Kallus world 4 - Hero HoroscopeManAuthor Subhadra Sen GuptaIllustrator Tapas Guha

Kallu stood frowning up at a huge poster stuck on thewall of the school compound

ldquoMadan Murari Dev Maharaj is hererdquo he read out aloudldquoAstrologer master of horoscopes tantra experthelliprdquo Heturned to his best friend Damu who was standing besidehim and asked ldquoWhatrsquos a kundalinirdquo

2

ldquoIrsquom not too surehelliprdquo Damu scratched his earldquosomething that goes up and down the spinehelliprdquoldquoAnd what does that dordquoldquoGenerates some sort of electricityrdquoldquoKya baat He could solve our power-cut problem thenrdquoKallu grinned

ldquoRight Wersquoll all use the kundalini to start the waterpump in the fieldsrdquo Damu laughed

By then they had been joined by Kallursquos youngerbrother Shabbo ldquoMadan Murari Dev Maharajrdquo he readthe big letters under the picture of a fat man with abeard and a bright red turban ldquoLong namerdquo

ldquoOf course he has a long namerdquo Damu replied ldquoLook atall the things he can do ndash astrology horoscopesnumbers face reading palmistryhelliprdquo

3

As they walked away Shabbo who had got four out often in the last maths test asked thoughtfully ldquoDo youthink he could predict the questions in tomorrowrsquos classtestrdquo

4

Soon the news of the astrologer had spread acrossKhajuria village According to Damursquos grandmother MotiDadi Murari Dev had to just look into your eyes and saya mantra and he instantly knew everything about you ndashyour past present future were all transferred to hismind like magic

5

ldquoYou mean now he knows that you borrowed a shawlfrom Billo Chachi and never returned itrdquo Damursquos sisterSaru asked with a grin

ldquoDonrsquot be silly that is not importantrdquo Moti Dadi waved adismissive hand

ldquoIt is important to Billo Chachirdquo Sarursquos friend Muniacommented and that made Moti Dadi so angry that sheshooed both the girls out of her room

So Kallu and his gang decided it was time to check outlsquoMadan Murari Dev Maharaj World RenownedAstrologerndash PalmistndashTantra ExpertndashFuturologistndashNumerologistrsquo The gang included Kallu and Damu whowere both in class nine

6

Saru and Munia were in class eight and Shabbo who wasthe youngest was in the seventh In the school registerKallu was Kallan Damu was Damodar Munia wasMunira Saru was Saraswati and Shabbo was Shabbirbut even their school principal Masterji often forgottheir real names

7

The gang headed out the same evening The astrologerwas a guest at the home of Raghu Singh the villagesarpanch and on the way to his house they had to gopast the Hanuman temple and there they saw a verystrange sight The temple priest Lattu Mishra was sittinghunched up outside his chin resting on his kneeslooking sadly out into space Lattu was usually a cheerfulman who greeted people with a smile Masterji hadchosen him to play Bharat in the village Ramleelabecause of his kind face and gentle smile

ldquoLattu Bhaiyardquo Munia ran up and asked anxiouslyldquowhatrsquos the matter Are you illrdquo

Lattu shook his head gloomily and then nodded to thetemple behind him ldquoSee the temple Itrsquos Tuesday and itis emptyrdquo

8

They looked at the deserted temple in surprise Usuallyon Tuesdays people would stream in all day It wouldecho with the chanting of mantras and the ringing ofbells and Lattu would be busy before the altar doingpuja and arti to Hanumanji

ldquoTo Raghu Singhrsquos house where else Since the day thatastrologer fellow has started his business no one hastime for Hanumanji anymorerdquo

ldquoHave you seen himrdquo

ldquoOf course I have I know everything about him He usedto have a mithai shop in town at one time and his namewas Murari Lal Everyone called him Mota Muraribecause he was so fat Then suddenly he grew a beardand became this Madan-whatever-Maharaj Hersquos justlearnt some magic tricks and is fooling the wholevillagerdquo

9

ldquoIrsquod read in the papersrdquo Kallan said thoughtfully ldquoaboutthis school for magicians in Kerala The principal of theschool said that half his students were fake astrologersand sadhusrdquo

ldquoMaybe he went thererdquo Then Lattu noticed that theywere all wearing their good clothes and looking veryneat and clean ldquoYou all are also going thererdquo he askedsadly

ldquoJust for a look Lattu Bhaiyardquo Saru said gently ldquoWersquoll beback soonrdquo

When they strolled up to Raghu Singhrsquos house theydiscovered that a huge tent had been put up in frontand behind it a smaller tent that had a kitchen wheretwo cooks were busy over a large karhai that wassmoking over a fire Damu zipped off for a quick lookand came back with a happy gleam in his eyes

10

Peering in they discovered that the main tent waspacked with people They squeezed in at the back andlooked around it looked like the whole village waspresent

11

There was Dharampal Chacha the chai shop owner whoplayed Ram in the Ramleela and his pretty wife BilloChachi Kishan Prasad the grocer was chatting withMasterji who was offering him a paan

Even Mangu Mali the mango orchard owner was sittingin a corner giving everyone his sour smile

Badri the mad buffalo man who was sitting right infront of them turned gave a grin mdash his huge yellowteeth gleaming behind his bushy moustache - andasked ldquoDid you check the kitchen at the backrdquo

12

ldquoOf course I didrdquo Damu gave a superior smile He nevermissed out on important matters like food ldquoThey aremaking halwa and puri with asli gheerdquo

ldquoAha ha hardquo Badri rolled his eyes in ecstasy

13

ldquoRaghu Singh is a foolrdquo Mangu Mali said grimlyldquofeeding everyone and wasting money like thisrdquo

A sort of stage had been built in front with foldingtables A very tall thin man was busy covering it with amattress and a white sheet and then he placed a coupleof bolsters on top He lit a bunch of incense sticks andwaved them about in the air

14

ldquoWhorsquos thatrdquo Munia wanted to know

ldquoThat is Paltan Pandeyrdquo Shabbo said as the thin manbegan fixing a mike ldquoI asked him and he told me that hewas the Maharajrsquos number one assistantrdquo

ldquoWhere is number twordquo Kallu looked around

ldquoI donrsquot think there is onerdquo Damu laughed

Kallu wondered if people planned to spend their hardearned money to get their horoscopes read or likehis gang were only there for the lsquoasli-ghee-halwa-puriprasadrsquo treat

15

Madan Murari Dev Maharaj was late and everyone wasgetting restless Heads kept turning to the opening inthe tent to see if he was coming A couple of babiesbegan to bawl then Moti Dadi had a coughing fit andSaru had to go out and get her a glass of water

16

Billo Chachi had come prepared to wait and had nearlyfinished knitting the sleeve of a sweater Noticing thegrowing restlessness Paltan Pandey suddenly sat downwith a harmonium and began to sing a bhajan in a flattuneless moan

Everyone was falling into a bored trance when to theirsurprise Paltan suddenly shot up his arms in the air andyelled ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo making everyone jump

17

It seemed the audience was expected to join in and theydid At least it was something to do So everyone wavedtheir arms and echoed his call ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo

The gang grinned at each other and joined in yelling atthe top of their voices ldquoJai Kapil Dev Jai Kapil Devrdquo butafter they had called for their cricket hero Kapil the thirdtime some of the elders turned and glared at them andthey decided to shut up Too much of the funny stuffcould get them kicked out of the tent and as Damupointed out halwa-puri was at stake As if finally hearingtheir calls Murari Dev arrived leaning on the arm ofRaghu Singh and walking very very slowly

ldquoBaap rerdquo an astonished Saru whispered ldquoHersquos reallyfatrdquo ldquoThat photo on the poster must have been takenyears agordquo

18

Murari Dev was quite short and wearing a bright redflowing silk robe and rows and rows of multi-colouredbeads were hanging around his neck His long greybeard flowed down over his generous pot-belly and hewas quite bald There was a red tikka drawn on hisforehead and even though it was evening to everyonersquossurprise he wore a jazzy pair of dark glasses

19

ldquoDark glassesrdquo Damu looked around ldquowherersquos thesunrdquo

Murari Dev went past them and they were swept awayby the strong scent of his cologne

ldquoKya baatrdquo Kallu commented happily ldquoDark glassesbead necklaces perfume this is a hero horoscope manStraight from Bollywoodrdquo

Munia was still staring at Paltan with a thoughtful frownldquoPaltan looks familiar somehowrdquo

ldquoI knowrdquo Shabbo grinned ldquoin a safari suit hersquod look justlike Ram Lochan at the petrol pumprdquo

ldquoCorrectrdquo they all said together Badri turned to glare atthem ldquoChuprdquo So they shut up but Munia and Saru hadto try really hard to stop the giggles They never knewastrology could be so funny By then Murari Dev wassitting leaning against a bolster panting slightly andwiping his face with a handkerchief

20

Paltan rushed up with a glass of water Raghu Singhswitched on a table fan Murari Dev cleared his throatchecked his watch and pulled the mike closer

ldquoPlease startrdquo Damu muttered ldquothe halwa is gettingcoldrdquo With majestic slowness Murari Dev stood upwalked to the edge of the stage and with a dramaticflourish waved his podgy hands in the air

21

Suddenly walnuts and raisins were raining on theaudience Behind the astrologer Paltan was bangingaway at the harmonium and swaying to the tune MurariDev waved his arms again and more raisins and walnutsflew around

22

ldquoTheyrsquore realrdquo Saru mumbled busy chewing

ldquoMust have got them from Kishen Prasadrsquos grocerystorerdquo Damu said as he scrambled about for more

The gang sat up It looked like the introduction was overand the show was about to begin Paltan announced onthe mike that Murari Dev would now predict the futureand read minds

He then walked around in the audience with chits ofpaper Someone would write a number on a chit whichwould be sealed inside an envelope and carried to theastrologer who would touch the envelope hum amantra and then recite the number correctly

23

Very impressed by the mind reading people were soontrooping up on stage to know about their futures andmany of them were carrying their horoscopes

Murari Dev talked to them in a low voice and thenwhispered his predictions into their ears So the gangcould not hear anything The rupee notes were soonpiling up in the brass plate kept before him

Finally the show was over and everyone got their leafplate of halwa-puri To the background music of theharmonium Murari Dev got up and swayed across thestage

Then with a piercing yell and a splintering crash MurariDev vanished

24

There was pandemonium in the pandal Paltan andRaghu Singh were frantically searching for him MotiDadi was weeping loudly and calling out ldquoMaharaj aapkahan hordquo

Masterji was yelling at the gang ordering them to goand find a torch And in the middle of all the chaos Badriand Mangu Mali stood there laughing their heads off

25

Then to everyonersquos relief Murari Dev slowly crawled outfrom under the stage and as Paltan and Raghu Singhrushed up to help him he stood up groggily He wasquite a sight his snazzy glasses askew his beardcovered in spiderrsquos web and his silk robe all dusty

ldquoWhat happenedrdquo Damu asked puzzled ldquoI thought itwas a vanishing actrdquo Kallu said

It took a while to solve the mystery The stage had beenmade with three wooden folding tables and one of themhad a broken leg When fat Murari Dev had stepped onit the table had collapsed taking him down with it Henow sat panting on a chair flushed dishevelled andobviously feeling very sorry for himself

26

At this crucial moment Saru spoke up Planting herselfin front of the astrologer she bent a stern face towardshim and said clearly above the hubbub ldquoBut MurariDevji I donrsquot understand thisrdquo

The fat astrologer sat up and stared at her

ldquoYou could read the numbers pick walnuts out of the airand predict futures How is it that you didnrsquot know thatthe table was brokenrdquo

In the growing silence Murari Dev glared at Saru andher gang who were standing there looking critically athim Then with a grim look on his face he got up andstalked out of the pandal as everyone began to laughMoti Dadi laughed so hard that she had anothercoughing fit and everyone agreed it had been a reallygreat show

27

28

Story AttributionThis story Kallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man is written by Subhadra Sen Gupta copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license

Other CreditsKallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man has been published on StoryWeaver by Pratham Books The development of this book has been supported byPANI Foundation wwwprathambooksorg

Illustration AttributionsCover page A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page2 Framed photographs of seven people by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page 4 Twoboys talking in front of a photo of an old bearded man by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 licensePage 5 Two men fighting with each other while another looks away by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license Page 7 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page11 A boy peeping into a courtyard where two men are cooking in a large pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 13 A stern man stirring a large cooking pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released underCC BY 40 license Page 14 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40license Page 16 A crowd of people sitting on the ground bored and disgruntled by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 17 A bored and angry girl sitting with a bag of vegatables by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reservedReleased under CC BY 40 license Page 19 A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license

Disclaimer httpswwwstoryweaverorginterms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved This book is CC -BY -40 licensed You can copymodify distribute and perform the work even for commercialpurposes all without asking permission For full terms of use andattribution httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby40

Kallu stood frowning up at a huge poster stuck on thewall of the school compound

ldquoMadan Murari Dev Maharaj is hererdquo he read out aloudldquoAstrologer master of horoscopes tantra experthelliprdquo Heturned to his best friend Damu who was standing besidehim and asked ldquoWhatrsquos a kundalinirdquo

2

ldquoIrsquom not too surehelliprdquo Damu scratched his earldquosomething that goes up and down the spinehelliprdquoldquoAnd what does that dordquoldquoGenerates some sort of electricityrdquoldquoKya baat He could solve our power-cut problem thenrdquoKallu grinned

ldquoRight Wersquoll all use the kundalini to start the waterpump in the fieldsrdquo Damu laughed

