A Tale of Devotion and Karma (1063 words)

 Festive days were ahead. Ganesh walked aimlessly through the bazaar, gazing at the shops, glittering showcases, screaming hawkers, and people laden with bags, rushing around in a tearing hurry. The jostling crowd, high humidity, and warm weather were suffocating, and he longed to escape. It was then that he noticed a vendor in a corner of the platform, selling a variety of items—combs, mirrors, shaving gadgets, perfumes, cheap clocks, glass beads, hairclips, safety pins, toys, and other sundries, all under a placard that read, “Any item for just 10 rupees.”

Among the items, Ganesh spotted a tiny but beautiful Vinayak doll. Without a second thought, he pulled out the only ten-rupee note he had and bought the doll, tightly wrapped in a newspaper by the vendor.

There was now a spring in his step as he walked home, feeling a newfound lightness in his heart. Ganesh led a difficult life, always in need. He held a low-paying job with long hours, a wife, and two children to support. He desperately longed for a break that had been eluding him for a long time. Every month, without fail, he purchased a lottery ticket, firmly believing that God helps those who help themselves. He felt that a lottery win could be the channel through which God might bless him with a windfall. Though disappointment greeted him each month when the results were out, he remained hopeful. Now, he had a new hope—this Vinayaka idol might just become his mascot and bring him the good fortune he longed for.

Ganesh placed the idol on the puja shelf and offered a flower at its base. He reassured his wife, Vimala, that the small expense had been worth it, and that Vinayaka would soon bless their family. Although she did not share his optimism, Vimala said nothing.

A month later, as you may have guessed, Ganesh won the jackpot—Rs. 25 lakhs in a lottery. Overjoyed, he hugged his wife, his face glowing with the look of someone saying, “Did I not tell you?” Life improved dramatically, bringing them many of the comforts they had once only dreamed of. Special prayers were held for Vinayak in gratitude.

One night, a week later, as they lay in bed, Vimala said, “Our neighbour Lalitha is pregnant. They already have a daughter, and the couple hopes for a boy this time. She wondered if we could lend them the Vinayaka idol for six months until the baby is born. I told her I’d check with you. What do you think?”

Ganesh was reluctant to part with his cherished mascot, but his wife’s words swayed him. “I feel we should share the things that bring joy to others. Vinayaka will surely be pleased with us and bless us even more,” she said.

A few months later, Vimala rushed into their home from Lalitha’s, tears streaming down her face. “Lalitha is blaming us for her misfortune! She gave birth to twin girls, and now she says the idol brought her bad luck because she wanted a son. Her husband glared at me as if we’d wronged them. What can we do if it’s their karma to get twin girls? We lent Vinayak to her only because she asked.”

“Forget those foolish people. Who says girls are bad luck? We have two charming daughters, and we’re happy and blessed. Go and get the idol back,” Ganesh said firmly.

With the idol back in its rightful place, Ganesh felt reassured by Vinayaka’s protective presence. Things were going smoothly again, until one day, Ganesh’s brother, Raghu, unexpectedly paid a visit. Raghu, who had been distant for years, was now overcome by jealousy at seeing Ganesh’s newfound success, though he cleverly hid his feeling

“I’m glad to see you doing well,” Raghu began. “Amma says you’ve had all this luck because of a Vinayaka idol. As you know, I’ve been running Dad’s old grocery store in the village, but business hasn’t been good. And you know my rebellious past—no one wants to marry me. Amma suggested I take the idol and pray for some blessings. Can you lend it to me for a year?”

Ganesh noticed the smell of cheap liquor on his brother’s breath and surmised he hadn’t changed. Nevertheless, he gave Raghu some money for him and, separately, some for their mother, along with the idol. “Keep the idol with care. Vinayaka blesses those who pray sincerely. Leave your vices behind and work hard, and you’ll see good things happen,” Ganesh advised.

A fortnight later, an urgent message came from the village asking Ganesh to come at once. By the time he reached , it was dusk, and his mother’s house was dark. He found her huddled in a corner on the floor.

“Amma, what’s wrong? Where’s Raghu?” Ganesh asked as he helped her sit up.

Through tears, his mother explained that Raghu wished to conduct a puja after getting the idol, only to be mocked by his friends. Embarrassed, he left the idol behind and went out drinking. In a few days, he sold the grocery store and ran off with a married woman.

“Did he give you any of the money I sent?” Ganesh asked.

“No. He takes everything from me and gives nothing,” his mother replied.

Ganesh brought his mother home along with the idol, contemplating whether the events were somehow tied to the Vinayaka idol or just a result of Raghu’s karma. After all, Raghu had gained some cash by selling the store and got a married woman, though in an unethical way. This troubling question lingered in his mind until his wife reassured him, saying, “Faith in God is personal. The idol is a blessing to us because we believe. Vinayaka has brought us peace and fortune because we approach Him with devotion and sincerity. That is all that matters.” As an afterthought, she added,” As an additional blessing, we can now keep mother with us in good comfort.”

Ganesh smiled, feeling fortified in his faith. He realised that true blessings come from the strength of one’s belief and that Vinayaka’s grace would always remain with them as long as their devotion remained pure. Strangely, the thought of his boss’s recent assurance of a promotion with a good raise crossed his mind, even as he heard Vimala ringing the bell in the puja room.