An astrologer adorning red
with conch shells arranged on a wooden plate
Idols and images of gods and goddesses behind
The aroma of the floral offerings and scents in the air
The presence of spirits is felt when the large shell is moved
She closed her eyes and prayed with divine verses
With a concerned face, she asked if I am ready
To hear a prophecy that will change my life
I prayed to the gods and goddesses to be kind
She, with an intimidating voice, told me that
There will be a death in my house in a month
No godly or evil force can stop that from happening
I was in shock, and my friend too felt the shock
My father was sick and stuck in another city
And I was about to visit to bring him home
It was a prophecy about my father's death
He survived a silent heart attack and was
Kept in intensive care unit for days upon arrival
Even doctors said its hard to tell until two days
He made recovery and made it home safely
But he had to survive some more days in the hospital
Again, I hoped that the worst days are behind and
We held a puja at home for his wellbeing
But only to see him gasping for breath
Within days, on a fateful Friday night
I saw him leaving this world in my hands
on the way to the hospital, exactly a month
After the prophecy! I spent those four weeks with him
With a belief that he will survive! But prophecy turned true!
