It feels great that I have dealt with Guru Nayak. All these time, my conscience has been pricking me. Until now, I have been thinking of myself as a murderer. But now, with the knowledge that Guru Nayak is still alive, and no longer seeking for revenge I can rest easy.
Life can only get better from now on.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Escape from Guru Nayak
I was more terrified than ever. My heart was pounding at an insane rate. Time seemed to stand still. I knew that whatever I said in the conversation would determine whether i live, or die. If Guru Nayak found out who I really am, he would surely kill me. He has probably been searching all around for revenge. Why else would he be here, a thousand miles away from his hometown?
The first thing i thought of is to escape. I quickly handed him back his eight annas, and tried to leave. Unforunately, he did not let me leave. I was in a state of panic. I knew that I could not treat him like any other customer. I would have to trick him into thinking I was dead, so that he would stop his search for revenge.
Guru Nayak interrupted my thoughts, saying "Should I continue in my present search or not?". Upon hearing this, my heart skipped a beat. "My present search", he probably means me. I knew that what I said next would be the most essential. If i did not say the right things, he may find out who i really am.
I muttered a few incantations, then told that i knew his name, and told him the story of how he was stabbed and almost killed a long time ago. Guru Nayak was very impressed that I knew these things, and asked me if he could find the murderer. I seized the opportunity, and told him that his murderer was dead, and crushed under a lorry. Then I told him he should leave here and never return again.
Guru Nayak believed every single word I said. I breathed a sigh of relief when he left. I can't believe he was so guillable.
The first thing i thought of is to escape. I quickly handed him back his eight annas, and tried to leave. Unforunately, he did not let me leave. I was in a state of panic. I knew that I could not treat him like any other customer. I would have to trick him into thinking I was dead, so that he would stop his search for revenge.
Guru Nayak interrupted my thoughts, saying "Should I continue in my present search or not?". Upon hearing this, my heart skipped a beat. "My present search", he probably means me. I knew that what I said next would be the most essential. If i did not say the right things, he may find out who i really am.
I muttered a few incantations, then told that i knew his name, and told him the story of how he was stabbed and almost killed a long time ago. Guru Nayak was very impressed that I knew these things, and asked me if he could find the murderer. I seized the opportunity, and told him that his murderer was dead, and crushed under a lorry. Then I told him he should leave here and never return again.
Guru Nayak believed every single word I said. I breathed a sigh of relief when he left. I can't believe he was so guillable.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Guru Nayak
One evening, when i was about to go home, I got the shock of my life! I was caught in a situation where my quick-wittedness and sharpness was put to test. Well, the nut vendor had already blown out his candle, and there was nothing but a shaft of green light.
I was packing up my shells, I noticed that the shaft of green light was blocked off. When I lookd up, I saw a man standing not too far away. He was facing in my direction. Sensing a good opportunity for another customer, I called to him, and asked him to come and sit down. Initially, he was very reluctant and mumbled some vague reply. Not one to give up, I pressed my invitation.
Unexpectedly, he sneered at me and said "You call yourself an astrologer?". I felt challenged, as no customer has ever talked to me in that way before.
"Yours is a nature of..." I began, staring at his palm.
"Tell me something worthwhile!" he cut me short. I felt that something was wrong. After that, we haggled on a price. I was taking a big risk, as he would pay me 8 annas if I tell him something worthwhile, and I would have to pay him double that price if he was not satisfied. However, I had great confidence in my abilities.
Suddenly, the man shifted a little, and half of his face was illuminated by the green shaft of light, and i realized who he was. My jaw dropped in horror.
It was Guru Nayak, the man i tried to kill many years ago.
I was packing up my shells, I noticed that the shaft of green light was blocked off. When I lookd up, I saw a man standing not too far away. He was facing in my direction. Sensing a good opportunity for another customer, I called to him, and asked him to come and sit down. Initially, he was very reluctant and mumbled some vague reply. Not one to give up, I pressed my invitation.
Unexpectedly, he sneered at me and said "You call yourself an astrologer?". I felt challenged, as no customer has ever talked to me in that way before.
"Yours is a nature of..." I began, staring at his palm.
"Tell me something worthwhile!" he cut me short. I felt that something was wrong. After that, we haggled on a price. I was taking a big risk, as he would pay me 8 annas if I tell him something worthwhile, and I would have to pay him double that price if he was not satisfied. However, I had great confidence in my abilities.
Suddenly, the man shifted a little, and half of his face was illuminated by the green shaft of light, and i realized who he was. My jaw dropped in horror.
It was Guru Nayak, the man i tried to kill many years ago.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Customers
These days, my buisness is thriving. Today, especially, i had many, many customers.
