Sade Sathi...(The seven and half years of Saturn)

A short story by G.Balasubramanian

Vishnu Pratap was getting ready for his morning walk. It was a part of his daily routine to go for a walk for about half an hour and then do a bit of stretching and yoga for another half an hour. But all that he does only at the terrace of his house which is reasonably large. He chose to do that because of the dog menace in the nearby road on the early hours when he goes for a walk.

The dawn was quite chill though it did not warrant any additional dress. As usual he stretched his hands a bit as he climbed up the stairs.

"good morning, vishnuji" that was his neighbour Sudarsan. Sudarshan was a good neighbour, polite and cordial. He hailed from Bihar.

"Good morning, Sir.. Have a nice day" Vishnu reciprocated and got on to his routine. But today he was not as quiet as yesterday and one could read from his face some kind of restlessness. He even forgot to salute his beloved Balaji early in the morning as he got up.

The issue that disturbed him most was the consequence of his visit to the astrologer the previous evening. He just thought it would be a good idea to check whether the time was appropriate for him to take a voluntary retirement. His wife and members of the family were opposed to the idea just because they thought it would be difficult to handle this man at home without any work.

"See Vishnuji, according to your star and the planetary movements, you are likely to start the sade sathi in the next thirty days. The next seven and a half years is going to be quite tough. You are likely to have some health problems, especially take care of your eyes. May be, you get cataract. Minor accidents, now and then, injuries, falls.. one can't say what this sade sathi will do. your words will not have much weight at home and the office as the saturn would be looking into the house of speech. Anything you say, may be mistaken. Take care of your bank balance,  may be some unexpected expenses.. please note that there should be no tradings in share or mutual funds.. I am not threatening you with anything bad.. but that is what sade sathi is all about.. "

Vishnu Pratap really regretted why he went to consult the astrologer at all. Whatever has to happen will happen.  Why anticipate and suffer? Am I not going to suffer twice.. now having known what is going to happen and then when it really happens..

Wild thoughts haunting his mind, he walked as usual, though there was much less speed in his walk.

"Hello, Vishnuji.. you seem to be absorbed in some deep thoughts" the neighbour shouted from his terrace top. Vishnu did not even take notice of that as he mind was otherwise engaged.

And as a few minutes passed by...

"Oh, God," shouting aloud Vishnu Pratap held his head firmly. His vision became almost blank for a minute or two. He saw a few bruises on his face. What happened? He looked around.. Something just struck him like a blow and passed off..

He observed on the wall a crow.. black, smart and .. "Oh..." again it flew around him and slapped on his face.  He was shocked.."Why does this crow slap me on my head so fiercely with its wings?"

"Yeah.. the crow.. the vehicle of Lord Saturn.. right.. he is just indicating the arrival of sade sathi.. after all people say the effect of the planet starts at least thirty days in advance.. and that is it.." Vishnu Pratap was convinced.

Hearing his voice aloud, Sudarshan accosted from his next building "What happened Vishnuji?"

"Should I tell him that Sade Sathi has started? What would he think? Why should I show my faith and belief system to him?" he thought. " Nothing.. something fell on the head.."

"Are you OK?" Sudarshan again. "Yeah.. No problems".. he replied.

He decided to call off his walk for the day and came down.

"Haanji,, what happened? you were shouting?" His wife Dipali asked.

" Kismat teek nahin hai" ( The destiny is not alright) he murmured and walked away.

The whole day Vishnu was recapitulating the incident. "What a crow..Where did it come from.. Oh Narayana.. Save me from this Saturn."  The day passed off without much ado.

Next morning Vishnu got up with his salutations to Lord Balaji . ' My Lord, please help me to get over this Saturn.."He mustered all his courage to launch his morning walk again on his terrace.

"God forbid, nothing should happen" he advised to the self. As he completed almost ten minutes of his walk, the hell broke again. The same crow sitting on the wall took a straight look at him and then.. there he flew.. with all his vigour and slapped him on his face with the wings. The nails on its legs bruised on his head and as he touched his head, he found a mild cut... the crow went and sat quietly on the opposite side of the wall.

"My God, for the second day.. but for the third time.. what does Lord saturn want to communicate to me. Does he intend to say that this is the beginning?

What an astrologer! How accurately he predicted with a timing sense! Vishnu Pratap made up his mind and for the next forty days he did not take another step towards the stair case leading to the terrace.

Finally, one evening, he thought it would be a right time to take a look what was happening..

"Hello Vishnuji.. what happened... long time since I saw you on the terrace. Have you given up your regular walk? .. that is not good.. and that too at this age..."

"Sudarshanji.. My Sade Sathi has started some ten days before.. that is why last time when you saw .. Saturn's messenger, the crow.. came three times and slapped me on the face.. you know.. I must respect the sentiments of the planet... Why invite problems unnecessarily?"

"What? Saturn's messenger? Who.. that crow? It gave you a message. is it? What a foolish man are you.. Sir.. See over there... the crow had built its nest right on the top of the tree in your house..whenever you went that side, it thought you could be a potential threat to its offspring.. hence it wanted to drive you away from any nearest point.. and you thought....."

Vishnu Pratap was not standing any further to hear the explanation of Sudarshan. He walked down. His mind was pondering.. " If this crow was not the messenger of Sade Sathi.. who else is..?"

Suddenly he shouted.. "Narayana...". His wife and son came running to pick up Vishnu who slipped from the stair case.. "What to do.. it is all Sade Sathi..." He was cursing himself. 

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