By then they had been joined by Kallursquos youngerbrother Shabbo ldquoMadan Murari Dev Maharajrdquo he readthe big letters under the picture of a fat man with abeard and a bright red turban ldquoLong namerdquo

ldquoOf course he has a long namerdquo Damu replied ldquoLook atall the things he can do ndash astrology horoscopesnumbers face reading palmistryhelliprdquo

3

As they walked away Shabbo who had got four out often in the last maths test asked thoughtfully ldquoDo youthink he could predict the questions in tomorrowrsquos classtestrdquo

4

Soon the news of the astrologer had spread acrossKhajuria village According to Damursquos grandmother MotiDadi Murari Dev had to just look into your eyes and saya mantra and he instantly knew everything about you ndashyour past present future were all transferred to hismind like magic

5

ldquoYou mean now he knows that you borrowed a shawlfrom Billo Chachi and never returned itrdquo Damursquos sisterSaru asked with a grin

ldquoDonrsquot be silly that is not importantrdquo Moti Dadi waved adismissive hand

ldquoIt is important to Billo Chachirdquo Sarursquos friend Muniacommented and that made Moti Dadi so angry that sheshooed both the girls out of her room

So Kallu and his gang decided it was time to check outlsquoMadan Murari Dev Maharaj World RenownedAstrologerndash PalmistndashTantra ExpertndashFuturologistndashNumerologistrsquo The gang included Kallu and Damu whowere both in class nine

6

Saru and Munia were in class eight and Shabbo who wasthe youngest was in the seventh In the school registerKallu was Kallan Damu was Damodar Munia wasMunira Saru was Saraswati and Shabbo was Shabbirbut even their school principal Masterji often forgottheir real names

7

The gang headed out the same evening The astrologerwas a guest at the home of Raghu Singh the villagesarpanch and on the way to his house they had to gopast the Hanuman temple and there they saw a verystrange sight The temple priest Lattu Mishra was sittinghunched up outside his chin resting on his kneeslooking sadly out into space Lattu was usually a cheerfulman who greeted people with a smile Masterji hadchosen him to play Bharat in the village Ramleelabecause of his kind face and gentle smile

ldquoLattu Bhaiyardquo Munia ran up and asked anxiouslyldquowhatrsquos the matter Are you illrdquo

Lattu shook his head gloomily and then nodded to thetemple behind him ldquoSee the temple Itrsquos Tuesday and itis emptyrdquo

8

They looked at the deserted temple in surprise Usuallyon Tuesdays people would stream in all day It wouldecho with the chanting of mantras and the ringing ofbells and Lattu would be busy before the altar doingpuja and arti to Hanumanji

ldquoTo Raghu Singhrsquos house where else Since the day thatastrologer fellow has started his business no one hastime for Hanumanji anymorerdquo

ldquoHave you seen himrdquo

ldquoOf course I have I know everything about him He usedto have a mithai shop in town at one time and his namewas Murari Lal Everyone called him Mota Muraribecause he was so fat Then suddenly he grew a beardand became this Madan-whatever-Maharaj Hersquos justlearnt some magic tricks and is fooling the wholevillagerdquo

9

ldquoIrsquod read in the papersrdquo Kallan said thoughtfully ldquoaboutthis school for magicians in Kerala The principal of theschool said that half his students were fake astrologersand sadhusrdquo

ldquoMaybe he went thererdquo Then Lattu noticed that theywere all wearing their good clothes and looking veryneat and clean ldquoYou all are also going thererdquo he askedsadly

ldquoJust for a look Lattu Bhaiyardquo Saru said gently ldquoWersquoll beback soonrdquo

When they strolled up to Raghu Singhrsquos house theydiscovered that a huge tent had been put up in frontand behind it a smaller tent that had a kitchen wheretwo cooks were busy over a large karhai that wassmoking over a fire Damu zipped off for a quick lookand came back with a happy gleam in his eyes

10

Peering in they discovered that the main tent waspacked with people They squeezed in at the back andlooked around it looked like the whole village waspresent

11

There was Dharampal Chacha the chai shop owner whoplayed Ram in the Ramleela and his pretty wife BilloChachi Kishan Prasad the grocer was chatting withMasterji who was offering him a paan

Even Mangu Mali the mango orchard owner was sittingin a corner giving everyone his sour smile

Badri the mad buffalo man who was sitting right infront of them turned gave a grin mdash his huge yellowteeth gleaming behind his bushy moustache - andasked ldquoDid you check the kitchen at the backrdquo

12

ldquoOf course I didrdquo Damu gave a superior smile He nevermissed out on important matters like food ldquoThey aremaking halwa and puri with asli gheerdquo

ldquoAha ha hardquo Badri rolled his eyes in ecstasy

13

ldquoRaghu Singh is a foolrdquo Mangu Mali said grimlyldquofeeding everyone and wasting money like thisrdquo

A sort of stage had been built in front with foldingtables A very tall thin man was busy covering it with amattress and a white sheet and then he placed a coupleof bolsters on top He lit a bunch of incense sticks andwaved them about in the air

14

ldquoWhorsquos thatrdquo Munia wanted to know

ldquoThat is Paltan Pandeyrdquo Shabbo said as the thin manbegan fixing a mike ldquoI asked him and he told me that hewas the Maharajrsquos number one assistantrdquo

ldquoWhere is number twordquo Kallu looked around

ldquoI donrsquot think there is onerdquo Damu laughed

Kallu wondered if people planned to spend their hardearned money to get their horoscopes read or likehis gang were only there for the lsquoasli-ghee-halwa-puriprasadrsquo treat

15

Madan Murari Dev Maharaj was late and everyone wasgetting restless Heads kept turning to the opening inthe tent to see if he was coming A couple of babiesbegan to bawl then Moti Dadi had a coughing fit andSaru had to go out and get her a glass of water

16

Billo Chachi had come prepared to wait and had nearlyfinished knitting the sleeve of a sweater Noticing thegrowing restlessness Paltan Pandey suddenly sat downwith a harmonium and began to sing a bhajan in a flattuneless moan

Everyone was falling into a bored trance when to theirsurprise Paltan suddenly shot up his arms in the air andyelled ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo making everyone jump

17

It seemed the audience was expected to join in and theydid At least it was something to do So everyone wavedtheir arms and echoed his call ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo

The gang grinned at each other and joined in yelling atthe top of their voices ldquoJai Kapil Dev Jai Kapil Devrdquo butafter they had called for their cricket hero Kapil the thirdtime some of the elders turned and glared at them andthey decided to shut up Too much of the funny stuffcould get them kicked out of the tent and as Damupointed out halwa-puri was at stake As if finally hearingtheir calls Murari Dev arrived leaning on the arm ofRaghu Singh and walking very very slowly

ldquoBaap rerdquo an astonished Saru whispered ldquoHersquos reallyfatrdquo ldquoThat photo on the poster must have been takenyears agordquo

18

Murari Dev was quite short and wearing a bright redflowing silk robe and rows and rows of multi-colouredbeads were hanging around his neck His long greybeard flowed down over his generous pot-belly and hewas quite bald There was a red tikka drawn on hisforehead and even though it was evening to everyonersquossurprise he wore a jazzy pair of dark glasses

19

ldquoDark glassesrdquo Damu looked around ldquowherersquos thesunrdquo

Murari Dev went past them and they were swept awayby the strong scent of his cologne

ldquoKya baatrdquo Kallu commented happily ldquoDark glassesbead necklaces perfume this is a hero horoscope manStraight from Bollywoodrdquo

Munia was still staring at Paltan with a thoughtful frownldquoPaltan looks familiar somehowrdquo

ldquoI knowrdquo Shabbo grinned ldquoin a safari suit hersquod look justlike Ram Lochan at the petrol pumprdquo

ldquoCorrectrdquo they all said together Badri turned to glare atthem ldquoChuprdquo So they shut up but Munia and Saru hadto try really hard to stop the giggles They never knewastrology could be so funny By then Murari Dev wassitting leaning against a bolster panting slightly andwiping his face with a handkerchief

20

Paltan rushed up with a glass of water Raghu Singhswitched on a table fan Murari Dev cleared his throatchecked his watch and pulled the mike closer

ldquoPlease startrdquo Damu muttered ldquothe halwa is gettingcoldrdquo With majestic slowness Murari Dev stood upwalked to the edge of the stage and with a dramaticflourish waved his podgy hands in the air

21

Suddenly walnuts and raisins were raining on theaudience Behind the astrologer Paltan was bangingaway at the harmonium and swaying to the tune MurariDev waved his arms again and more raisins and walnutsflew around

22

ldquoTheyrsquore realrdquo Saru mumbled busy chewing

ldquoMust have got them from Kishen Prasadrsquos grocerystorerdquo Damu said as he scrambled about for more

The gang sat up It looked like the introduction was overand the show was about to begin Paltan announced onthe mike that Murari Dev would now predict the futureand read minds

He then walked around in the audience with chits ofpaper Someone would write a number on a chit whichwould be sealed inside an envelope and carried to theastrologer who would touch the envelope hum amantra and then recite the number correctly

23

Very impressed by the mind reading people were soontrooping up on stage to know about their futures andmany of them were carrying their horoscopes

Murari Dev talked to them in a low voice and thenwhispered his predictions into their ears So the gangcould not hear anything The rupee notes were soonpiling up in the brass plate kept before him

Finally the show was over and everyone got their leafplate of halwa-puri To the background music of theharmonium Murari Dev got up and swayed across thestage

Then with a piercing yell and a splintering crash MurariDev vanished

24

There was pandemonium in the pandal Paltan andRaghu Singh were frantically searching for him MotiDadi was weeping loudly and calling out ldquoMaharaj aapkahan hordquo

Masterji was yelling at the gang ordering them to goand find a torch And in the middle of all the chaos Badriand Mangu Mali stood there laughing their heads off

25

Then to everyonersquos relief Murari Dev slowly crawled outfrom under the stage and as Paltan and Raghu Singhrushed up to help him he stood up groggily He wasquite a sight his snazzy glasses askew his beardcovered in spiderrsquos web and his silk robe all dusty

ldquoWhat happenedrdquo Damu asked puzzled ldquoI thought itwas a vanishing actrdquo Kallu said

It took a while to solve the mystery The stage had beenmade with three wooden folding tables and one of themhad a broken leg When fat Murari Dev had stepped onit the table had collapsed taking him down with it Henow sat panting on a chair flushed dishevelled andobviously feeling very sorry for himself

26

At this crucial moment Saru spoke up Planting herselfin front of the astrologer she bent a stern face towardshim and said clearly above the hubbub ldquoBut MurariDevji I donrsquot understand thisrdquo

The fat astrologer sat up and stared at her

ldquoYou could read the numbers pick walnuts out of the airand predict futures How is it that you didnrsquot know thatthe table was brokenrdquo

In the growing silence Murari Dev glared at Saru andher gang who were standing there looking critically athim Then with a grim look on his face he got up andstalked out of the pandal as everyone began to laughMoti Dadi laughed so hard that she had anothercoughing fit and everyone agreed it had been a reallygreat show

27

28

Story AttributionThis story Kallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man is written by Subhadra Sen Gupta copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license

Other CreditsKallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man has been published on StoryWeaver by Pratham Books The development of this book has been supported byPANI Foundation wwwprathambooksorg

Illustration AttributionsCover page A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page2 Framed photographs of seven people by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page 4 Twoboys talking in front of a photo of an old bearded man by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 licensePage 5 Two men fighting with each other while another looks away by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license Page 7 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page11 A boy peeping into a courtyard where two men are cooking in a large pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 13 A stern man stirring a large cooking pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released underCC BY 40 license Page 14 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40license Page 16 A crowd of people sitting on the ground bored and disgruntled by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 17 A bored and angry girl sitting with a bag of vegatables by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reservedReleased under CC BY 40 license Page 19 A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license

Disclaimer httpswwwstoryweaverorginterms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved This book is CC -BY -40 licensed You can copymodify distribute and perform the work even for commercialpurposes all without asking permission For full terms of use andattribution httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby40

ldquoIrsquom not too surehelliprdquo Damu scratched his earldquosomething that goes up and down the spinehelliprdquoldquoAnd what does that dordquoldquoGenerates some sort of electricityrdquoldquoKya baat He could solve our power-cut problem thenrdquoKallu grinned

ldquoRight Wersquoll all use the kundalini to start the waterpump in the fieldsrdquo Damu laughed

By then they had been joined by Kallursquos youngerbrother Shabbo ldquoMadan Murari Dev Maharajrdquo he readthe big letters under the picture of a fat man with abeard and a bright red turban ldquoLong namerdquo

ldquoOf course he has a long namerdquo Damu replied ldquoLook atall the things he can do ndash astrology horoscopesnumbers face reading palmistryhelliprdquo

3

As they walked away Shabbo who had got four out often in the last maths test asked thoughtfully ldquoDo youthink he could predict the questions in tomorrowrsquos classtestrdquo

4

Soon the news of the astrologer had spread acrossKhajuria village According to Damursquos grandmother MotiDadi Murari Dev had to just look into your eyes and saya mantra and he instantly knew everything about you ndashyour past present future were all transferred to hismind like magic

5

ldquoYou mean now he knows that you borrowed a shawlfrom Billo Chachi and never returned itrdquo Damursquos sisterSaru asked with a grin

ldquoDonrsquot be silly that is not importantrdquo Moti Dadi waved adismissive hand

ldquoIt is important to Billo Chachirdquo Sarursquos friend Muniacommented and that made Moti Dadi so angry that sheshooed both the girls out of her room

So Kallu and his gang decided it was time to check outlsquoMadan Murari Dev Maharaj World RenownedAstrologerndash PalmistndashTantra ExpertndashFuturologistndashNumerologistrsquo The gang included Kallu and Damu whowere both in class nine

