Difficulty of being good

The sun in the eastern horizon struggled behind the dark clouds......the alarm clock on the mantle lazily clucked as it touched six.......but Ravi was already up......

With the neem twig in his mouth, he looked listlessly at the somber morning light.

As he dressed, he saw the visage of a man in his early thirties......he picked his bag, gave a cursory glance at the mirror and started walking towards his office. 

Anybody on the road would have mistaken him for a young stooge giving away the best years of his life to remain as a cog in the corporate machinery, but Ravi was not one among those.

He worked for a renowned astrologer, who fate had very kindly provided with a rich clientele.Nature'a balance compensated for their opulence with enough psychological maladies. 

Ravi's boss had realized the importance of a soothsayer in today's world. 

His job was to alleviate people's fear by blaming the stars, after all everybody he spoke to were happy to hear that there was a reason for their unhappiness.....and you just need to wait for the tide to turn in your favour.

His first client for the day, an elderly man with jowls for his jaws....a heavy gold strip round his neck gave him the look of  a peculiarly rich bull terrier.

He came to Ravi's desk and barked "Who's the chief astrologer here....I need an appointment and I don't have time....so look snappy"

Ravi knew how to deal with such people....."Please wait here.....Guruji is doing his puja, he doesn't start his day without his puja"..

The elderly man scowled at him "You think I am an idiot, I want the best....I am here to get an opinion on a particular problem"

Ravi smiled to himself "I can look at his horoscope though guruji will have the final word on it, I have to say I have modeled myself on the techniques he uses..."

The old man gave him a cynical smile "Alright boy.....but I need to test you, read mine first and then we will see"

Ravi looked at him intently....."Will do"

The old man stiflingly took out a sheaf of paper from within the recesses of his robe....Ravi glanced at it...."This horoscope belongs to a much younger man.....you are lying...."

The old man glanced at him "Who does it belong to?"

"This has to be your son's horoscope" Ravi suggested cautiously

The old man guffawed "very good......it is my son's horoscope...how did you know?"

Ravi smiled condescendingly....."I am an astrologer , it is my job to read a person from the chart"

The old man smirked "Well Mr.Astrologer , I think I will let you read my son's horoscope....he is in love with a girl......and I don't think they should get married, but he is adamant, the only way i can convince him is to tell him that the marriage will lead to my death"

"Very well......so you don't want a reading.... you want me to lie" Ravi glared.

"Its a service, I pay you money . You do what I want" spoke the old man ....matter of factly

"Can I atleast see the girl's horoscope" queried Ravi.

"Yes , I think you will see for yourself she is not a right fit for my son"

Ravi looked at the sheaf of paper ......he stared long at it as if trying to see the tragedy and not having the guilt of saying a lie.......

"There is a flaw in the horoscope....the girl will bring misery to your son"Ravi declared.

"Aaha.......you see how I judged her right.....I won't need to see your Guruji after all"

The old man shuffled out into the corridor..."I have placed my card on your table...it has my son's number...call him and convey the message , I will send your fees once my son confirms that you called".......Ravi sat long at his desk.....evening came to take away his cares..he trudged back hom......sleep would not touch him that night...

The morning did not bring relief.....his eyes bloodshot Ravi reached his office.

A young woman came knocking at his door .....she was modestly dressed.....her eyes downcast......she sat in front of Ravi.....He knew the face.....it had tormented him for years.....

"Why did you lie?" she queried

"I had to ....I am in love with you.....one look at the horoscope and I knew it was you.....how many times have I pored over it trying to make sense of what went wrong....."he gnashed

"why did you lie?" she asked again

"I had to.....I could not bear the thought of you being with some one else....."

"why did you lie?" she asked again

Ravi looked at her...."I wanted to hurt you"

It was an eternity before she said "I am sorry"...... her eyes pleaded.....

Ravi looked deep into her eyes......he picked up the phone.... dialed the phone number on the card.....

"This is Ravi....I spoke to your father yesterday......Guruji went through the horoscopes...he wants to say something"

Ravi changed his voice.....made it more gruff....."My assistant told me what transpired yesterday.....he was wrong...I checked the horoscopes.......the girl would bring immense luck and fortune to your household....don't delay the marriage....."

His hand shook as he kept the phone slowly back on the stand......the lady rose.......her form shimmered.......and then there was nothing......

Ravi leaned back......his mind swirling back...years ago ....the girl he loved......had left him...to marry a much wealthier man.....he had pored for days over the details .....why had he not seen it coming.....why did the stars not tell him.....and today they gave him an opportunity.......it was the same horoscope.....she had a twin sister.......his revenge would have been complete.......
But her specter stopped him.......he smiled to himself......for a moment he thought she was real.....he now understand the intensity of his own desire.....love does make you a better man ....he acknowledged bitterly.....

The phone rang shrilly breaking his reverie.......it was his friend .......there was a long silence ......"when did it happen" asked Ravi in a tight voice.......the voice at the other end just said "Yesterday".........and then added.....her last words were "I am sorry....".......