An extraordinary girl

The Astrologer

The story goes that after he had lost his young wife whom he had loved very dearly, he travelled to Tibet. There he spent many years learning the science of occultism and prophecy from a Tibetan tantric, Tibet being well known for this knowledge.

Then when he had become an adept, he returned to Bengal and began to use his powers to see into people's lives. At such times, it was observed that he would put one hand on a tiger's skull he had brought with him from Tibet and kept by his side. Simultaneously, his eyes would glow with a strange light. He would not charge his customers or accept any remuneration from them, and was particularly strict in this regard, as he was afraid that if he did, he would lose his power. It goes without saying that if he had taken payment he would have amassed enormous wealth. But ironically, he eventually lost his power for a totally different reason.

The astrologer's prophecy about not only my marriage but an incident concerned with it also turned out to be true. He had predicted that my uncle would come from a distant place to attend my marriage, even though that seemed a remote possibility. But he did in fact arrive, unfortunately not with happy results. During the ceremony he suddenly blurted out, "When my Guru gave me permission to come, I asked him how he was allowing me to go, much against his principles. He replied, This is not really a marriage, so I am allowing you.' "

My uncle made this astonishing statement just when, in the course of the ritual, water had been poured into the vessel I was holding. No sooner did I hear him than I dropped the pot and burst into tears. All the assembled guests were as stunned as I was. "What does this mean? And if it has any meaning, is this the time to say it?" someone asked angrily. "Shame! Shame!" others shouted from all sides. But my uncle, true to his nature, could not have remained more nonchalant and unconcerned.

He apparently had no inkling of what a grave indiscretion he had committed.

Later, I turned on my mother. "Why have you arranged this marriage?" I demanded. The astrologer, who was present, answered for her, saying that even though it would not be a happy marriage she could not have avoided it. "Remember, I told you you have to be a mother," he added. In despair, I was left wondering whether that was why my uncle had said that it was not a real marriage. But then what was it? I asked myself utterly nonplussed.

On another occasion, the astrologer said that I would never be loved by anyone of my own age, only by a much older man.

Surprised, I replied, "But there is a man such as you describe. He does so much for me, yet he never expects anything in return. Could it be that he is the one who loves me?"

"No, no, he isn't the one," the astrologer protested. "Are you sure?"

"I am sure. Take my word for it."

Many years passed, but the prophecy remained unfulfilled. Once again I reminded the astrologer of it after he had lost his power. But he would not go back on his prediction, and insisted, "I have spoken the truth — it came to me in a flash. He exists somewhere, and he will come."

In the end, I and my mother did meet such a person, but despite our many meetings he never gave any indication of his love for me.

The astrologer made still another disturbing prediction. He said: "You will fall seriously ill and be in danger of death. Then the Lord will come and ask you, 'Do you want to die?' And you will reply. Nor " This too turned out to be correct. After the birth of my son, I became so ill that my body raged with high fever for days, with no medicine having any effect. The doctor's verdict was that I had measles, but that for some reason the disease was being prevented from taking its natural course, it was suppressed, and as a result I was indeed close to death.

As my mother sat by my bedside gently caressing me, a voice suddenly whispered in my ear, "Do you want to die?" I shuddered and replied, "No, no, I don't!"

After this the measles rash that had been suppressed erupted all over my body, and I gradually recovered.

I have already mentioned that the astrologer had taken particular interest in drawing up my horoscope, finding it most unusual. He reconfirmed this view one day when I showed him my hand saying, "Just look at my palm! How many complicated criss-cross lines there are!"

"That's why I'm so intrigued by it," he answered. "It's a veritable Chinese puzzle! Do you know why? Because you have registered the various vibrations of other people's minds on your hand, and that's what makes it rare. I've seen so many people's palms showing the same kind of life — marriage, children, illness, death — like a formula. But your hand is different, and as a consequence your life is full of strange experiences, difficulties, sufferings and dangers. What obstacles and crises you will have to pass through! You must have seen the circus act where the performers have to vault through a flaming wheel without getting burnt. Well, he who is guiding you will see you through the burning wheels of your difficulties in a similar manner."

Yet mine was not the only unhappy life the astrologer encountered. An extremely beautiful young relative of mine, though married, fell in love with a Muslim boy. She deserted her husband and went to live with him, even after the astrologer had told her, "Beware, give up your lover. Otherwise you will be ruined, I warn you." She paid no attention.

Soon after, the Hindu-Muslim riots before Partition broke out in Bengal. The Muslim youth was forced by his community to abandon the Hindu girl and flee to East Pakistan. Left unprotected, the poor girl suffered indescribably at the hands of goondas.

Though there are many other stories connected with the astrologer's predictions, I will end with one that he made when he had almost lost his power. At the time, I was extremely anxious about my impending divorce from my husband. "What will happen? What will be the result of the case?" I asked.

"Have I the power left to see?" he replied sadly. But after a few days, when I met him again, he astounded me with what he had to say. "A westerner will save you," was his prediction. "He loves you. He may be German, French, or some other nationality."

"A westerner? Love me?" I cried. "I don't socialise with foreigners, as you know — far from having a love affair with one!"

He was adamant. "Well, that's what I saw. There can't be any mistake."

Incredibly, once again he turned out to be right. There was no mistake in his vision, and how it came about was beyond imagining. I shall speak about it in the right place.

Meanwhile, I may record that the astrologer lost his power because he had gone astray. The lesson, as the Mother says, is that occult powers are most dangerous and are best left alone, unless one can maintain a state of extreme purity.