6

Saru and Munia were in class eight and Shabbo who wasthe youngest was in the seventh In the school registerKallu was Kallan Damu was Damodar Munia wasMunira Saru was Saraswati and Shabbo was Shabbirbut even their school principal Masterji often forgottheir real names

7

The gang headed out the same evening The astrologerwas a guest at the home of Raghu Singh the villagesarpanch and on the way to his house they had to gopast the Hanuman temple and there they saw a verystrange sight The temple priest Lattu Mishra was sittinghunched up outside his chin resting on his kneeslooking sadly out into space Lattu was usually a cheerfulman who greeted people with a smile Masterji hadchosen him to play Bharat in the village Ramleelabecause of his kind face and gentle smile

ldquoLattu Bhaiyardquo Munia ran up and asked anxiouslyldquowhatrsquos the matter Are you illrdquo

Lattu shook his head gloomily and then nodded to thetemple behind him ldquoSee the temple Itrsquos Tuesday and itis emptyrdquo

8

They looked at the deserted temple in surprise Usuallyon Tuesdays people would stream in all day It wouldecho with the chanting of mantras and the ringing ofbells and Lattu would be busy before the altar doingpuja and arti to Hanumanji

ldquoTo Raghu Singhrsquos house where else Since the day thatastrologer fellow has started his business no one hastime for Hanumanji anymorerdquo

ldquoHave you seen himrdquo

ldquoOf course I have I know everything about him He usedto have a mithai shop in town at one time and his namewas Murari Lal Everyone called him Mota Muraribecause he was so fat Then suddenly he grew a beardand became this Madan-whatever-Maharaj Hersquos justlearnt some magic tricks and is fooling the wholevillagerdquo

9

ldquoIrsquod read in the papersrdquo Kallan said thoughtfully ldquoaboutthis school for magicians in Kerala The principal of theschool said that half his students were fake astrologersand sadhusrdquo

ldquoMaybe he went thererdquo Then Lattu noticed that theywere all wearing their good clothes and looking veryneat and clean ldquoYou all are also going thererdquo he askedsadly

ldquoJust for a look Lattu Bhaiyardquo Saru said gently ldquoWersquoll beback soonrdquo

When they strolled up to Raghu Singhrsquos house theydiscovered that a huge tent had been put up in frontand behind it a smaller tent that had a kitchen wheretwo cooks were busy over a large karhai that wassmoking over a fire Damu zipped off for a quick lookand came back with a happy gleam in his eyes

10

Peering in they discovered that the main tent waspacked with people They squeezed in at the back andlooked around it looked like the whole village waspresent

11

There was Dharampal Chacha the chai shop owner whoplayed Ram in the Ramleela and his pretty wife BilloChachi Kishan Prasad the grocer was chatting withMasterji who was offering him a paan

Even Mangu Mali the mango orchard owner was sittingin a corner giving everyone his sour smile

Badri the mad buffalo man who was sitting right infront of them turned gave a grin mdash his huge yellowteeth gleaming behind his bushy moustache - andasked ldquoDid you check the kitchen at the backrdquo

12

ldquoOf course I didrdquo Damu gave a superior smile He nevermissed out on important matters like food ldquoThey aremaking halwa and puri with asli gheerdquo

ldquoAha ha hardquo Badri rolled his eyes in ecstasy

13

ldquoRaghu Singh is a foolrdquo Mangu Mali said grimlyldquofeeding everyone and wasting money like thisrdquo

A sort of stage had been built in front with foldingtables A very tall thin man was busy covering it with amattress and a white sheet and then he placed a coupleof bolsters on top He lit a bunch of incense sticks andwaved them about in the air

14

ldquoWhorsquos thatrdquo Munia wanted to know

ldquoThat is Paltan Pandeyrdquo Shabbo said as the thin manbegan fixing a mike ldquoI asked him and he told me that hewas the Maharajrsquos number one assistantrdquo

ldquoWhere is number twordquo Kallu looked around

ldquoI donrsquot think there is onerdquo Damu laughed

Kallu wondered if people planned to spend their hardearned money to get their horoscopes read or likehis gang were only there for the lsquoasli-ghee-halwa-puriprasadrsquo treat

15

Madan Murari Dev Maharaj was late and everyone wasgetting restless Heads kept turning to the opening inthe tent to see if he was coming A couple of babiesbegan to bawl then Moti Dadi had a coughing fit andSaru had to go out and get her a glass of water

16

Billo Chachi had come prepared to wait and had nearlyfinished knitting the sleeve of a sweater Noticing thegrowing restlessness Paltan Pandey suddenly sat downwith a harmonium and began to sing a bhajan in a flattuneless moan

Everyone was falling into a bored trance when to theirsurprise Paltan suddenly shot up his arms in the air andyelled ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo making everyone jump

17

It seemed the audience was expected to join in and theydid At least it was something to do So everyone wavedtheir arms and echoed his call ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo

The gang grinned at each other and joined in yelling atthe top of their voices ldquoJai Kapil Dev Jai Kapil Devrdquo butafter they had called for their cricket hero Kapil the thirdtime some of the elders turned and glared at them andthey decided to shut up Too much of the funny stuffcould get them kicked out of the tent and as Damupointed out halwa-puri was at stake As if finally hearingtheir calls Murari Dev arrived leaning on the arm ofRaghu Singh and walking very very slowly

ldquoBaap rerdquo an astonished Saru whispered ldquoHersquos reallyfatrdquo ldquoThat photo on the poster must have been takenyears agordquo

18

Murari Dev was quite short and wearing a bright redflowing silk robe and rows and rows of multi-colouredbeads were hanging around his neck His long greybeard flowed down over his generous pot-belly and hewas quite bald There was a red tikka drawn on hisforehead and even though it was evening to everyonersquossurprise he wore a jazzy pair of dark glasses

19

ldquoDark glassesrdquo Damu looked around ldquowherersquos thesunrdquo

Murari Dev went past them and they were swept awayby the strong scent of his cologne

ldquoKya baatrdquo Kallu commented happily ldquoDark glassesbead necklaces perfume this is a hero horoscope manStraight from Bollywoodrdquo

Munia was still staring at Paltan with a thoughtful frownldquoPaltan looks familiar somehowrdquo

ldquoI knowrdquo Shabbo grinned ldquoin a safari suit hersquod look justlike Ram Lochan at the petrol pumprdquo

ldquoCorrectrdquo they all said together Badri turned to glare atthem ldquoChuprdquo So they shut up but Munia and Saru hadto try really hard to stop the giggles They never knewastrology could be so funny By then Murari Dev wassitting leaning against a bolster panting slightly andwiping his face with a handkerchief

20

Paltan rushed up with a glass of water Raghu Singhswitched on a table fan Murari Dev cleared his throatchecked his watch and pulled the mike closer

ldquoPlease startrdquo Damu muttered ldquothe halwa is gettingcoldrdquo With majestic slowness Murari Dev stood upwalked to the edge of the stage and with a dramaticflourish waved his podgy hands in the air

21

Suddenly walnuts and raisins were raining on theaudience Behind the astrologer Paltan was bangingaway at the harmonium and swaying to the tune MurariDev waved his arms again and more raisins and walnutsflew around

22

ldquoTheyrsquore realrdquo Saru mumbled busy chewing

ldquoMust have got them from Kishen Prasadrsquos grocerystorerdquo Damu said as he scrambled about for more

The gang sat up It looked like the introduction was overand the show was about to begin Paltan announced onthe mike that Murari Dev would now predict the futureand read minds

He then walked around in the audience with chits ofpaper Someone would write a number on a chit whichwould be sealed inside an envelope and carried to theastrologer who would touch the envelope hum amantra and then recite the number correctly

23

Very impressed by the mind reading people were soontrooping up on stage to know about their futures andmany of them were carrying their horoscopes

Murari Dev talked to them in a low voice and thenwhispered his predictions into their ears So the gangcould not hear anything The rupee notes were soonpiling up in the brass plate kept before him

Finally the show was over and everyone got their leafplate of halwa-puri To the background music of theharmonium Murari Dev got up and swayed across thestage

Then with a piercing yell and a splintering crash MurariDev vanished

24

There was pandemonium in the pandal Paltan andRaghu Singh were frantically searching for him MotiDadi was weeping loudly and calling out ldquoMaharaj aapkahan hordquo

Masterji was yelling at the gang ordering them to goand find a torch And in the middle of all the chaos Badriand Mangu Mali stood there laughing their heads off

25

Then to everyonersquos relief Murari Dev slowly crawled outfrom under the stage and as Paltan and Raghu Singhrushed up to help him he stood up groggily He wasquite a sight his snazzy glasses askew his beardcovered in spiderrsquos web and his silk robe all dusty

ldquoWhat happenedrdquo Damu asked puzzled ldquoI thought itwas a vanishing actrdquo Kallu said

It took a while to solve the mystery The stage had beenmade with three wooden folding tables and one of themhad a broken leg When fat Murari Dev had stepped onit the table had collapsed taking him down with it Henow sat panting on a chair flushed dishevelled andobviously feeling very sorry for himself

26

At this crucial moment Saru spoke up Planting herselfin front of the astrologer she bent a stern face towardshim and said clearly above the hubbub ldquoBut MurariDevji I donrsquot understand thisrdquo

The fat astrologer sat up and stared at her

ldquoYou could read the numbers pick walnuts out of the airand predict futures How is it that you didnrsquot know thatthe table was brokenrdquo

In the growing silence Murari Dev glared at Saru andher gang who were standing there looking critically athim Then with a grim look on his face he got up andstalked out of the pandal as everyone began to laughMoti Dadi laughed so hard that she had anothercoughing fit and everyone agreed it had been a reallygreat show

27

28

Story AttributionThis story Kallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man is written by Subhadra Sen Gupta copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license

Other CreditsKallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man has been published on StoryWeaver by Pratham Books The development of this book has been supported byPANI Foundation wwwprathambooksorg

Illustration AttributionsCover page A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page2 Framed photographs of seven people by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page 4 Twoboys talking in front of a photo of an old bearded man by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 licensePage 5 Two men fighting with each other while another looks away by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license Page 7 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page11 A boy peeping into a courtyard where two men are cooking in a large pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 13 A stern man stirring a large cooking pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released underCC BY 40 license Page 14 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40license Page 16 A crowd of people sitting on the ground bored and disgruntled by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 17 A bored and angry girl sitting with a bag of vegatables by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reservedReleased under CC BY 40 license Page 19 A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license

Disclaimer httpswwwstoryweaverorginterms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved This book is CC -BY -40 licensed You can copymodify distribute and perform the work even for commercialpurposes all without asking permission For full terms of use andattribution httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby40

As they walked away Shabbo who had got four out often in the last maths test asked thoughtfully ldquoDo youthink he could predict the questions in tomorrowrsquos classtestrdquo

4

Soon the news of the astrologer had spread acrossKhajuria village According to Damursquos grandmother MotiDadi Murari Dev had to just look into your eyes and saya mantra and he instantly knew everything about you ndashyour past present future were all transferred to hismind like magic

5

ldquoYou mean now he knows that you borrowed a shawlfrom Billo Chachi and never returned itrdquo Damursquos sisterSaru asked with a grin

ldquoDonrsquot be silly that is not importantrdquo Moti Dadi waved adismissive hand

ldquoIt is important to Billo Chachirdquo Sarursquos friend Muniacommented and that made Moti Dadi so angry that sheshooed both the girls out of her room

So Kallu and his gang decided it was time to check outlsquoMadan Murari Dev Maharaj World RenownedAstrologerndash PalmistndashTantra ExpertndashFuturologistndashNumerologistrsquo The gang included Kallu and Damu whowere both in class nine

6

Saru and Munia were in class eight and Shabbo who wasthe youngest was in the seventh In the school registerKallu was Kallan Damu was Damodar Munia wasMunira Saru was Saraswati and Shabbo was Shabbirbut even their school principal Masterji often forgottheir real names

7

The gang headed out the same evening The astrologerwas a guest at the home of Raghu Singh the villagesarpanch and on the way to his house they had to gopast the Hanuman temple and there they saw a verystrange sight The temple priest Lattu Mishra was sittinghunched up outside his chin resting on his kneeslooking sadly out into space Lattu was usually a cheerfulman who greeted people with a smile Masterji hadchosen him to play Bharat in the village Ramleelabecause of his kind face and gentle smile

ldquoLattu Bhaiyardquo Munia ran up and asked anxiouslyldquowhatrsquos the matter Are you illrdquo

Lattu shook his head gloomily and then nodded to thetemple behind him ldquoSee the temple Itrsquos Tuesday and itis emptyrdquo

8

They looked at the deserted temple in surprise Usuallyon Tuesdays people would stream in all day It wouldecho with the chanting of mantras and the ringing ofbells and Lattu would be busy before the altar doingpuja and arti to Hanumanji

ldquoTo Raghu Singhrsquos house where else Since the day thatastrologer fellow has started his business no one hastime for Hanumanji anymorerdquo

ldquoHave you seen himrdquo

ldquoOf course I have I know everything about him He usedto have a mithai shop in town at one time and his namewas Murari Lal Everyone called him Mota Muraribecause he was so fat Then suddenly he grew a beardand became this Madan-whatever-Maharaj Hersquos justlearnt some magic tricks and is fooling the wholevillagerdquo

9

ldquoIrsquod read in the papersrdquo Kallan said thoughtfully ldquoaboutthis school for magicians in Kerala The principal of theschool said that half his students were fake astrologersand sadhusrdquo

ldquoMaybe he went thererdquo Then Lattu noticed that theywere all wearing their good clothes and looking veryneat and clean ldquoYou all are also going thererdquo he askedsadly

ldquoJust for a look Lattu Bhaiyardquo Saru said gently ldquoWersquoll beback soonrdquo

