Astrology Deceives 

Does the most auspicious horoscope of a son-in-law guarantee the long span of life of the father-in-law? Opinion may be divided on this issue. But as far as Ramaiah was concerned, his conviction in this regard was unshakable. He believed that his long life was linked with the auspicious birth stars of his son-in-law.

 Ramiah had just then returned home in the blazing noon sun. He lay in the easy chair wearily and pondered over his meeting with the match-maker Seshaiah. Ramaiah had to get his youngest daughter Suguna married and in that connection he had to meet Seshaiah, the match-maker. The match-maker made it clear to Ramaiah that he had to pay a huge dowry if he was specific about the alliance. The bridegroom in Ramaiah’s mind was Mukund, whose horoscope was simply matchless. Ramaiah fell for the prospective groom’s horoscope more than his daughter Suguna fell for the groom.

  When Ramaiah was thus engrossed in his thoughts, his wife Seethamma brought him a tumbler of butter milk mixed with lemon leaves.  He drank the butter milk and put down the empty glass. Again he was immersed in his thoughts and remained moody.

  Seethamma sat beside him on the floor, sewing old clothes. She looked at her husband, expecting that he would say something. But he was still silent. She felt that she should broach the subject, though she was reluctant to. “What did the match-makter say?”she asked, sewing an old blouse.

  “Seshaiah said that Mukund’s father is demanding fifty thousand rupees as dowry besides gifts for the inlaws.” Ramaiah replied slowly.

  “I could guess it beforehand,”replied Seethamma, putting a new thread into the eye of the needle. “Mukund’s father knows very well your excessive insistence on the horoscope of a groom. So he doubled the figure of the dowry in just a week.”

  Ramaiah knew that his wife was going to attack his firm faith in Astrology again. So he wanted to be on the offensive even before his wife launched her attack.

  “Seetha,”he said, coughing. As he coughed, his frail frame shook all over.  “Yes, I have sincere faith in Astrology because the stars will not lie. I prefer Mukund’s alliance because his birth star was very auspicious. I don’t mind selling the house to pay off the dowry. I do not consider Ramu’s alliance in the least because his birth stars were harmful to me and may even cost my life. I am not afraid of death but  if I leave this world before you, you will be left in the lurch. We have no sons and you cannot live on the generosity of our sons-in-law forever. Considering all these aspects, I have decided upon Mukund’s alliance.”

  Seethamma remained silent. She knew that she could not win the argument with her husband who was always stubborn in his convictions. So that was the end of their argument over this issue.

  Ramaiah had four daughters and three of them were happily married. Suguna was the youngest one who was to be married.

  Ramaiah had no ancestral property but for the spacious tiled house with long pyols, on either side of the main entrance. The elders of the village sat cross-legged on the pyol and discussed with Ramaiah on various issues. They discussed a wide range of issues - from kickbacks in the bofors scam to the question of the Ultimate Reality. 

  Seethamma entered this house as Ramaiah’s bride when she was barely fifteen years old. 

   Ramaiah’s elder daughters were happily married in this house only. The  weddings were performed in the central hall of the house, neatly decorated. Even the naming ceremonies and letter initiation ceremonies were also performed in this hall with great pomp and splendour.

  Now selling this house was simply unthinkable for Seethamma. Buft there was no other way left. If they cancelled Ramu’s alliance and finalised Mukund’s, they had to pay the dowry through their nose. Ramaiah could not manage to get the money for dowry unless he disposed of the house. 

  As far as the bride Suguna was concerned, she was more practical and less romantic. She preferred security in life more than anything else. She calculated that her married life with Mukund would be more comfortable when compared to that with Ramu, who was a middle class person. So she wanted her father to consider Mukund’s alliance only and she got what she wanted.

  Accordingly, the old spacious house to which sentiments of a century were attached, was sold finally. Most of the proceeds of the sale of the house were paid as dowry and matrimonial gifts to the in-laws during the wedding and the wedding was performed with all the pomp.

  The landlord to whom the house was sold, wanted to occupy it as soon as the function of the wedding was over. So the newly wed couple was given a warm send off as soon as the sixteenth day ceremony was over.

  Now Ramaiah and Seethamma were left all alone. But they did not hold grudges. Most of the parents had to live separately as soon as their offspring were married off. Ramaiah and Seethamma thought they were just one of such couples.

  Days were rolling on mechanically and heavily. Seethamma woke up to an usual morning one day. She brushed and had her bath in cold water. Then she worshipped at the pious Tulasi plant. She went into her prayer room and worshipped the idols for a while.

  She prepared coffee for Ramaiah. She thought that by then her husband would have brushed his teeth and would have finished with his yoga schedule.

  But he still seemed to be sleeping. 

  Seethamma put down the coffee cup and wondered as to what was wrong with him that day. She woke him up gently. But he did not respond. His body was ice-cold. He had a peaceful end in his sleep. Though he thought that his son-in-law’s birth stars matched with his stars excellently and guaranteed him long span of life, ultimately Astrology deceived him.

  It was too much of a shock for Seethamma. She collapsed on the floor beside her husband’s cot. A slight gurgle escaped her throat. That was all. She lay still.