Horoscope

Soon you will be a multi-millionaire. Soon you will meet the love of your life. Who does not like to hear about the glorious future! How true it would be, but these nice-sounding words elevate our sad and depressing mood. It is a kind of assurance everything will be ok soon, the bad time will pass away.

My grandfather was a family man and, liked to travel along with the whole family. We all loved him. At every vacation, he used to plan some outstation trip, guess where? Vaishno Devi or Vrindawan or to some boring distant relative’s place yet we children were happy and enthusiastic every time. We had no clue of the world outside than that.

To me, vacation meant, packing bags, a long drive, and eating at dabha. The journey was better than the destination. Religious places were exhausting; a long walk from one temple to another and then another temple. The good news was that often these trips were short, only for a day or two.

After coming back home I felt the same every time, “East or West, home is the best”. Yet I don’t know why I always agreed to another exhausting journey on the next vacation.

A few years later, my grandfather happened to take us to Haridwar for the first time. The sight of Ganga made us so happy. We stayed at Jai Ram Dharamshala, non-ac rooms. It was hot and humid, but who cares! We children were happy to come out of the house, although it was difficult to sleep at the night. The next day, I woke up early morning and went to the backyard of the ashram by myself.

The Ganga was flowing, cool breeze, and a perfect view, nothing more to say. I sat at the steps and watched Ganga for a long time. Then we went to Har-ki-Pauri and took bath in the Ganga. It was an unforgettable experience. My grandfather was also very happy along with other family members.

At last, we found the perfect vacation place. My grandfather decided that he would bring us here more often. We were thrilled and look forward to our next visit.

My grandfather was a sincere and hardworking person; somehow he got involved in an astrologer. Maybe he had family and work tension on his mind. In the beginning, the astrologer told a few vague things about his past to gain his trust. My innocent grandfather connected the dots by himself and could relate to every word of it.

Then the astrologer told him about all the great things coming on his way, and very soon. He told everything that my grandfather wanted to hear.  My grandfather seemed to be impressed by him. 

The astrologer knew that my grandfather was sincerely working on his project, only needed some words of encouragement to make him believe in himself to finish his project positively and enthusiastically. He told him to wear this stone and that, and to do things in a certain way. Suddenly, my grandfather started trusting him like a God in a short time.  

I wondered, the family members were doing the same for 20 years, by telling him how great he is, and how much potential he has. Anyway, my grandfather managed to complete the project with high profits. And the credit went to the astrologer. What about his hard work for many years and his family’s total support?

Often grandfather used to call him and ask his opinion about everything. One day the astrologer told him that he would die near the water. And that was it! From that day onwards, grandfather never took us to Haridwar again.

After many years grandfather died of a heart attack at home. I don’t remember there was any water nearby, maybe a tap in the balcony close to his room. He deprived himself and all of us to fulfill a simple desire to visit his favorite place.

It is our inner fear and restlessness that makes us venerable, never been about this person or that.