When they strolled up to Raghu Singhrsquos house theydiscovered that a huge tent had been put up in frontand behind it a smaller tent that had a kitchen wheretwo cooks were busy over a large karhai that wassmoking over a fire Damu zipped off for a quick lookand came back with a happy gleam in his eyes

10

Peering in they discovered that the main tent waspacked with people They squeezed in at the back andlooked around it looked like the whole village waspresent

11

There was Dharampal Chacha the chai shop owner whoplayed Ram in the Ramleela and his pretty wife BilloChachi Kishan Prasad the grocer was chatting withMasterji who was offering him a paan

Even Mangu Mali the mango orchard owner was sittingin a corner giving everyone his sour smile

Badri the mad buffalo man who was sitting right infront of them turned gave a grin mdash his huge yellowteeth gleaming behind his bushy moustache - andasked ldquoDid you check the kitchen at the backrdquo

12

ldquoOf course I didrdquo Damu gave a superior smile He nevermissed out on important matters like food ldquoThey aremaking halwa and puri with asli gheerdquo

ldquoAha ha hardquo Badri rolled his eyes in ecstasy

13

ldquoRaghu Singh is a foolrdquo Mangu Mali said grimlyldquofeeding everyone and wasting money like thisrdquo

A sort of stage had been built in front with foldingtables A very tall thin man was busy covering it with amattress and a white sheet and then he placed a coupleof bolsters on top He lit a bunch of incense sticks andwaved them about in the air

14

ldquoWhorsquos thatrdquo Munia wanted to know

ldquoThat is Paltan Pandeyrdquo Shabbo said as the thin manbegan fixing a mike ldquoI asked him and he told me that hewas the Maharajrsquos number one assistantrdquo

ldquoWhere is number twordquo Kallu looked around

ldquoI donrsquot think there is onerdquo Damu laughed

Kallu wondered if people planned to spend their hardearned money to get their horoscopes read or likehis gang were only there for the lsquoasli-ghee-halwa-puriprasadrsquo treat

15

Madan Murari Dev Maharaj was late and everyone wasgetting restless Heads kept turning to the opening inthe tent to see if he was coming A couple of babiesbegan to bawl then Moti Dadi had a coughing fit andSaru had to go out and get her a glass of water

16

Billo Chachi had come prepared to wait and had nearlyfinished knitting the sleeve of a sweater Noticing thegrowing restlessness Paltan Pandey suddenly sat downwith a harmonium and began to sing a bhajan in a flattuneless moan

Everyone was falling into a bored trance when to theirsurprise Paltan suddenly shot up his arms in the air andyelled ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo making everyone jump

17

It seemed the audience was expected to join in and theydid At least it was something to do So everyone wavedtheir arms and echoed his call ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo

The gang grinned at each other and joined in yelling atthe top of their voices ldquoJai Kapil Dev Jai Kapil Devrdquo butafter they had called for their cricket hero Kapil the thirdtime some of the elders turned and glared at them andthey decided to shut up Too much of the funny stuffcould get them kicked out of the tent and as Damupointed out halwa-puri was at stake As if finally hearingtheir calls Murari Dev arrived leaning on the arm ofRaghu Singh and walking very very slowly

ldquoBaap rerdquo an astonished Saru whispered ldquoHersquos reallyfatrdquo ldquoThat photo on the poster must have been takenyears agordquo

18

Murari Dev was quite short and wearing a bright redflowing silk robe and rows and rows of multi-colouredbeads were hanging around his neck His long greybeard flowed down over his generous pot-belly and hewas quite bald There was a red tikka drawn on hisforehead and even though it was evening to everyonersquossurprise he wore a jazzy pair of dark glasses

19

ldquoDark glassesrdquo Damu looked around ldquowherersquos thesunrdquo

Murari Dev went past them and they were swept awayby the strong scent of his cologne

ldquoKya baatrdquo Kallu commented happily ldquoDark glassesbead necklaces perfume this is a hero horoscope manStraight from Bollywoodrdquo

Munia was still staring at Paltan with a thoughtful frownldquoPaltan looks familiar somehowrdquo

ldquoI knowrdquo Shabbo grinned ldquoin a safari suit hersquod look justlike Ram Lochan at the petrol pumprdquo

ldquoCorrectrdquo they all said together Badri turned to glare atthem ldquoChuprdquo So they shut up but Munia and Saru hadto try really hard to stop the giggles They never knewastrology could be so funny By then Murari Dev wassitting leaning against a bolster panting slightly andwiping his face with a handkerchief

20

Paltan rushed up with a glass of water Raghu Singhswitched on a table fan Murari Dev cleared his throatchecked his watch and pulled the mike closer

ldquoPlease startrdquo Damu muttered ldquothe halwa is gettingcoldrdquo With majestic slowness Murari Dev stood upwalked to the edge of the stage and with a dramaticflourish waved his podgy hands in the air

21

Suddenly walnuts and raisins were raining on theaudience Behind the astrologer Paltan was bangingaway at the harmonium and swaying to the tune MurariDev waved his arms again and more raisins and walnutsflew around

22

ldquoTheyrsquore realrdquo Saru mumbled busy chewing

ldquoMust have got them from Kishen Prasadrsquos grocerystorerdquo Damu said as he scrambled about for more

The gang sat up It looked like the introduction was overand the show was about to begin Paltan announced onthe mike that Murari Dev would now predict the futureand read minds

He then walked around in the audience with chits ofpaper Someone would write a number on a chit whichwould be sealed inside an envelope and carried to theastrologer who would touch the envelope hum amantra and then recite the number correctly

23

Very impressed by the mind reading people were soontrooping up on stage to know about their futures andmany of them were carrying their horoscopes

Murari Dev talked to them in a low voice and thenwhispered his predictions into their ears So the gangcould not hear anything The rupee notes were soonpiling up in the brass plate kept before him

Finally the show was over and everyone got their leafplate of halwa-puri To the background music of theharmonium Murari Dev got up and swayed across thestage

Then with a piercing yell and a splintering crash MurariDev vanished

24

There was pandemonium in the pandal Paltan andRaghu Singh were frantically searching for him MotiDadi was weeping loudly and calling out ldquoMaharaj aapkahan hordquo

Masterji was yelling at the gang ordering them to goand find a torch And in the middle of all the chaos Badriand Mangu Mali stood there laughing their heads off

25

Then to everyonersquos relief Murari Dev slowly crawled outfrom under the stage and as Paltan and Raghu Singhrushed up to help him he stood up groggily He wasquite a sight his snazzy glasses askew his beardcovered in spiderrsquos web and his silk robe all dusty

ldquoWhat happenedrdquo Damu asked puzzled ldquoI thought itwas a vanishing actrdquo Kallu said

It took a while to solve the mystery The stage had beenmade with three wooden folding tables and one of themhad a broken leg When fat Murari Dev had stepped onit the table had collapsed taking him down with it Henow sat panting on a chair flushed dishevelled andobviously feeling very sorry for himself

26

At this crucial moment Saru spoke up Planting herselfin front of the astrologer she bent a stern face towardshim and said clearly above the hubbub ldquoBut MurariDevji I donrsquot understand thisrdquo

The fat astrologer sat up and stared at her

ldquoYou could read the numbers pick walnuts out of the airand predict futures How is it that you didnrsquot know thatthe table was brokenrdquo

In the growing silence Murari Dev glared at Saru andher gang who were standing there looking critically athim Then with a grim look on his face he got up andstalked out of the pandal as everyone began to laughMoti Dadi laughed so hard that she had anothercoughing fit and everyone agreed it had been a reallygreat show

27

28

Story AttributionThis story Kallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man is written by Subhadra Sen Gupta copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license

Other CreditsKallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man has been published on StoryWeaver by Pratham Books The development of this book has been supported byPANI Foundation wwwprathambooksorg

Illustration AttributionsCover page A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page2 Framed photographs of seven people by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page 4 Twoboys talking in front of a photo of an old bearded man by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 licensePage 5 Two men fighting with each other while another looks away by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license Page 7 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page11 A boy peeping into a courtyard where two men are cooking in a large pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 13 A stern man stirring a large cooking pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released underCC BY 40 license Page 14 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40license Page 16 A crowd of people sitting on the ground bored and disgruntled by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 17 A bored and angry girl sitting with a bag of vegatables by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reservedReleased under CC BY 40 license Page 19 A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license

Disclaimer httpswwwstoryweaverorginterms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved This book is CC -BY -40 licensed You can copymodify distribute and perform the work even for commercialpurposes all without asking permission For full terms of use andattribution httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby40

Soon the news of the astrologer had spread acrossKhajuria village According to Damursquos grandmother MotiDadi Murari Dev had to just look into your eyes and saya mantra and he instantly knew everything about you ndashyour past present future were all transferred to hismind like magic

5

ldquoYou mean now he knows that you borrowed a shawlfrom Billo Chachi and never returned itrdquo Damursquos sisterSaru asked with a grin

ldquoDonrsquot be silly that is not importantrdquo Moti Dadi waved adismissive hand

ldquoIt is important to Billo Chachirdquo Sarursquos friend Muniacommented and that made Moti Dadi so angry that sheshooed both the girls out of her room

So Kallu and his gang decided it was time to check outlsquoMadan Murari Dev Maharaj World RenownedAstrologerndash PalmistndashTantra ExpertndashFuturologistndashNumerologistrsquo The gang included Kallu and Damu whowere both in class nine

6

Saru and Munia were in class eight and Shabbo who wasthe youngest was in the seventh In the school registerKallu was Kallan Damu was Damodar Munia wasMunira Saru was Saraswati and Shabbo was Shabbirbut even their school principal Masterji often forgottheir real names

7

The gang headed out the same evening The astrologerwas a guest at the home of Raghu Singh the villagesarpanch and on the way to his house they had to gopast the Hanuman temple and there they saw a verystrange sight The temple priest Lattu Mishra was sittinghunched up outside his chin resting on his kneeslooking sadly out into space Lattu was usually a cheerfulman who greeted people with a smile Masterji hadchosen him to play Bharat in the village Ramleelabecause of his kind face and gentle smile

ldquoLattu Bhaiyardquo Munia ran up and asked anxiouslyldquowhatrsquos the matter Are you illrdquo

Lattu shook his head gloomily and then nodded to thetemple behind him ldquoSee the temple Itrsquos Tuesday and itis emptyrdquo

8

They looked at the deserted temple in surprise Usuallyon Tuesdays people would stream in all day It wouldecho with the chanting of mantras and the ringing ofbells and Lattu would be busy before the altar doingpuja and arti to Hanumanji

ldquoTo Raghu Singhrsquos house where else Since the day thatastrologer fellow has started his business no one hastime for Hanumanji anymorerdquo

ldquoHave you seen himrdquo

ldquoOf course I have I know everything about him He usedto have a mithai shop in town at one time and his namewas Murari Lal Everyone called him Mota Muraribecause he was so fat Then suddenly he grew a beardand became this Madan-whatever-Maharaj Hersquos justlearnt some magic tricks and is fooling the wholevillagerdquo

9

ldquoIrsquod read in the papersrdquo Kallan said thoughtfully ldquoaboutthis school for magicians in Kerala The principal of theschool said that half his students were fake astrologersand sadhusrdquo

ldquoMaybe he went thererdquo Then Lattu noticed that theywere all wearing their good clothes and looking veryneat and clean ldquoYou all are also going thererdquo he askedsadly

ldquoJust for a look Lattu Bhaiyardquo Saru said gently ldquoWersquoll beback soonrdquo

When they strolled up to Raghu Singhrsquos house theydiscovered that a huge tent had been put up in frontand behind it a smaller tent that had a kitchen wheretwo cooks were busy over a large karhai that wassmoking over a fire Damu zipped off for a quick lookand came back with a happy gleam in his eyes

10

Peering in they discovered that the main tent waspacked with people They squeezed in at the back andlooked around it looked like the whole village waspresent

11

There was Dharampal Chacha the chai shop owner whoplayed Ram in the Ramleela and his pretty wife BilloChachi Kishan Prasad the grocer was chatting withMasterji who was offering him a paan

Even Mangu Mali the mango orchard owner was sittingin a corner giving everyone his sour smile

Badri the mad buffalo man who was sitting right infront of them turned gave a grin mdash his huge yellowteeth gleaming behind his bushy moustache - andasked ldquoDid you check the kitchen at the backrdquo

12

ldquoOf course I didrdquo Damu gave a superior smile He nevermissed out on important matters like food ldquoThey aremaking halwa and puri with asli gheerdquo

ldquoAha ha hardquo Badri rolled his eyes in ecstasy

13

ldquoRaghu Singh is a foolrdquo Mangu Mali said grimlyldquofeeding everyone and wasting money like thisrdquo

A sort of stage had been built in front with foldingtables A very tall thin man was busy covering it with amattress and a white sheet and then he placed a coupleof bolsters on top He lit a bunch of incense sticks andwaved them about in the air

14

ldquoWhorsquos thatrdquo Munia wanted to know

ldquoThat is Paltan Pandeyrdquo Shabbo said as the thin manbegan fixing a mike ldquoI asked him and he told me that hewas the Maharajrsquos number one assistantrdquo

ldquoWhere is number twordquo Kallu looked around

ldquoI donrsquot think there is onerdquo Damu laughed

Kallu wondered if people planned to spend their hardearned money to get their horoscopes read or likehis gang were only there for the lsquoasli-ghee-halwa-puriprasadrsquo treat

15

Madan Murari Dev Maharaj was late and everyone wasgetting restless Heads kept turning to the opening inthe tent to see if he was coming A couple of babiesbegan to bawl then Moti Dadi had a coughing fit andSaru had to go out and get her a glass of water

