POT OF GOLD

Some men are ambitious and realistic. Some are only ambitious. They dream of riches and property and hope that one day they will be the dream realized. My friend Swami was a professional photographer. He was dynamic, and could easily deliver  goods, as per the clients demands.

I needed his services to shoots models, for my organizations products. He was quick in work and could be creative or mundane to suit the situation.

He dreamed big. He wanted to live in style. He also believed in astrology.  Astrologers are excellent in reading client psychology. They indentify your weak point and exploit it.  An astrologer told him that he could become rich overnight, if he performed the Lakshmi  Ganapathi  Homam. Swami performed the pooja. The bill was only Rs.32000.

Nothing happened. Therefore, he went and met a gemologist. He suggested, that Swami wear a dark Blue Sapphire. Swami paid without batting an eyelid, Rs.6000.

Still nothing happened. Now it was time for the Vastu consultant. The Vastu consultant, came to Swami’s house, and suggested that all rooms to be interchanged.

The kitchen became the toilet. The store room was modified into the kitchen. The hall turned into the bedroom. And the bedroom was converted into the hall. Existing doors were sealed. New doors created. The only things left untouched were the outer walls and the ceiling. The bill was a whooping Rs.1,25000.

Still no change took place in the financial status.

But swami was a die hard. He met a saint and got fleeced of Rs.32000, so that the finances improve.

In the mean time, business became bad, due to competition. Digital pictures replaced conventional photography. Anyone could now shoot, as photography became affordable to the common person.  Photos were available from the net. Organizations stopped caring about qualitative work. They were ready to make do with whatever was available.

So swami joined a Multi Level Marketing Organization. The basic logic in these organization being; I was fooled, now I will fool you.

Swami forced me to attend one of their meetings. Many people came on stage and proclaimed how MLM had changed their lives; how easy it was to become successful and rich. The speakers tried to brain wash the gullible and greedy audience of 300 people. To a person hardened by bitter experiences, like me, it was a mindless shameful parody.

I refused to become a member, in spite of Swami’s best effort. I told him, “I know only one way of earning,  that is, by regular persistent hard work. I do not believe in luck. There is no easy way to become legally rich. “

After that Swami and I lost contact.  Much later I met him once. He had sold off his house and his car. He was travelling by bus, but he still nurtured his dream of making it big. Well some people never learn.

As long there is insatiability and naivety, the astrologers, naadi specialist, gemologist, nameologist, numerologists, vastu consultants, feng shui guys , will all continue to prosper.