Vimal looked sullen. It was his birthday, but here he was dusting the furniture, vacuuming the floor and scrubbing the bathroom. His wife snapped at him for wetting the kitchen floor. And he had to go to the market. And that delayed his breakfast. He fel even more sorry for himself.
They were expecting a guest. The Guruji. Everyone waited anxiously for his arrival. Vimal sat alone. Sulking. The Guruji came late. It was almost 1 pm. After some small talk, lunch. Vimal looked at the items on the dining table. His wife had outdone herself. There was sambar and rasam and olan and payathanga. Vimal was depressed. It was his birthday. Yet every item on the dining table were things he hated. But the Guruji liked them. That’s all that mattered. Vimal nibbled at the food.
After lunch, the conversation was on astrology. And numerology. It was not really a conversation, It was a monologue. By the Guruji. But his audience loved it. They soaked up every word. They doted on him, plying him with fruits, snacks and coffee. The horoscopes of every member of the family was brought out and analysed. The Guruji made predictions, gave advise and ways to counter the various misfortunes that lay in everyone’s paths. Vimal sat disinterested, hardly listening. He looked at the clock every once in a while. His afternoon nap time came. And went. The Guruji showed no signs of letting up. It was nearly 4 when he finally left.
Vimal looked sullen. The sleep deprivation made him look even more grumpy. His family was discussing what the Guruji had said. The things he had had said after looking at their horoscopes. Their lives ahead were so much clearer. The horizons looked bright. The choices were clear. The future was an open book.
Vimal started listening. He recalled bits and pieces of what the Guruji had said. It all started to fall in place. His troubles at the office – he knew all of a sudden what the real issue was. And his restless mind, which was causing him sleepless nights, it was crystal clear now. Yes, Vimal’s life looked a lot more cheerful now. He was raring to get on with it. His face had cleared perceptibly. He knew that God had sent the Guruji intentionally. God had wanted to give Vimal a Birthday present. And He had sent the Guruji.
They were expecting a guest. The Guruji. Everyone waited anxiously for his arrival. Vimal sat alone. Sulking. The Guruji came late. It was almost 1 pm. After some small talk, lunch. Vimal looked at the items on the dining table. His wife had outdone herself. There was sambar and rasam and olan and payathanga. Vimal was depressed. It was his birthday. Yet every item on the dining table were things he hated. But the Guruji liked them. That’s all that mattered. Vimal nibbled at the food.
After lunch, the conversation was on astrology. And numerology. It was not really a conversation, It was a monologue. By the Guruji. But his audience loved it. They soaked up every word. They doted on him, plying him with fruits, snacks and coffee. The horoscopes of every member of the family was brought out and analysed. The Guruji made predictions, gave advise and ways to counter the various misfortunes that lay in everyone’s paths. Vimal sat disinterested, hardly listening. He looked at the clock every once in a while. His afternoon nap time came. And went. The Guruji showed no signs of letting up. It was nearly 4 when he finally left.
Vimal looked sullen. The sleep deprivation made him look even more grumpy. His family was discussing what the Guruji had said. The things he had had said after looking at their horoscopes. Their lives ahead were so much clearer. The horizons looked bright. The choices were clear. The future was an open book.
Vimal started listening. He recalled bits and pieces of what the Guruji had said. It all started to fall in place. His troubles at the office – he knew all of a sudden what the real issue was. And his restless mind, which was causing him sleepless nights, it was crystal clear now. Yes, Vimal’s life looked a lot more cheerful now. He was raring to get on with it. His face had cleared perceptibly. He knew that God had sent the Guruji intentionally. God had wanted to give Vimal a Birthday present. And He had sent the Guruji.
No comments:
Post a Comment