16

Billo Chachi had come prepared to wait and had nearlyfinished knitting the sleeve of a sweater Noticing thegrowing restlessness Paltan Pandey suddenly sat downwith a harmonium and began to sing a bhajan in a flattuneless moan

Everyone was falling into a bored trance when to theirsurprise Paltan suddenly shot up his arms in the air andyelled ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo making everyone jump

17

It seemed the audience was expected to join in and theydid At least it was something to do So everyone wavedtheir arms and echoed his call ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo

The gang grinned at each other and joined in yelling atthe top of their voices ldquoJai Kapil Dev Jai Kapil Devrdquo butafter they had called for their cricket hero Kapil the thirdtime some of the elders turned and glared at them andthey decided to shut up Too much of the funny stuffcould get them kicked out of the tent and as Damupointed out halwa-puri was at stake As if finally hearingtheir calls Murari Dev arrived leaning on the arm ofRaghu Singh and walking very very slowly

ldquoBaap rerdquo an astonished Saru whispered ldquoHersquos reallyfatrdquo ldquoThat photo on the poster must have been takenyears agordquo

18

Murari Dev was quite short and wearing a bright redflowing silk robe and rows and rows of multi-colouredbeads were hanging around his neck His long greybeard flowed down over his generous pot-belly and hewas quite bald There was a red tikka drawn on hisforehead and even though it was evening to everyonersquossurprise he wore a jazzy pair of dark glasses

19

ldquoDark glassesrdquo Damu looked around ldquowherersquos thesunrdquo

Murari Dev went past them and they were swept awayby the strong scent of his cologne

ldquoKya baatrdquo Kallu commented happily ldquoDark glassesbead necklaces perfume this is a hero horoscope manStraight from Bollywoodrdquo

Munia was still staring at Paltan with a thoughtful frownldquoPaltan looks familiar somehowrdquo

ldquoI knowrdquo Shabbo grinned ldquoin a safari suit hersquod look justlike Ram Lochan at the petrol pumprdquo

ldquoCorrectrdquo they all said together Badri turned to glare atthem ldquoChuprdquo So they shut up but Munia and Saru hadto try really hard to stop the giggles They never knewastrology could be so funny By then Murari Dev wassitting leaning against a bolster panting slightly andwiping his face with a handkerchief

20

Paltan rushed up with a glass of water Raghu Singhswitched on a table fan Murari Dev cleared his throatchecked his watch and pulled the mike closer

ldquoPlease startrdquo Damu muttered ldquothe halwa is gettingcoldrdquo With majestic slowness Murari Dev stood upwalked to the edge of the stage and with a dramaticflourish waved his podgy hands in the air

21

Suddenly walnuts and raisins were raining on theaudience Behind the astrologer Paltan was bangingaway at the harmonium and swaying to the tune MurariDev waved his arms again and more raisins and walnutsflew around

22

ldquoTheyrsquore realrdquo Saru mumbled busy chewing

ldquoMust have got them from Kishen Prasadrsquos grocerystorerdquo Damu said as he scrambled about for more

The gang sat up It looked like the introduction was overand the show was about to begin Paltan announced onthe mike that Murari Dev would now predict the futureand read minds

He then walked around in the audience with chits ofpaper Someone would write a number on a chit whichwould be sealed inside an envelope and carried to theastrologer who would touch the envelope hum amantra and then recite the number correctly

23

Very impressed by the mind reading people were soontrooping up on stage to know about their futures andmany of them were carrying their horoscopes

Murari Dev talked to them in a low voice and thenwhispered his predictions into their ears So the gangcould not hear anything The rupee notes were soonpiling up in the brass plate kept before him

Finally the show was over and everyone got their leafplate of halwa-puri To the background music of theharmonium Murari Dev got up and swayed across thestage

Then with a piercing yell and a splintering crash MurariDev vanished

24

There was pandemonium in the pandal Paltan andRaghu Singh were frantically searching for him MotiDadi was weeping loudly and calling out ldquoMaharaj aapkahan hordquo

Masterji was yelling at the gang ordering them to goand find a torch And in the middle of all the chaos Badriand Mangu Mali stood there laughing their heads off

25

Then to everyonersquos relief Murari Dev slowly crawled outfrom under the stage and as Paltan and Raghu Singhrushed up to help him he stood up groggily He wasquite a sight his snazzy glasses askew his beardcovered in spiderrsquos web and his silk robe all dusty

ldquoWhat happenedrdquo Damu asked puzzled ldquoI thought itwas a vanishing actrdquo Kallu said

It took a while to solve the mystery The stage had beenmade with three wooden folding tables and one of themhad a broken leg When fat Murari Dev had stepped onit the table had collapsed taking him down with it Henow sat panting on a chair flushed dishevelled andobviously feeling very sorry for himself

26

At this crucial moment Saru spoke up Planting herselfin front of the astrologer she bent a stern face towardshim and said clearly above the hubbub ldquoBut MurariDevji I donrsquot understand thisrdquo

The fat astrologer sat up and stared at her

ldquoYou could read the numbers pick walnuts out of the airand predict futures How is it that you didnrsquot know thatthe table was brokenrdquo

In the growing silence Murari Dev glared at Saru andher gang who were standing there looking critically athim Then with a grim look on his face he got up andstalked out of the pandal as everyone began to laughMoti Dadi laughed so hard that she had anothercoughing fit and everyone agreed it had been a reallygreat show

27

28

Story AttributionThis story Kallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man is written by Subhadra Sen Gupta copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license

Other CreditsKallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man has been published on StoryWeaver by Pratham Books The development of this book has been supported byPANI Foundation wwwprathambooksorg

Illustration AttributionsCover page A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page2 Framed photographs of seven people by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page 4 Twoboys talking in front of a photo of an old bearded man by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 licensePage 5 Two men fighting with each other while another looks away by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license Page 7 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page11 A boy peeping into a courtyard where two men are cooking in a large pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 13 A stern man stirring a large cooking pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released underCC BY 40 license Page 14 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40license Page 16 A crowd of people sitting on the ground bored and disgruntled by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 17 A bored and angry girl sitting with a bag of vegatables by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reservedReleased under CC BY 40 license Page 19 A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license

Disclaimer httpswwwstoryweaverorginterms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved This book is CC -BY -40 licensed You can copymodify distribute and perform the work even for commercialpurposes all without asking permission For full terms of use andattribution httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby40

ldquoYou mean now he knows that you borrowed a shawlfrom Billo Chachi and never returned itrdquo Damursquos sisterSaru asked with a grin

ldquoDonrsquot be silly that is not importantrdquo Moti Dadi waved adismissive hand

ldquoIt is important to Billo Chachirdquo Sarursquos friend Muniacommented and that made Moti Dadi so angry that sheshooed both the girls out of her room

So Kallu and his gang decided it was time to check outlsquoMadan Murari Dev Maharaj World RenownedAstrologerndash PalmistndashTantra ExpertndashFuturologistndashNumerologistrsquo The gang included Kallu and Damu whowere both in class nine

6

Saru and Munia were in class eight and Shabbo who wasthe youngest was in the seventh In the school registerKallu was Kallan Damu was Damodar Munia wasMunira Saru was Saraswati and Shabbo was Shabbirbut even their school principal Masterji often forgottheir real names

7

The gang headed out the same evening The astrologerwas a guest at the home of Raghu Singh the villagesarpanch and on the way to his house they had to gopast the Hanuman temple and there they saw a verystrange sight The temple priest Lattu Mishra was sittinghunched up outside his chin resting on his kneeslooking sadly out into space Lattu was usually a cheerfulman who greeted people with a smile Masterji hadchosen him to play Bharat in the village Ramleelabecause of his kind face and gentle smile

ldquoLattu Bhaiyardquo Munia ran up and asked anxiouslyldquowhatrsquos the matter Are you illrdquo

Lattu shook his head gloomily and then nodded to thetemple behind him ldquoSee the temple Itrsquos Tuesday and itis emptyrdquo

8

They looked at the deserted temple in surprise Usuallyon Tuesdays people would stream in all day It wouldecho with the chanting of mantras and the ringing ofbells and Lattu would be busy before the altar doingpuja and arti to Hanumanji

ldquoTo Raghu Singhrsquos house where else Since the day thatastrologer fellow has started his business no one hastime for Hanumanji anymorerdquo

ldquoHave you seen himrdquo

ldquoOf course I have I know everything about him He usedto have a mithai shop in town at one time and his namewas Murari Lal Everyone called him Mota Muraribecause he was so fat Then suddenly he grew a beardand became this Madan-whatever-Maharaj Hersquos justlearnt some magic tricks and is fooling the wholevillagerdquo

9

ldquoIrsquod read in the papersrdquo Kallan said thoughtfully ldquoaboutthis school for magicians in Kerala The principal of theschool said that half his students were fake astrologersand sadhusrdquo

ldquoMaybe he went thererdquo Then Lattu noticed that theywere all wearing their good clothes and looking veryneat and clean ldquoYou all are also going thererdquo he askedsadly

ldquoJust for a look Lattu Bhaiyardquo Saru said gently ldquoWersquoll beback soonrdquo

When they strolled up to Raghu Singhrsquos house theydiscovered that a huge tent had been put up in frontand behind it a smaller tent that had a kitchen wheretwo cooks were busy over a large karhai that wassmoking over a fire Damu zipped off for a quick lookand came back with a happy gleam in his eyes

10

Peering in they discovered that the main tent waspacked with people They squeezed in at the back andlooked around it looked like the whole village waspresent

11

There was Dharampal Chacha the chai shop owner whoplayed Ram in the Ramleela and his pretty wife BilloChachi Kishan Prasad the grocer was chatting withMasterji who was offering him a paan

Even Mangu Mali the mango orchard owner was sittingin a corner giving everyone his sour smile

Badri the mad buffalo man who was sitting right infront of them turned gave a grin mdash his huge yellowteeth gleaming behind his bushy moustache - andasked ldquoDid you check the kitchen at the backrdquo

12

ldquoOf course I didrdquo Damu gave a superior smile He nevermissed out on important matters like food ldquoThey aremaking halwa and puri with asli gheerdquo

ldquoAha ha hardquo Badri rolled his eyes in ecstasy

13

ldquoRaghu Singh is a foolrdquo Mangu Mali said grimlyldquofeeding everyone and wasting money like thisrdquo

A sort of stage had been built in front with foldingtables A very tall thin man was busy covering it with amattress and a white sheet and then he placed a coupleof bolsters on top He lit a bunch of incense sticks andwaved them about in the air

14

ldquoWhorsquos thatrdquo Munia wanted to know

ldquoThat is Paltan Pandeyrdquo Shabbo said as the thin manbegan fixing a mike ldquoI asked him and he told me that hewas the Maharajrsquos number one assistantrdquo

ldquoWhere is number twordquo Kallu looked around

ldquoI donrsquot think there is onerdquo Damu laughed

Kallu wondered if people planned to spend their hardearned money to get their horoscopes read or likehis gang were only there for the lsquoasli-ghee-halwa-puriprasadrsquo treat

15

Madan Murari Dev Maharaj was late and everyone wasgetting restless Heads kept turning to the opening inthe tent to see if he was coming A couple of babiesbegan to bawl then Moti Dadi had a coughing fit andSaru had to go out and get her a glass of water

16

Billo Chachi had come prepared to wait and had nearlyfinished knitting the sleeve of a sweater Noticing thegrowing restlessness Paltan Pandey suddenly sat downwith a harmonium and began to sing a bhajan in a flattuneless moan

Everyone was falling into a bored trance when to theirsurprise Paltan suddenly shot up his arms in the air andyelled ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo making everyone jump

17

It seemed the audience was expected to join in and theydid At least it was something to do So everyone wavedtheir arms and echoed his call ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo

The gang grinned at each other and joined in yelling atthe top of their voices ldquoJai Kapil Dev Jai Kapil Devrdquo butafter they had called for their cricket hero Kapil the thirdtime some of the elders turned and glared at them andthey decided to shut up Too much of the funny stuffcould get them kicked out of the tent and as Damupointed out halwa-puri was at stake As if finally hearingtheir calls Murari Dev arrived leaning on the arm ofRaghu Singh and walking very very slowly

ldquoBaap rerdquo an astonished Saru whispered ldquoHersquos reallyfatrdquo ldquoThat photo on the poster must have been takenyears agordquo

18

Murari Dev was quite short and wearing a bright redflowing silk robe and rows and rows of multi-colouredbeads were hanging around his neck His long greybeard flowed down over his generous pot-belly and hewas quite bald There was a red tikka drawn on hisforehead and even though it was evening to everyonersquossurprise he wore a jazzy pair of dark glasses

19

ldquoDark glassesrdquo Damu looked around ldquowherersquos thesunrdquo

Murari Dev went past them and they were swept awayby the strong scent of his cologne

ldquoKya baatrdquo Kallu commented happily ldquoDark glassesbead necklaces perfume this is a hero horoscope manStraight from Bollywoodrdquo

Munia was still staring at Paltan with a thoughtful frownldquoPaltan looks familiar somehowrdquo

ldquoI knowrdquo Shabbo grinned ldquoin a safari suit hersquod look justlike Ram Lochan at the petrol pumprdquo

ldquoCorrectrdquo they all said together Badri turned to glare atthem ldquoChuprdquo So they shut up but Munia and Saru hadto try really hard to stop the giggles They never knewastrology could be so funny By then Murari Dev wassitting leaning against a bolster panting slightly andwiping his face with a handkerchief

20

Paltan rushed up with a glass of water Raghu Singhswitched on a table fan Murari Dev cleared his throatchecked his watch and pulled the mike closer

ldquoPlease startrdquo Damu muttered ldquothe halwa is gettingcoldrdquo With majestic slowness Murari Dev stood upwalked to the edge of the stage and with a dramaticflourish waved his podgy hands in the air

