Delhiwale: An astrologer’s tale

In his 60s, Pandit Om Prakash opened the future-telling establishment more than two decades ago, and had to suspend it for almost two years after the arrival of the pandemic in early 2020.

Pandit Om Prakash has no customers. The astrologer’s pavement stall is very modest, but a long-time landmark in the area, here in Gurugram, across the road from Civil Hospital.

This afternoon he has received no visitor for the past two hours.

In his 60s, he opened the future-telling establishment more than two decades ago, and had to suspend it for almost two years after the arrival of the pandemic in early 2020. During this dark period, he mostly stayed at home in west Delhi’s Nangloi. “I reopened it three-four months ago, but hours pass and nobody comes,” he says in a matter-of-fact tone.

This afternoon, the road is jammed with cars and bikes, and the pavement is clogged with preoccupied pedestrians. The stall’s hand-painted flier fixes the consultation fee at ₹51 per question. The astrologer explains that he assists his patrons by laying out the good and bad influences of the planets affecting them. These days, though, the few ones who stop by are not those eager to know of their tomorrow, but relatives of the recently departed. “I’m then taken to their home where I do the pooja-path that has to be performed before the last rites.” In these instances, the astrologer is offered token money “but I never ask, people give me out of devotion… around a thousand rupees.”Lowering his voice, the mild-mannered astrologer discloses that “traditionally my clients are those who are not well-moneyed, and who happen to be confused and troubled about their life and don’t know who to go to...”