POWER OF WORDS

WALTER - " Please let's go to the fortune teller's tent....I have never been there....Let's see what the fortune teller says...Please let go....I want to hear what our future will be like....Pls ...Pls...Let us go " With a cute pout adorning his face and his twinkling eyes, its simply impossible to resist his wishes. Not that I ever had a chance to say 'No' to him. Walter was the baby-faced boy that everyone fell in love with. I never had a chance to refuse him. I know Walter from when he were born. I am five years older to him. I always gave in to him ..... his cuteness and sweetness was a weapon that could destroy any defense. So as usual, I gave in to his wishes and we went to see the fortune teller at his tent. Walter was so excited to meet the fortune teller. It was as if the clairvoyant would reveal to him the keys of the universe for him to be happy with me. It seemed that Walter was waiting for the seer to confirm his belief that we were meant to be forever and ever after.  Walter was a romantic, a simple boy whose head was in the clouds...who believed in fairy tales even at the age of eighteen. His childish simplicity and his starry eyed romanticism was a balm to my soul. The fortune teller's tent was a typical one you see at a fair...mysterious ambience with unusual paraphernalia that you don't associate with on a daily basis. Red with purple and gold were the dominant colors that adorned the exterior of the tent. Tapestries embellished the interior of the tent. In the center of the tent was a round table covered with a emerald green colored velvet cloth. On it was placed a crystal ball which I believe is the tool of her trade. There was also an ornate mirror placed on the table.  Walter sat on one of the two wooden carved chairs with cushions of red velvet, set in front of the table which was meant for the guests. We were waiting for the fortune teller to appear while looking around that tent. With ornate carpet and nick knacks embellishing every available surface, it was an interesting place to be. Looking around, Walter seemed amazed... crystals and stones, a small waterfall, an opulent chest, incense sticks, lighted scented candles with a citrusy smell combined with a cherry aroma filled the tent.  Canopy tent lights along and patio lights together with the strategically placed lighted candles added to the mysterious atmosphere that the fortune teller so wanted to create. Just beside the beautiful center table where we were waiting for the fortune teller, was a smaller table with a deck of cards, an ornate ornamental jewel box, an old book written in an unknown language....and a bunch of peacock feathers loosely tied into a bunch. Sheer scarves in gold, green, red and purple provided privacy for the consultation at the entry to the tent. The entry was manned by an assistant wearing a gold haram pants teamed with an orange chiffon top. Her hair was tied in plaits, curled around her head, embellished with stones and ribbons. She looked ethereal....just apt for her role as an assistant to the soothsayer. I was waiting for the show to start. Walter seemed to be on pins and needles. The entry of the oracle was perfect for the whole scene that was created. With smoke billowing and twinkling sounds, came in a gorgeous woman. I looked at her mesmerized. Eyes darkened with the use of kohl, under thick shapely eyebrows with a razor sharp nose and pouty, thick, cherry red lips...she was a vision to behold. Tall and statuesque, she looked like a goddess. Turbaned with a silk multi-hued cloth which was bejeweled with chains and gems on it, she had her hair cascading down her back till it reached her hips. Black as crow's feathers, her hair rippled like silk. Wearing an embroidered caftan in the bright warm tones of orange and pink, she commanded respect like an authentic diviner. Sitting at her chair which seem to enhance her authority...she looked like a royal commanding her courtiers. Walter seemed to have fallen into the trap of suggestions that fortune tellers are so adapt at. I know there are many people who have the gift for seeing the past or the future...but for the very miniscule population which may truly be gifted with this ability, there are vast multitudes who earn to scam gullible minds like Walter's. While I remain to enjoy the show that this fortune teller at this tent provides at this fair, I am feeling apprehensive seeing the look of total enchantment and rupture that Walter sports. I am scared of what would come out of the fortune teller's mouth which could create havoc for the naïve Walter. If he is able to just have fun and enjoy the process of being with the seer, then its good...but it would be blunder if he takes it to heart and loses his common sense. SOOTHSAYER - "Hello...My name is Cassandra and I can tell you what I can see about your future  at this moment. This is to say that future can change with the change in our motives and  intention, our actions and our belief in the higher power..... Would you agree for me to see the future on behalf of you?" WALTER - "Yes please...I want to know about my happy future with the one I love the most who is sitting here with me..." SOOTHSAYER - " Ah...hmmm" author's note :- Have you ever been to a soothsayer? No? I have been to one...I have experienced the impact of what soothsayers say. I have changed my outlook towards life and its varied issues and challenges because of what I have heard in one of my consultations. The authenticity of the fortune tellers is up for debate...I am not here to tell you if what they predicted has come true or not ....but what I wish to portray is that when soothsayers, palmists, horoscope readers, diviners or oracles or rather any person whom we respect have the sensitivity to understand our personality, they can help us enormously. I heard a lot about my future and there were quite a lot of predictions made. However what stuck me was a line which was said by the astrologer. He said - ' there are 3 ways in which you can understand life experiences...one - life events that are written in water which can be erased with no effort at all...second - life events written in san which can be erased and rewritten with effort...third -  these life events are written on rock and you can't change them...if you want to change them you have to break the rock or break your own head trying to change what's written...a smart individual doesn't spend his energy on things which are beyond his control...for example - if your happiness lies in the actions and words of your lover, this will cause you enormous pain and suffering. Don't depend on someone else to make you happy...you have the power to be happy by yourself...' The above mentioned words bought calm and serenity to my heart. It helped me to ground myself in reality and not depend on others to fulfil my destiny or keep me happy. This story is therefore an imaginative extension of how life could turn out to be when you place excessive importance to someone else ...or how a person's words could have a different connotation to what you understood.