I am trying to expand my company which is making original parts for windmills. I want to consult him on these issues."
"He is the best man to help you. He will diagnose your problems just by looking at your face. He will also counsel you on how best to solve them."
Prof. Govind’s PA called: "Mr. Mahendran, have your brought the appointment letter?" After looking at it, he said "Pay Rs.5,000/- in advance, plus service charges of Rs. 500. The GST is extra."
"What is service charge?"
"No questions, please. Now you can go in. Prof. Govind is waiting for you"
"Good morning, Prof. Govind."
"Come in Mr Mahendran. It is going to be a very good morning to you.. You will contest the coming elections and win, but the difference in votes will be very narrow."
"Oh my God, Prof. How do you know that I have come to consult you about this?"
"Your party will not select you as its candidate, but you will contest as an independent candidate, and later, after your victory, you will be inducted back into the party."
"The situation in the party circles is just as you say. Are you an astrologer or a magician, Prof?"
"You have some more questions? Will you ask them yourself or shall I tell you what they are?"
"Go on, Prof. Please tell me."
"You want to test me? Well, there seems to be no chance to celebrate your son’s marriage this year."
"Why do you say that? We have already held the engagement ceremony."
"It will certainly not happen. If it happens, you will lose the elections."
"I am banking on the dowry to meet the election expenses, and you say there is no chance of a marriage this year."
"You will get enough money for the election expenses. The loan you have applied for will be sanctioned before the elections."
"Prof. You are a god. I don’t know what to say. Your fee of Rs.5,000/- is too small for you. You deserve to be paid more than Rs.10,000/"
"You are welcome, Sir. Only clients like you are my asset. You can pay by cheque, if you please."
"I will gladly pay in cash, Prof. But I am sorry my son’s marriage will not happen this year. Can’t you do anything about it?"
"I am not a magician, Mr. Mahendran. I am only an astrologer. But I am deeply religious and believe in god’s blessings. I will perform a pooja for you."
"The marriage will happen this year if you perform the pooja?"
"I can’t say. It may happen or may not. But nothing is impossible if we have god’s blessings. Your stars say your son’s marriage will happen only after the elections."
"It is all right, Prof. as long as it happens."
"Then remit Rs 15000 in the office. We will perform the navalokha pooja and send you a sacred thread after two weeks. Tie it around your son’s wrist and he will certainly get married as you have planned. After the elections. May be as the son of a state minister."
"Are you sure? My god, I don’t know how to thank you. I will be in the cabinet? The marriage will be with the same bride ? It is a good family and has assets of more than 100 crores."
"The same alliance. The sacred thread I am going to send you is a very powerful one. It will endanger your life if you misuse it. From now onwards, don’t eat meat; worship Lord Vinayaga every morning after a thorough bath. You should visit Pillayarpatti every full moon and worship the deity there. You and your wife should sleep apart, you understand what I mean?"
"I certainly understand, Prof."
"Now you can go after remitting the money. I have another appointment at 12.30."
The Prof rang the bell and his PA entered. "Now Madhavan, close the door tightly. Who is the next customer?"
"He is a Tehsildar and he has been expecting a promotion for a long time in the Dept as the deputy collector. He is very anxious."
"The micro phone in the lounge is working wonderfully. Who is the first client in the afternoon?"
"He is a college Principal, and he has been tight lipped all through the morning. We have no clue as to what he wants to talk about."
Prof.Govind thought for a while. "Cancel all appointments for the afternoon. Tell them I have received a phone call from the Prime Minister’s office, and I am taking the next flight to New Delhi this afternoon itself."
"An excellent idea, Prof. Govind".