Horoscope

Soon you will be a multi-millionaire. Soon you will meet your soulmate. Who does not like to hear about a glorious future? These nice-sounding words do elevate our sad and depressing mood. It is a kind of assurance that everything will be okay soon, and the tough times will pass away.

My grandfather was a family man who loved traveling with all of us. We all adored him. Every vacation, he planned trips to places like Vaishnodevi, and Vrindavan, or sometimes to visit distant relatives.  While these destinations were not always exciting, we children always looked forward to the trips. To me, vacation meant packing bags, long drives, and eating at roadside Dhabas. The journey was often better than the destination. 

Religious places were exhausting, with long walks from one temple to another and then another temple. But the good part was that these trips were usually short -just a day or two. Every time we returned home, I felt the same way. “East and West, home is the best”. But after a few months, the realisation faded and we were ready for another exhausting journey.

One time, my grandfather took us to Haridwar. Seeing the Ganga filled me with joy, and all my lifetime exhaustion seemed to fade away. I think everyone else felt equally delighted.  We stayed in simple, non-air-conditioned rooms at a Dharamshala. It was a hot and humid night, but no one complained. The next morning, I woke up early and wandered into the ashram’s backyard. Again, the sight of Ganga made me forget the sleepless night.  The cool breeze was refreshing, and the scene was mesmerising. I sat on the steps by the river, watching it alone for a long time. Later, we went to Har-ki-Pauri and took a dip in the holy water. It was an unforgettable experience. My grandfather was so pleased with the trip that he decided we would visit here more often. We were thrilled.  

My grandfather was a hardworking and sincere man. But at some point, he got involved with an astrologer. Perhaps he was stressed about family and work issues. The astrologer grained his trust by telling him vague things about his past. My innocent grandfather connected the dots himself and believed the astrologer knew everything about him.

The astrologer then spoke about the wonderful things that would soon happen in my grandfather’s life. He told my grandfather exactly what he wanted to hear, which boosted his confidence. The astrologer also advised him to wear specific stones and follow certain rituals. My grandfather started trusting him deeply, almost like a God.

Eventually, my grandfather completed the project with high profits. And guess what! the credit went to the astrologer. From then on, my grandfather would consult him for advice on almost everything. One day, the astrologer told him that he would die near the water. That one statement changed everything. My grandfather never took us to Haridwar again. Our family vacations were back to visiting boring places again. 

Years later, my grandfather passed away from a heart attack at home. I don’t remember if there was any water nearby – maybe a tap in the balcony close to his room.