A Rupee Changed My Fate

By: Jayant Neogy

Gathering clouds darkened the evening as a bolt of lightning split the sky. Expecting rain shortly, I got up wearily from the park bench where I had been sitting for the last couple of hours. Then the fortune teller appeared before me. He must have been walking towards me for the last few minutes, but lost in my own thoughts, I had not noticed him.

"Give me a rupee," he said as he looked deep into my eyes. His own eyes were bloodshot and sunk into their sockets.

"Wwwwhy?" I stammered, unnerved. I looked around with apprehension. The park was empty.

"I'll tell your fortune," said the fortuneteller. He was dressed in long saffron robes. He carried an almanac in his hand, and the other hand was raised as a blessing.

"I see that you are troubled, my son. You feel trapped. Your career is at a dead end. Am I right?" The voice was raspy and low, but penetrating.

"How can you know that?" I asked in wonder.

It was true. I felt passed over and ignored. I was still stuck in a mid-level job with no hope of promotion on the horizon. In fact, I had been sitting on that park bench trying to choose between continuing here and quitting to take on a teaching assignment. The money will be less, but so will the tension and workload.

"Give me a rupee," again demanded the fortune teller as the man stared me straight in the eyes. I don't know why, but I took out my wallet and gave him a ten rupee note.

"Good!" said the fortune teller. "Now, I'll give you a word of advice. I see the fault in your stars clearing up very soon. Just ride out the rough patch for another month. After that, you will get your reward."

Without another word, the fortune teller walked away as I stood bemused. Then the rain began to fall, and I hurried home.

A full year passed. After intensive training, I was back from the factory of our collaborator. I was now the head of my department, and I was happy with more responsibility and more money in my pocket.

One evening, in a whim, I went to the park again and sat on the bench. I was surprised to see the same fortune teller speaking to another couple a little distance away. When he had been turned down and was walking away, I walked up to him.

"Give me a rupee," said a familiar voice. Then he recognized me.

"Well, wasn't I right?" he asked. "I know that you have made great progress by hanging on, just as I had advised you to."

"Yes," I said. "You richly deserve my thanks, but how did you know?"

"Simple," said the fortune teller. "Your boss often consults me. He knew that you were getting restless. He also knew that a promotion was coming your way, but he was under instructions to tell you nothing until the collaborator had agreed to train you.

"Your boss paid me a hundred rupees to catch hold of you and convince you to hang on."

I was amazed at the complex chain of events that had brought me to this point. Truly, fate works in mysterious ways.