21

Suddenly walnuts and raisins were raining on theaudience Behind the astrologer Paltan was bangingaway at the harmonium and swaying to the tune MurariDev waved his arms again and more raisins and walnutsflew around

22

ldquoTheyrsquore realrdquo Saru mumbled busy chewing

ldquoMust have got them from Kishen Prasadrsquos grocerystorerdquo Damu said as he scrambled about for more

The gang sat up It looked like the introduction was overand the show was about to begin Paltan announced onthe mike that Murari Dev would now predict the futureand read minds

He then walked around in the audience with chits ofpaper Someone would write a number on a chit whichwould be sealed inside an envelope and carried to theastrologer who would touch the envelope hum amantra and then recite the number correctly

23

Very impressed by the mind reading people were soontrooping up on stage to know about their futures andmany of them were carrying their horoscopes

Murari Dev talked to them in a low voice and thenwhispered his predictions into their ears So the gangcould not hear anything The rupee notes were soonpiling up in the brass plate kept before him

Finally the show was over and everyone got their leafplate of halwa-puri To the background music of theharmonium Murari Dev got up and swayed across thestage

Then with a piercing yell and a splintering crash MurariDev vanished

24

There was pandemonium in the pandal Paltan andRaghu Singh were frantically searching for him MotiDadi was weeping loudly and calling out ldquoMaharaj aapkahan hordquo

Masterji was yelling at the gang ordering them to goand find a torch And in the middle of all the chaos Badriand Mangu Mali stood there laughing their heads off

25

Then to everyonersquos relief Murari Dev slowly crawled outfrom under the stage and as Paltan and Raghu Singhrushed up to help him he stood up groggily He wasquite a sight his snazzy glasses askew his beardcovered in spiderrsquos web and his silk robe all dusty

ldquoWhat happenedrdquo Damu asked puzzled ldquoI thought itwas a vanishing actrdquo Kallu said

It took a while to solve the mystery The stage had beenmade with three wooden folding tables and one of themhad a broken leg When fat Murari Dev had stepped onit the table had collapsed taking him down with it Henow sat panting on a chair flushed dishevelled andobviously feeling very sorry for himself

26

At this crucial moment Saru spoke up Planting herselfin front of the astrologer she bent a stern face towardshim and said clearly above the hubbub ldquoBut MurariDevji I donrsquot understand thisrdquo

The fat astrologer sat up and stared at her

ldquoYou could read the numbers pick walnuts out of the airand predict futures How is it that you didnrsquot know thatthe table was brokenrdquo

In the growing silence Murari Dev glared at Saru andher gang who were standing there looking critically athim Then with a grim look on his face he got up andstalked out of the pandal as everyone began to laughMoti Dadi laughed so hard that she had anothercoughing fit and everyone agreed it had been a reallygreat show

27

28

Story AttributionThis story Kallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man is written by Subhadra Sen Gupta copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license

Other CreditsKallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man has been published on StoryWeaver by Pratham Books The development of this book has been supported byPANI Foundation wwwprathambooksorg

Illustration AttributionsCover page A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page2 Framed photographs of seven people by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page 4 Twoboys talking in front of a photo of an old bearded man by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 licensePage 5 Two men fighting with each other while another looks away by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license Page 7 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page11 A boy peeping into a courtyard where two men are cooking in a large pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 13 A stern man stirring a large cooking pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released underCC BY 40 license Page 14 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40license Page 16 A crowd of people sitting on the ground bored and disgruntled by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 17 A bored and angry girl sitting with a bag of vegatables by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reservedReleased under CC BY 40 license Page 19 A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license

Disclaimer httpswwwstoryweaverorginterms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved This book is CC -BY -40 licensed You can copymodify distribute and perform the work even for commercialpurposes all without asking permission For full terms of use andattribution httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby40

Saru and Munia were in class eight and Shabbo who wasthe youngest was in the seventh In the school registerKallu was Kallan Damu was Damodar Munia wasMunira Saru was Saraswati and Shabbo was Shabbirbut even their school principal Masterji often forgottheir real names

7

The gang headed out the same evening The astrologerwas a guest at the home of Raghu Singh the villagesarpanch and on the way to his house they had to gopast the Hanuman temple and there they saw a verystrange sight The temple priest Lattu Mishra was sittinghunched up outside his chin resting on his kneeslooking sadly out into space Lattu was usually a cheerfulman who greeted people with a smile Masterji hadchosen him to play Bharat in the village Ramleelabecause of his kind face and gentle smile

ldquoLattu Bhaiyardquo Munia ran up and asked anxiouslyldquowhatrsquos the matter Are you illrdquo

Lattu shook his head gloomily and then nodded to thetemple behind him ldquoSee the temple Itrsquos Tuesday and itis emptyrdquo

8

They looked at the deserted temple in surprise Usuallyon Tuesdays people would stream in all day It wouldecho with the chanting of mantras and the ringing ofbells and Lattu would be busy before the altar doingpuja and arti to Hanumanji

ldquoTo Raghu Singhrsquos house where else Since the day thatastrologer fellow has started his business no one hastime for Hanumanji anymorerdquo

ldquoHave you seen himrdquo

ldquoOf course I have I know everything about him He usedto have a mithai shop in town at one time and his namewas Murari Lal Everyone called him Mota Muraribecause he was so fat Then suddenly he grew a beardand became this Madan-whatever-Maharaj Hersquos justlearnt some magic tricks and is fooling the wholevillagerdquo

9

ldquoIrsquod read in the papersrdquo Kallan said thoughtfully ldquoaboutthis school for magicians in Kerala The principal of theschool said that half his students were fake astrologersand sadhusrdquo

ldquoMaybe he went thererdquo Then Lattu noticed that theywere all wearing their good clothes and looking veryneat and clean ldquoYou all are also going thererdquo he askedsadly

ldquoJust for a look Lattu Bhaiyardquo Saru said gently ldquoWersquoll beback soonrdquo

When they strolled up to Raghu Singhrsquos house theydiscovered that a huge tent had been put up in frontand behind it a smaller tent that had a kitchen wheretwo cooks were busy over a large karhai that wassmoking over a fire Damu zipped off for a quick lookand came back with a happy gleam in his eyes

10

Peering in they discovered that the main tent waspacked with people They squeezed in at the back andlooked around it looked like the whole village waspresent

11

There was Dharampal Chacha the chai shop owner whoplayed Ram in the Ramleela and his pretty wife BilloChachi Kishan Prasad the grocer was chatting withMasterji who was offering him a paan

Even Mangu Mali the mango orchard owner was sittingin a corner giving everyone his sour smile

Badri the mad buffalo man who was sitting right infront of them turned gave a grin mdash his huge yellowteeth gleaming behind his bushy moustache - andasked ldquoDid you check the kitchen at the backrdquo

12

ldquoOf course I didrdquo Damu gave a superior smile He nevermissed out on important matters like food ldquoThey aremaking halwa and puri with asli gheerdquo

ldquoAha ha hardquo Badri rolled his eyes in ecstasy

13

ldquoRaghu Singh is a foolrdquo Mangu Mali said grimlyldquofeeding everyone and wasting money like thisrdquo

A sort of stage had been built in front with foldingtables A very tall thin man was busy covering it with amattress and a white sheet and then he placed a coupleof bolsters on top He lit a bunch of incense sticks andwaved them about in the air

14

ldquoWhorsquos thatrdquo Munia wanted to know

ldquoThat is Paltan Pandeyrdquo Shabbo said as the thin manbegan fixing a mike ldquoI asked him and he told me that hewas the Maharajrsquos number one assistantrdquo

ldquoWhere is number twordquo Kallu looked around

ldquoI donrsquot think there is onerdquo Damu laughed

Kallu wondered if people planned to spend their hardearned money to get their horoscopes read or likehis gang were only there for the lsquoasli-ghee-halwa-puriprasadrsquo treat

15

Madan Murari Dev Maharaj was late and everyone wasgetting restless Heads kept turning to the opening inthe tent to see if he was coming A couple of babiesbegan to bawl then Moti Dadi had a coughing fit andSaru had to go out and get her a glass of water

16

Billo Chachi had come prepared to wait and had nearlyfinished knitting the sleeve of a sweater Noticing thegrowing restlessness Paltan Pandey suddenly sat downwith a harmonium and began to sing a bhajan in a flattuneless moan

Everyone was falling into a bored trance when to theirsurprise Paltan suddenly shot up his arms in the air andyelled ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo making everyone jump

17

It seemed the audience was expected to join in and theydid At least it was something to do So everyone wavedtheir arms and echoed his call ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo

The gang grinned at each other and joined in yelling atthe top of their voices ldquoJai Kapil Dev Jai Kapil Devrdquo butafter they had called for their cricket hero Kapil the thirdtime some of the elders turned and glared at them andthey decided to shut up Too much of the funny stuffcould get them kicked out of the tent and as Damupointed out halwa-puri was at stake As if finally hearingtheir calls Murari Dev arrived leaning on the arm ofRaghu Singh and walking very very slowly

ldquoBaap rerdquo an astonished Saru whispered ldquoHersquos reallyfatrdquo ldquoThat photo on the poster must have been takenyears agordquo

18

Murari Dev was quite short and wearing a bright redflowing silk robe and rows and rows of multi-colouredbeads were hanging around his neck His long greybeard flowed down over his generous pot-belly and hewas quite bald There was a red tikka drawn on hisforehead and even though it was evening to everyonersquossurprise he wore a jazzy pair of dark glasses

19

ldquoDark glassesrdquo Damu looked around ldquowherersquos thesunrdquo

Murari Dev went past them and they were swept awayby the strong scent of his cologne

ldquoKya baatrdquo Kallu commented happily ldquoDark glassesbead necklaces perfume this is a hero horoscope manStraight from Bollywoodrdquo

Munia was still staring at Paltan with a thoughtful frownldquoPaltan looks familiar somehowrdquo

ldquoI knowrdquo Shabbo grinned ldquoin a safari suit hersquod look justlike Ram Lochan at the petrol pumprdquo

ldquoCorrectrdquo they all said together Badri turned to glare atthem ldquoChuprdquo So they shut up but Munia and Saru hadto try really hard to stop the giggles They never knewastrology could be so funny By then Murari Dev wassitting leaning against a bolster panting slightly andwiping his face with a handkerchief

20

Paltan rushed up with a glass of water Raghu Singhswitched on a table fan Murari Dev cleared his throatchecked his watch and pulled the mike closer

ldquoPlease startrdquo Damu muttered ldquothe halwa is gettingcoldrdquo With majestic slowness Murari Dev stood upwalked to the edge of the stage and with a dramaticflourish waved his podgy hands in the air

21

Suddenly walnuts and raisins were raining on theaudience Behind the astrologer Paltan was bangingaway at the harmonium and swaying to the tune MurariDev waved his arms again and more raisins and walnutsflew around

22

ldquoTheyrsquore realrdquo Saru mumbled busy chewing

ldquoMust have got them from Kishen Prasadrsquos grocerystorerdquo Damu said as he scrambled about for more

The gang sat up It looked like the introduction was overand the show was about to begin Paltan announced onthe mike that Murari Dev would now predict the futureand read minds

He then walked around in the audience with chits ofpaper Someone would write a number on a chit whichwould be sealed inside an envelope and carried to theastrologer who would touch the envelope hum amantra and then recite the number correctly

23

Very impressed by the mind reading people were soontrooping up on stage to know about their futures andmany of them were carrying their horoscopes

Murari Dev talked to them in a low voice and thenwhispered his predictions into their ears So the gangcould not hear anything The rupee notes were soonpiling up in the brass plate kept before him

Finally the show was over and everyone got their leafplate of halwa-puri To the background music of theharmonium Murari Dev got up and swayed across thestage

Then with a piercing yell and a splintering crash MurariDev vanished

24

There was pandemonium in the pandal Paltan andRaghu Singh were frantically searching for him MotiDadi was weeping loudly and calling out ldquoMaharaj aapkahan hordquo

Masterji was yelling at the gang ordering them to goand find a torch And in the middle of all the chaos Badriand Mangu Mali stood there laughing their heads off

25

Then to everyonersquos relief Murari Dev slowly crawled outfrom under the stage and as Paltan and Raghu Singhrushed up to help him he stood up groggily He wasquite a sight his snazzy glasses askew his beardcovered in spiderrsquos web and his silk robe all dusty

ldquoWhat happenedrdquo Damu asked puzzled ldquoI thought itwas a vanishing actrdquo Kallu said

It took a while to solve the mystery The stage had beenmade with three wooden folding tables and one of themhad a broken leg When fat Murari Dev had stepped onit the table had collapsed taking him down with it Henow sat panting on a chair flushed dishevelled andobviously feeling very sorry for himself

26

At this crucial moment Saru spoke up Planting herselfin front of the astrologer she bent a stern face towardshim and said clearly above the hubbub ldquoBut MurariDevji I donrsquot understand thisrdquo

The fat astrologer sat up and stared at her

ldquoYou could read the numbers pick walnuts out of the airand predict futures How is it that you didnrsquot know thatthe table was brokenrdquo

In the growing silence Murari Dev glared at Saru andher gang who were standing there looking critically athim Then with a grim look on his face he got up andstalked out of the pandal as everyone began to laughMoti Dadi laughed so hard that she had anothercoughing fit and everyone agreed it had been a reallygreat show

27

28

Story AttributionThis story Kallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man is written by Subhadra Sen Gupta copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license

Other CreditsKallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man has been published on StoryWeaver by Pratham Books The development of this book has been supported byPANI Foundation wwwprathambooksorg

