The Akashvaani

Mukund Lal was feeling a little guilty over firing Sushma, after all she had worked for him for 12 years now and was quite a hardworking lady. But her negligence in handling of this bid, which she claimed to be because of some family issues of hers, had cost him this contract. Not that this contract was too important to the company, but he just did not like to lose.

Lost in the thoughts, he didn't realize when he reached home. It was a very usual sight for Mukund, Nathu, his gardener sitting in the lawn with his daily meal in front of him - a couple of chapattis and an onion, he saw him folding his hands and muttering few words to thank God before having his meal. Mukund Lal had never ever seen Nathu missing this ritual of his. Before Nathu could have his first bite, he heard a street puppy wailing, Nathu felt it was hungry, so he decided to give one of his chapatis to the dog. Nathu noticed Mukund Lal, and he exclaimed "Ram Ram Sahib!".
"Nathu, It is quite strange that you thank God for the kind of meal you are having", Mukund Lal replied back, "and that too which you had to share with a puppy. I would have never felt like showing gratitude for this."
"Sa'ab, this is adequate for me, and well if I was able to help the poor creature as well with it, I should feel glad.", Nathu said.

The next morning when Mukund Lal was reading newspaper in the lawn, he saw Nathu with a horror-struck face running to him, "Sahib, pardon me for this, you can call me illiterate and superstitious but it is hard for me to keep this with me. I had an early morning dream in which I heard an akashvaani, it said, the richest man in the area is going to die tonight, I hope it turns out to be completely false, and I end up proving myself stupid." Mukund Lal laughed off at Nathu's statement, and moved inside the bungalow. Nathu just prayed peace for his master's soul in case what he heard turns out to be true.

Mukund, even though took the whole thing as a joke in front of Nathu, was a little perturbed at heart. His fingers dialed Dr. Kapoor's number, who was all in laughter after hearing the story, "Mukund, I am shocked that you believe in all these things, unless I was drunk when I prepared your medical reports last month, you are not going to die any time soon. So, keep yourself busy with your daily errands... and yes, don't forget the golf game that we have this weekend." Mukund felt better after talking to Kapoor but still decided to stay at home that day, to avoid any risks of any kind.

That night Mukund slept badly, counting every tick of the clock, and with eyes set on his window, waiting for Sun to rise. With the first rays of Sun, he pinched his limbs, yes he was still alive! He decided to rush to Nathu to show him how stupid his beliefs are, to proclaim he has won. He rushed outside to reach the servant quarters, where he saw few men in white standing together, before he could comprehend the situation any further, Mukund’s driver ran towards him and said, "Babuji, Nathu died yesterday night".

Mukund Lal stood shocked while the men carried away the corpse on their shoulders, he muttered in his heart, "Nathu, the akashvaani turned out to be true!"