Stars in our eyes

We knew all along that these elections would prove to be unpredictable. Now this is good news for television anchors and political pundits. They can hedge their bets.

We knew all along that these elections would prove to be unpredictable. Now this is good news for television anchors and political pundits. They can hedge their bets. But have you noticed a deafening silence from our crystal ball gazers? Yes, our astrologers are not taking any chances.

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The stars and planets may be moving in confusing ways but our soothsayers are content this time to wait and watch. We’ll miss all those predictions that are unerringly wrong each election. Ah, they would have said in the past, X is born under a sign in whose domain the planets have come together in a happy confluence. He is destined for great things, even the top slot, they will tell us conspiratorially. Alas our desi versions of Madame Rosa were caught by a vigilant media — take a bow — who went back to their pre-poll predictions and nailed their astrological errors. But that does not deter our political worthies who do not step out of their homes without astrological advice. They will change their names, wear all manners of lucky charms, even wear only certain types of clothing to grasp that holy grail of power. But while they may trip up now and again, astrologers will never go out of demand. Even the most scientific-minded of us has some sort of fear of evil stars and omens. Which explains why Friday the 13th still evokes a frisson of horror in us.