Illustration AttributionsCover page A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page2 Framed photographs of seven people by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page 4 Twoboys talking in front of a photo of an old bearded man by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 licensePage 5 Two men fighting with each other while another looks away by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license Page 7 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page11 A boy peeping into a courtyard where two men are cooking in a large pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 13 A stern man stirring a large cooking pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released underCC BY 40 license Page 14 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40license Page 16 A crowd of people sitting on the ground bored and disgruntled by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 17 A bored and angry girl sitting with a bag of vegatables by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reservedReleased under CC BY 40 license Page 19 A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license

Disclaimer httpswwwstoryweaverorginterms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved This book is CC -BY -40 licensed You can copymodify distribute and perform the work even for commercialpurposes all without asking permission For full terms of use andattribution httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby40

The gang headed out the same evening The astrologerwas a guest at the home of Raghu Singh the villagesarpanch and on the way to his house they had to gopast the Hanuman temple and there they saw a verystrange sight The temple priest Lattu Mishra was sittinghunched up outside his chin resting on his kneeslooking sadly out into space Lattu was usually a cheerfulman who greeted people with a smile Masterji hadchosen him to play Bharat in the village Ramleelabecause of his kind face and gentle smile

ldquoLattu Bhaiyardquo Munia ran up and asked anxiouslyldquowhatrsquos the matter Are you illrdquo

Lattu shook his head gloomily and then nodded to thetemple behind him ldquoSee the temple Itrsquos Tuesday and itis emptyrdquo

8

They looked at the deserted temple in surprise Usuallyon Tuesdays people would stream in all day It wouldecho with the chanting of mantras and the ringing ofbells and Lattu would be busy before the altar doingpuja and arti to Hanumanji

ldquoTo Raghu Singhrsquos house where else Since the day thatastrologer fellow has started his business no one hastime for Hanumanji anymorerdquo

ldquoHave you seen himrdquo

ldquoOf course I have I know everything about him He usedto have a mithai shop in town at one time and his namewas Murari Lal Everyone called him Mota Muraribecause he was so fat Then suddenly he grew a beardand became this Madan-whatever-Maharaj Hersquos justlearnt some magic tricks and is fooling the wholevillagerdquo

9

ldquoIrsquod read in the papersrdquo Kallan said thoughtfully ldquoaboutthis school for magicians in Kerala The principal of theschool said that half his students were fake astrologersand sadhusrdquo

ldquoMaybe he went thererdquo Then Lattu noticed that theywere all wearing their good clothes and looking veryneat and clean ldquoYou all are also going thererdquo he askedsadly

ldquoJust for a look Lattu Bhaiyardquo Saru said gently ldquoWersquoll beback soonrdquo

When they strolled up to Raghu Singhrsquos house theydiscovered that a huge tent had been put up in frontand behind it a smaller tent that had a kitchen wheretwo cooks were busy over a large karhai that wassmoking over a fire Damu zipped off for a quick lookand came back with a happy gleam in his eyes

10

Peering in they discovered that the main tent waspacked with people They squeezed in at the back andlooked around it looked like the whole village waspresent

11

There was Dharampal Chacha the chai shop owner whoplayed Ram in the Ramleela and his pretty wife BilloChachi Kishan Prasad the grocer was chatting withMasterji who was offering him a paan

Even Mangu Mali the mango orchard owner was sittingin a corner giving everyone his sour smile

Badri the mad buffalo man who was sitting right infront of them turned gave a grin mdash his huge yellowteeth gleaming behind his bushy moustache - andasked ldquoDid you check the kitchen at the backrdquo

12

ldquoOf course I didrdquo Damu gave a superior smile He nevermissed out on important matters like food ldquoThey aremaking halwa and puri with asli gheerdquo

ldquoAha ha hardquo Badri rolled his eyes in ecstasy

13

ldquoRaghu Singh is a foolrdquo Mangu Mali said grimlyldquofeeding everyone and wasting money like thisrdquo

A sort of stage had been built in front with foldingtables A very tall thin man was busy covering it with amattress and a white sheet and then he placed a coupleof bolsters on top He lit a bunch of incense sticks andwaved them about in the air

14

ldquoWhorsquos thatrdquo Munia wanted to know

ldquoThat is Paltan Pandeyrdquo Shabbo said as the thin manbegan fixing a mike ldquoI asked him and he told me that hewas the Maharajrsquos number one assistantrdquo

ldquoWhere is number twordquo Kallu looked around

ldquoI donrsquot think there is onerdquo Damu laughed

Kallu wondered if people planned to spend their hardearned money to get their horoscopes read or likehis gang were only there for the lsquoasli-ghee-halwa-puriprasadrsquo treat

15

Madan Murari Dev Maharaj was late and everyone wasgetting restless Heads kept turning to the opening inthe tent to see if he was coming A couple of babiesbegan to bawl then Moti Dadi had a coughing fit andSaru had to go out and get her a glass of water

16

Billo Chachi had come prepared to wait and had nearlyfinished knitting the sleeve of a sweater Noticing thegrowing restlessness Paltan Pandey suddenly sat downwith a harmonium and began to sing a bhajan in a flattuneless moan

Everyone was falling into a bored trance when to theirsurprise Paltan suddenly shot up his arms in the air andyelled ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo making everyone jump

17

It seemed the audience was expected to join in and theydid At least it was something to do So everyone wavedtheir arms and echoed his call ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo

The gang grinned at each other and joined in yelling atthe top of their voices ldquoJai Kapil Dev Jai Kapil Devrdquo butafter they had called for their cricket hero Kapil the thirdtime some of the elders turned and glared at them andthey decided to shut up Too much of the funny stuffcould get them kicked out of the tent and as Damupointed out halwa-puri was at stake As if finally hearingtheir calls Murari Dev arrived leaning on the arm ofRaghu Singh and walking very very slowly

ldquoBaap rerdquo an astonished Saru whispered ldquoHersquos reallyfatrdquo ldquoThat photo on the poster must have been takenyears agordquo

18

Murari Dev was quite short and wearing a bright redflowing silk robe and rows and rows of multi-colouredbeads were hanging around his neck His long greybeard flowed down over his generous pot-belly and hewas quite bald There was a red tikka drawn on hisforehead and even though it was evening to everyonersquossurprise he wore a jazzy pair of dark glasses

19

ldquoDark glassesrdquo Damu looked around ldquowherersquos thesunrdquo

Murari Dev went past them and they were swept awayby the strong scent of his cologne

ldquoKya baatrdquo Kallu commented happily ldquoDark glassesbead necklaces perfume this is a hero horoscope manStraight from Bollywoodrdquo

Munia was still staring at Paltan with a thoughtful frownldquoPaltan looks familiar somehowrdquo

ldquoI knowrdquo Shabbo grinned ldquoin a safari suit hersquod look justlike Ram Lochan at the petrol pumprdquo

ldquoCorrectrdquo they all said together Badri turned to glare atthem ldquoChuprdquo So they shut up but Munia and Saru hadto try really hard to stop the giggles They never knewastrology could be so funny By then Murari Dev wassitting leaning against a bolster panting slightly andwiping his face with a handkerchief

20

Paltan rushed up with a glass of water Raghu Singhswitched on a table fan Murari Dev cleared his throatchecked his watch and pulled the mike closer

ldquoPlease startrdquo Damu muttered ldquothe halwa is gettingcoldrdquo With majestic slowness Murari Dev stood upwalked to the edge of the stage and with a dramaticflourish waved his podgy hands in the air

21

Suddenly walnuts and raisins were raining on theaudience Behind the astrologer Paltan was bangingaway at the harmonium and swaying to the tune MurariDev waved his arms again and more raisins and walnutsflew around

22

ldquoTheyrsquore realrdquo Saru mumbled busy chewing

ldquoMust have got them from Kishen Prasadrsquos grocerystorerdquo Damu said as he scrambled about for more

The gang sat up It looked like the introduction was overand the show was about to begin Paltan announced onthe mike that Murari Dev would now predict the futureand read minds

He then walked around in the audience with chits ofpaper Someone would write a number on a chit whichwould be sealed inside an envelope and carried to theastrologer who would touch the envelope hum amantra and then recite the number correctly

23

Very impressed by the mind reading people were soontrooping up on stage to know about their futures andmany of them were carrying their horoscopes

Murari Dev talked to them in a low voice and thenwhispered his predictions into their ears So the gangcould not hear anything The rupee notes were soonpiling up in the brass plate kept before him

Finally the show was over and everyone got their leafplate of halwa-puri To the background music of theharmonium Murari Dev got up and swayed across thestage

Then with a piercing yell and a splintering crash MurariDev vanished

24

There was pandemonium in the pandal Paltan andRaghu Singh were frantically searching for him MotiDadi was weeping loudly and calling out ldquoMaharaj aapkahan hordquo

Masterji was yelling at the gang ordering them to goand find a torch And in the middle of all the chaos Badriand Mangu Mali stood there laughing their heads off

25

Then to everyonersquos relief Murari Dev slowly crawled outfrom under the stage and as Paltan and Raghu Singhrushed up to help him he stood up groggily He wasquite a sight his snazzy glasses askew his beardcovered in spiderrsquos web and his silk robe all dusty

ldquoWhat happenedrdquo Damu asked puzzled ldquoI thought itwas a vanishing actrdquo Kallu said

It took a while to solve the mystery The stage had beenmade with three wooden folding tables and one of themhad a broken leg When fat Murari Dev had stepped onit the table had collapsed taking him down with it Henow sat panting on a chair flushed dishevelled andobviously feeling very sorry for himself

26

At this crucial moment Saru spoke up Planting herselfin front of the astrologer she bent a stern face towardshim and said clearly above the hubbub ldquoBut MurariDevji I donrsquot understand thisrdquo

The fat astrologer sat up and stared at her

ldquoYou could read the numbers pick walnuts out of the airand predict futures How is it that you didnrsquot know thatthe table was brokenrdquo

In the growing silence Murari Dev glared at Saru andher gang who were standing there looking critically athim Then with a grim look on his face he got up andstalked out of the pandal as everyone began to laughMoti Dadi laughed so hard that she had anothercoughing fit and everyone agreed it had been a reallygreat show

27

28

Story AttributionThis story Kallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man is written by Subhadra Sen Gupta copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license

Other CreditsKallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man has been published on StoryWeaver by Pratham Books The development of this book has been supported byPANI Foundation wwwprathambooksorg

Illustration AttributionsCover page A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page2 Framed photographs of seven people by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page 4 Twoboys talking in front of a photo of an old bearded man by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 licensePage 5 Two men fighting with each other while another looks away by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license Page 7 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page11 A boy peeping into a courtyard where two men are cooking in a large pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 13 A stern man stirring a large cooking pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released underCC BY 40 license Page 14 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40license Page 16 A crowd of people sitting on the ground bored and disgruntled by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 17 A bored and angry girl sitting with a bag of vegatables by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reservedReleased under CC BY 40 license Page 19 A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license

Disclaimer httpswwwstoryweaverorginterms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved This book is CC -BY -40 licensed You can copymodify distribute and perform the work even for commercialpurposes all without asking permission For full terms of use andattribution httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby40

They looked at the deserted temple in surprise Usuallyon Tuesdays people would stream in all day It wouldecho with the chanting of mantras and the ringing ofbells and Lattu would be busy before the altar doingpuja and arti to Hanumanji

ldquoTo Raghu Singhrsquos house where else Since the day thatastrologer fellow has started his business no one hastime for Hanumanji anymorerdquo

ldquoHave you seen himrdquo

ldquoOf course I have I know everything about him He usedto have a mithai shop in town at one time and his namewas Murari Lal Everyone called him Mota Muraribecause he was so fat Then suddenly he grew a beardand became this Madan-whatever-Maharaj Hersquos justlearnt some magic tricks and is fooling the wholevillagerdquo

9

ldquoIrsquod read in the papersrdquo Kallan said thoughtfully ldquoaboutthis school for magicians in Kerala The principal of theschool said that half his students were fake astrologersand sadhusrdquo

ldquoMaybe he went thererdquo Then Lattu noticed that theywere all wearing their good clothes and looking veryneat and clean ldquoYou all are also going thererdquo he askedsadly

ldquoJust for a look Lattu Bhaiyardquo Saru said gently ldquoWersquoll beback soonrdquo

When they strolled up to Raghu Singhrsquos house theydiscovered that a huge tent had been put up in frontand behind it a smaller tent that had a kitchen wheretwo cooks were busy over a large karhai that wassmoking over a fire Damu zipped off for a quick lookand came back with a happy gleam in his eyes

10

Peering in they discovered that the main tent waspacked with people They squeezed in at the back andlooked around it looked like the whole village waspresent

11

There was Dharampal Chacha the chai shop owner whoplayed Ram in the Ramleela and his pretty wife BilloChachi Kishan Prasad the grocer was chatting withMasterji who was offering him a paan

Even Mangu Mali the mango orchard owner was sittingin a corner giving everyone his sour smile

Badri the mad buffalo man who was sitting right infront of them turned gave a grin mdash his huge yellowteeth gleaming behind his bushy moustache - andasked ldquoDid you check the kitchen at the backrdquo

12

ldquoOf course I didrdquo Damu gave a superior smile He nevermissed out on important matters like food ldquoThey aremaking halwa and puri with asli gheerdquo

ldquoAha ha hardquo Badri rolled his eyes in ecstasy

13

ldquoRaghu Singh is a foolrdquo Mangu Mali said grimlyldquofeeding everyone and wasting money like thisrdquo

A sort of stage had been built in front with foldingtables A very tall thin man was busy covering it with amattress and a white sheet and then he placed a coupleof bolsters on top He lit a bunch of incense sticks andwaved them about in the air

