The lone policeman had no means of dispersing the crowd that had gathered to watch the stupendous roadside show hosted by a man who claimed to have been to places all over the world and that the audience was witnessing what only the privileged get to see in a lifetime. The onlookers outside the ring within which was a tent with a curious signboard saying, “Baba”, were undoubtedly impressed despite his emaciated looks and the cheap oversized rented suit that hung loosely to his body. Acknowledging the attention of the motley crowd, the man went on.

“Ladies and gentlemen! Here you see not what riches can buy. You do not witness anything that changes history or turns lead into gold. But what you will witness is the determination and skill of a man who has never lost heart in his entire life; a man who has through his desire to meet God and determination to solve all the problems of this world, traveled across the seven seas and all the five continents on a wheelchair. He has meditated upon the Himalayas and bathed in the holy Ganges for years together and has obtained what the ancients had found but was lost in time due to negligence. He has obtained the power to foresee the future and has made many predictions all over the world. “

“Who predicted the 911 disaster? Baba did. But everyone mocked him when he said, “Beware the high and mighty, for the birds shall come and pierce you to death and you burn down to the ground in fires greater than hell.””

“Who, I say, foresaw the tsunami? Baba did. For he was the first to have said, “The waves won’t leave anyone free and will rise above all to quench its thirst for revenge””

“Hark! O friends! I bring to you the famous Baba who will show you the doors of enlightenment. And will tell you what you need to know most. ”

And then a young man from within the crowd suddenly cried out, “yes, isn’t he the one who predicted the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi and his mother too?”

“Yes, my friend. He is!”, without any sign of recognizing him.

“Yes, ladies and gentlemen, for a paltry donation to a charitable purpose, you will be able to meet Baba. The man who is our messiah, the savior! Just a little bit of money for a divine purpose and your future will lie open to you forever!”

“Those who wish to meet Baba please stand in this queue and I shall guide you to Baba’s humble confinement where he fasts for world peace.”

Thus, saying so, the thin man stood waiting for the eager people to come forward in a disorderly fashion, holding out coins and notes. The man repeatedly kept shouting at the men and women to make a queue, but to no avail. They surrounded him and nearly pushed him to the ground. Finally, he gave up and squeezed his way outside and went into the ring beyond which the crowd didn’t break in. Then he went around collecting the money in a small bag, letting each man in. And making them stand in line in front of the tent.

One by one they went in and came back with satisfied looks. They all seemed invariably happy or content with the predictions. But the crowd never grew less. One told the other and the other told another about the amazing blessed Baba.

This went on for hours at a stretch. Towards dusk, the man looked very tired. But he never ceased his shouting and calling upon the crowd to try out this unbelievably true experience. But the sun had fallen to the horizon and the birds had begun flying home. And so did the people. Deciding that it was time to close down, the man stopped shouting. He took off his coat and neatly rolled it up and put it in his bag. It was dark now. And the city lights were glowing in the distance.

“Baba, come lets move. The job is done here.”

He lifted the tent flap and peered into the darkness. A deep voice grunted in consent to his statement. The figure of an old man with a pot belly emerged from the darkness of the tent.

They began rolling and packing up everything. Another young man joined them. It was the same unknown young fellow who had responded to the thin man’s cries the first time in the morning.

“Bholu, good job. Where were you all this while?”

“I went to have some tea. So, where next”

“Let us see. The people here are gullible enough. Maybe we’ll stay a few more days here.”

They were interrupted by an alien tap on the bamboo pole by the lone policeman who was still stationed there.

“I saw the business was good”, he said curtly, without looking in their direction.

“Yes sir”, replied the thin man.

“Don’t sit here again tomorrow. I will not let you”, the policemen said with a note of finality in his tone.

“Sir, we have just started business here. Please don’t just throw us out. We are just poor wayfarers here”

“I understand, my man, we are all poor in a poor country. But some one has to pay the taxes, otherwise how will the country become rich?”, the policeman said with a wry smile.

The thin man dug his hand into his bag and counted out twenty rupees in notes and coins. He handed them over to the policeman, meekly, saying nothing. The policeman took it and counted it again.

“You see my man, this spot is good. You will get a bigger crowd tomorrow. Twenty won’t do.”

“But sir, today we didn’t earn much.”

“No, no, it is okay. I was only asking for tomorrow. It is okay. You can pay me tomorrow.”

“But sir… “

“You fraud cheap tricksters, don’t you dare argue with the law." He suddenly flared up. "Do you know I can throw you in jail for holding your little game here? I can get you bashed by the public for tricking them today with your hocus pocus. Pay your taxes and don’t mess with me.”

Saying so, he walked off haughtily.

The thin man, the young man and the old man packed up without another word and left for the next town.