Simplified

When I was maybe eight or nine, my dad told me this story set in the early 1900s about his grandfather. They used to call him Lalaji.

One day, this man came by Lalaji’s shop and asked for a few minutes of his time. Lalaji had a stern personality but not one to turn away a request for help. He asked the man to come in and have a seat. In the span of the next 30 minutes, the conversation went into details of where this man had come from, the hardships he had faced and how he had become determined to prevent others from undergoing similar situations.

As heart wrenching as his story was, Lalaji needed to get on with the business of his day.

Lalaji: It is great that you have taken on this mission in life. How does it concern me?

The guy then opened up.

Having gone through all these troubled times, I have been gifted with the ability to catch glimpses of future mishaps that others are going to experience. I would be glad to help you avoid yours too, Lalaji.

I will not charge a single paisa, until you are convinced of my abilities. To prove my gift, I will tell you things about your life that only you should know. Even after you are convinced, I only ask for a nominal fee for my travels across the country.

(This conversation probably occurred in Multani. Lalaji lived in Lahore.)

Lalaji was of formidable stature. But I have heard that that his poker face was legendary and might have given Chris “Jesus” Ferguson a run for his chip stack. He calmly nodded and kept listening to this amazing offer. His interest had been piqued and he walked over to the man.

Not knowing what had just hit him, the man was down on the floor in a daze, Lalaji’s powerful figure towering over him. Lalaji then pointed towards the door,

No? You didn’t see this coming? If you couldn’t see barely seconds into your own future, how are you going to help me save mine?

True or not, this story left a mark. I grew up knowing that I had a cool great-grandfather.