Its quite simple to deal with customers, really. Even though I have no knowledge about the stars at all, I can use the same method in dealing with all the customers. First, I would listen to them for ten minutes or so. Within this ten minutes, I can tell what problems they have. Usually, a person would only have a few problems. It was always the same few troubles of mankind, like marriage, money, and a tangle of human ties.
If i do not understasnd the problem, I would ask: "Is there any woman in your family, maybe even a distant relative, who is not well disposed towards you?". After that, I would give advice based on the observations I have made.
My observations are almost always spot on, and all my customers are always satisfied with my services. In the end, I think I do deserve the wages I get.
Its quite simple to deal with customers, really. Even though I have no knowledge about the stars at all, I can use the same method in dealing with all the customers. First, I would listen to them for ten minutes or so. Within this ten minutes, I can tell what problems they have. Usually, a person would only have a few problems. It was always the same few troubles of mankind, like marriage, money, and a tangle of human ties.
If i do not understasnd the problem, I would ask: "Is there any woman in your family, maybe even a distant relative, who is not well disposed towards you?". After that, I would give advice based on the observations I have made.
My observations are almost always spot on, and all my customers are always satisfied with my services. In the end, I think I do deserve the wages I get.
Attracting customers
Even though my buisness has improved quite a bit after i changed dressed up like an astrologer and decorated the store, and create an magical and mysterious atmosphere in my stall, buisness is still not going on as well as i hoped. The main problem is that many people do not believe in astrologers.
At first, I was happy that many people have always looked at my stall with great interest. However, i soon realized that many of these people would still walk away. Even though people are curious, they always seem afraid to enter the stall, due to the air of enchantment that surrounds it.
I learnt that using intuition, if I sense that anyone looking at the stall was longing to come in, but afraid, I should immediately call to him or her, and coax that person to come in. Many of such customers would oblige. After I learnt this trick, my buisness started improving drastically.
At first, I was happy that many people have always looked at my stall with great interest. However, i soon realized that many of these people would still walk away. Even though people are curious, they always seem afraid to enter the stall, due to the air of enchantment that surrounds it.
I learnt that using intuition, if I sense that anyone looking at the stall was longing to come in, but afraid, I should immediately call to him or her, and coax that person to come in. Many of such customers would oblige. After I learnt this trick, my buisness started improving drastically.
My work place
Well, when I started out, I set up my practise under the boughs of a spreading tamarind tree along a path running through Town Hall Park. This is a very good location, as it is always very crowded.
I knew that the first impression of the stall is of utmost importance. Even though I lack proper lighting, I do not really mind, as I think this helps to make the stall look even more mysterious. It looks even better in the evening, when all the stalls light up their gaslights, naked flares on poles and old cycle lamps. It causes a criss-cross of light rays and shadows, making the shop appear to be magical and enchanted
At the stall right next to me, is a famous groundnut seller. Many people from all parts of town will patronize his stall. Fortunately, many of these people who are buying groundnuts would look at my stall with interest and they would be curious at its apperance.
I knew that the first impression of the stall is of utmost importance. Even though I lack proper lighting, I do not really mind, as I think this helps to make the stall look even more mysterious. It looks even better in the evening, when all the stalls light up their gaslights, naked flares on poles and old cycle lamps. It causes a criss-cross of light rays and shadows, making the shop appear to be magical and enchanted
At the stall right next to me, is a famous groundnut seller. Many people from all parts of town will patronize his stall. Fortunately, many of these people who are buying groundnuts would look at my stall with interest and they would be curious at its apperance.
Dressing up
I have learnt that the appearance of an astrologer is essential in attracting customers. At first, I was not getting as many customers as i liked. Some people even looked at me with disdain. That is when i learnt it was due to my appearance.
Firstly, as an astrologer, I have to make myself look dark and mysterious. That way will be easier for people to believe that I really have the power and knowledge of the stars. When i told this to my wife, she came out with many ideas. She started out by making me smear sacred ash on my forehead. Also, she gave me a big dark black cloak to wear. Lastly, she gave me a saffron coloured cloth, which i tied on my head as a turban. This combination of colours make me literally glow, and makes me look magical.
Also, my wife bought me some equipment like shells so that I look more professional. When customers come, I can throw these shells, and pretend to understand something from it. These equipment make me look professional, and up to this day, almost everyone who sees me believes that i really am an astrologer.
Firstly, as an astrologer, I have to make myself look dark and mysterious. That way will be easier for people to believe that I really have the power and knowledge of the stars. When i told this to my wife, she came out with many ideas. She started out by making me smear sacred ash on my forehead. Also, she gave me a big dark black cloak to wear. Lastly, she gave me a saffron coloured cloth, which i tied on my head as a turban. This combination of colours make me literally glow, and makes me look magical.
Also, my wife bought me some equipment like shells so that I look more professional. When customers come, I can throw these shells, and pretend to understand something from it. These equipment make me look professional, and up to this day, almost everyone who sees me believes that i really am an astrologer.
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