14

ldquoWhorsquos thatrdquo Munia wanted to know

ldquoThat is Paltan Pandeyrdquo Shabbo said as the thin manbegan fixing a mike ldquoI asked him and he told me that hewas the Maharajrsquos number one assistantrdquo

ldquoWhere is number twordquo Kallu looked around

ldquoI donrsquot think there is onerdquo Damu laughed

Kallu wondered if people planned to spend their hardearned money to get their horoscopes read or likehis gang were only there for the lsquoasli-ghee-halwa-puriprasadrsquo treat

15

Madan Murari Dev Maharaj was late and everyone wasgetting restless Heads kept turning to the opening inthe tent to see if he was coming A couple of babiesbegan to bawl then Moti Dadi had a coughing fit andSaru had to go out and get her a glass of water

16

Billo Chachi had come prepared to wait and had nearlyfinished knitting the sleeve of a sweater Noticing thegrowing restlessness Paltan Pandey suddenly sat downwith a harmonium and began to sing a bhajan in a flattuneless moan

Everyone was falling into a bored trance when to theirsurprise Paltan suddenly shot up his arms in the air andyelled ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo making everyone jump

17

It seemed the audience was expected to join in and theydid At least it was something to do So everyone wavedtheir arms and echoed his call ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo

The gang grinned at each other and joined in yelling atthe top of their voices ldquoJai Kapil Dev Jai Kapil Devrdquo butafter they had called for their cricket hero Kapil the thirdtime some of the elders turned and glared at them andthey decided to shut up Too much of the funny stuffcould get them kicked out of the tent and as Damupointed out halwa-puri was at stake As if finally hearingtheir calls Murari Dev arrived leaning on the arm ofRaghu Singh and walking very very slowly

ldquoBaap rerdquo an astonished Saru whispered ldquoHersquos reallyfatrdquo ldquoThat photo on the poster must have been takenyears agordquo

18

Murari Dev was quite short and wearing a bright redflowing silk robe and rows and rows of multi-colouredbeads were hanging around his neck His long greybeard flowed down over his generous pot-belly and hewas quite bald There was a red tikka drawn on hisforehead and even though it was evening to everyonersquossurprise he wore a jazzy pair of dark glasses

19

ldquoDark glassesrdquo Damu looked around ldquowherersquos thesunrdquo

Murari Dev went past them and they were swept awayby the strong scent of his cologne

ldquoKya baatrdquo Kallu commented happily ldquoDark glassesbead necklaces perfume this is a hero horoscope manStraight from Bollywoodrdquo

Munia was still staring at Paltan with a thoughtful frownldquoPaltan looks familiar somehowrdquo

ldquoI knowrdquo Shabbo grinned ldquoin a safari suit hersquod look justlike Ram Lochan at the petrol pumprdquo

ldquoCorrectrdquo they all said together Badri turned to glare atthem ldquoChuprdquo So they shut up but Munia and Saru hadto try really hard to stop the giggles They never knewastrology could be so funny By then Murari Dev wassitting leaning against a bolster panting slightly andwiping his face with a handkerchief

20

Paltan rushed up with a glass of water Raghu Singhswitched on a table fan Murari Dev cleared his throatchecked his watch and pulled the mike closer

ldquoPlease startrdquo Damu muttered ldquothe halwa is gettingcoldrdquo With majestic slowness Murari Dev stood upwalked to the edge of the stage and with a dramaticflourish waved his podgy hands in the air

21

Suddenly walnuts and raisins were raining on theaudience Behind the astrologer Paltan was bangingaway at the harmonium and swaying to the tune MurariDev waved his arms again and more raisins and walnutsflew around

22

ldquoTheyrsquore realrdquo Saru mumbled busy chewing

ldquoMust have got them from Kishen Prasadrsquos grocerystorerdquo Damu said as he scrambled about for more

The gang sat up It looked like the introduction was overand the show was about to begin Paltan announced onthe mike that Murari Dev would now predict the futureand read minds

He then walked around in the audience with chits ofpaper Someone would write a number on a chit whichwould be sealed inside an envelope and carried to theastrologer who would touch the envelope hum amantra and then recite the number correctly

23

Very impressed by the mind reading people were soontrooping up on stage to know about their futures andmany of them were carrying their horoscopes

Murari Dev talked to them in a low voice and thenwhispered his predictions into their ears So the gangcould not hear anything The rupee notes were soonpiling up in the brass plate kept before him

Finally the show was over and everyone got their leafplate of halwa-puri To the background music of theharmonium Murari Dev got up and swayed across thestage

Then with a piercing yell and a splintering crash MurariDev vanished

24

There was pandemonium in the pandal Paltan andRaghu Singh were frantically searching for him MotiDadi was weeping loudly and calling out ldquoMaharaj aapkahan hordquo

Masterji was yelling at the gang ordering them to goand find a torch And in the middle of all the chaos Badriand Mangu Mali stood there laughing their heads off

25

Then to everyonersquos relief Murari Dev slowly crawled outfrom under the stage and as Paltan and Raghu Singhrushed up to help him he stood up groggily He wasquite a sight his snazzy glasses askew his beardcovered in spiderrsquos web and his silk robe all dusty

ldquoWhat happenedrdquo Damu asked puzzled ldquoI thought itwas a vanishing actrdquo Kallu said

It took a while to solve the mystery The stage had beenmade with three wooden folding tables and one of themhad a broken leg When fat Murari Dev had stepped onit the table had collapsed taking him down with it Henow sat panting on a chair flushed dishevelled andobviously feeling very sorry for himself

26

At this crucial moment Saru spoke up Planting herselfin front of the astrologer she bent a stern face towardshim and said clearly above the hubbub ldquoBut MurariDevji I donrsquot understand thisrdquo

The fat astrologer sat up and stared at her

ldquoYou could read the numbers pick walnuts out of the airand predict futures How is it that you didnrsquot know thatthe table was brokenrdquo

In the growing silence Murari Dev glared at Saru andher gang who were standing there looking critically athim Then with a grim look on his face he got up andstalked out of the pandal as everyone began to laughMoti Dadi laughed so hard that she had anothercoughing fit and everyone agreed it had been a reallygreat show

27

28

Story AttributionThis story Kallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man is written by Subhadra Sen Gupta copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license

Other CreditsKallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man has been published on StoryWeaver by Pratham Books The development of this book has been supported byPANI Foundation wwwprathambooksorg

Illustration AttributionsCover page A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page2 Framed photographs of seven people by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page 4 Twoboys talking in front of a photo of an old bearded man by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 licensePage 5 Two men fighting with each other while another looks away by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license Page 7 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page11 A boy peeping into a courtyard where two men are cooking in a large pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 13 A stern man stirring a large cooking pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released underCC BY 40 license Page 14 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40license Page 16 A crowd of people sitting on the ground bored and disgruntled by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 17 A bored and angry girl sitting with a bag of vegatables by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reservedReleased under CC BY 40 license Page 19 A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license

Disclaimer httpswwwstoryweaverorginterms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved This book is CC -BY -40 licensed You can copymodify distribute and perform the work even for commercialpurposes all without asking permission For full terms of use andattribution httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby40

ldquoIrsquod read in the papersrdquo Kallan said thoughtfully ldquoaboutthis school for magicians in Kerala The principal of theschool said that half his students were fake astrologersand sadhusrdquo

ldquoMaybe he went thererdquo Then Lattu noticed that theywere all wearing their good clothes and looking veryneat and clean ldquoYou all are also going thererdquo he askedsadly

ldquoJust for a look Lattu Bhaiyardquo Saru said gently ldquoWersquoll beback soonrdquo

When they strolled up to Raghu Singhrsquos house theydiscovered that a huge tent had been put up in frontand behind it a smaller tent that had a kitchen wheretwo cooks were busy over a large karhai that wassmoking over a fire Damu zipped off for a quick lookand came back with a happy gleam in his eyes

10

Peering in they discovered that the main tent waspacked with people They squeezed in at the back andlooked around it looked like the whole village waspresent

11

There was Dharampal Chacha the chai shop owner whoplayed Ram in the Ramleela and his pretty wife BilloChachi Kishan Prasad the grocer was chatting withMasterji who was offering him a paan

Even Mangu Mali the mango orchard owner was sittingin a corner giving everyone his sour smile

Badri the mad buffalo man who was sitting right infront of them turned gave a grin mdash his huge yellowteeth gleaming behind his bushy moustache - andasked ldquoDid you check the kitchen at the backrdquo

12

ldquoOf course I didrdquo Damu gave a superior smile He nevermissed out on important matters like food ldquoThey aremaking halwa and puri with asli gheerdquo

ldquoAha ha hardquo Badri rolled his eyes in ecstasy

13

ldquoRaghu Singh is a foolrdquo Mangu Mali said grimlyldquofeeding everyone and wasting money like thisrdquo

A sort of stage had been built in front with foldingtables A very tall thin man was busy covering it with amattress and a white sheet and then he placed a coupleof bolsters on top He lit a bunch of incense sticks andwaved them about in the air

14

ldquoWhorsquos thatrdquo Munia wanted to know

ldquoThat is Paltan Pandeyrdquo Shabbo said as the thin manbegan fixing a mike ldquoI asked him and he told me that hewas the Maharajrsquos number one assistantrdquo

ldquoWhere is number twordquo Kallu looked around

ldquoI donrsquot think there is onerdquo Damu laughed

Kallu wondered if people planned to spend their hardearned money to get their horoscopes read or likehis gang were only there for the lsquoasli-ghee-halwa-puriprasadrsquo treat

15

Madan Murari Dev Maharaj was late and everyone wasgetting restless Heads kept turning to the opening inthe tent to see if he was coming A couple of babiesbegan to bawl then Moti Dadi had a coughing fit andSaru had to go out and get her a glass of water

16

Billo Chachi had come prepared to wait and had nearlyfinished knitting the sleeve of a sweater Noticing thegrowing restlessness Paltan Pandey suddenly sat downwith a harmonium and began to sing a bhajan in a flattuneless moan

Everyone was falling into a bored trance when to theirsurprise Paltan suddenly shot up his arms in the air andyelled ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo making everyone jump

17

It seemed the audience was expected to join in and theydid At least it was something to do So everyone wavedtheir arms and echoed his call ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo

The gang grinned at each other and joined in yelling atthe top of their voices ldquoJai Kapil Dev Jai Kapil Devrdquo butafter they had called for their cricket hero Kapil the thirdtime some of the elders turned and glared at them andthey decided to shut up Too much of the funny stuffcould get them kicked out of the tent and as Damupointed out halwa-puri was at stake As if finally hearingtheir calls Murari Dev arrived leaning on the arm ofRaghu Singh and walking very very slowly

ldquoBaap rerdquo an astonished Saru whispered ldquoHersquos reallyfatrdquo ldquoThat photo on the poster must have been takenyears agordquo

18

Murari Dev was quite short and wearing a bright redflowing silk robe and rows and rows of multi-colouredbeads were hanging around his neck His long greybeard flowed down over his generous pot-belly and hewas quite bald There was a red tikka drawn on hisforehead and even though it was evening to everyonersquossurprise he wore a jazzy pair of dark glasses

19

ldquoDark glassesrdquo Damu looked around ldquowherersquos thesunrdquo

Murari Dev went past them and they were swept awayby the strong scent of his cologne

ldquoKya baatrdquo Kallu commented happily ldquoDark glassesbead necklaces perfume this is a hero horoscope manStraight from Bollywoodrdquo

Munia was still staring at Paltan with a thoughtful frownldquoPaltan looks familiar somehowrdquo

ldquoI knowrdquo Shabbo grinned ldquoin a safari suit hersquod look justlike Ram Lochan at the petrol pumprdquo

ldquoCorrectrdquo they all said together Badri turned to glare atthem ldquoChuprdquo So they shut up but Munia and Saru hadto try really hard to stop the giggles They never knewastrology could be so funny By then Murari Dev wassitting leaning against a bolster panting slightly andwiping his face with a handkerchief

20

Paltan rushed up with a glass of water Raghu Singhswitched on a table fan Murari Dev cleared his throatchecked his watch and pulled the mike closer

ldquoPlease startrdquo Damu muttered ldquothe halwa is gettingcoldrdquo With majestic slowness Murari Dev stood upwalked to the edge of the stage and with a dramaticflourish waved his podgy hands in the air

21

Suddenly walnuts and raisins were raining on theaudience Behind the astrologer Paltan was bangingaway at the harmonium and swaying to the tune MurariDev waved his arms again and more raisins and walnutsflew around

22

ldquoTheyrsquore realrdquo Saru mumbled busy chewing

ldquoMust have got them from Kishen Prasadrsquos grocerystorerdquo Damu said as he scrambled about for more

The gang sat up It looked like the introduction was overand the show was about to begin Paltan announced onthe mike that Murari Dev would now predict the futureand read minds

He then walked around in the audience with chits ofpaper Someone would write a number on a chit whichwould be sealed inside an envelope and carried to theastrologer who would touch the envelope hum amantra and then recite the number correctly

23

Very impressed by the mind reading people were soontrooping up on stage to know about their futures andmany of them were carrying their horoscopes

Murari Dev talked to them in a low voice and thenwhispered his predictions into their ears So the gangcould not hear anything The rupee notes were soonpiling up in the brass plate kept before him

Finally the show was over and everyone got their leafplate of halwa-puri To the background music of theharmonium Murari Dev got up and swayed across thestage

Then with a piercing yell and a splintering crash MurariDev vanished

24

There was pandemonium in the pandal Paltan andRaghu Singh were frantically searching for him MotiDadi was weeping loudly and calling out ldquoMaharaj aapkahan hordquo

Masterji was yelling at the gang ordering them to goand find a torch And in the middle of all the chaos Badriand Mangu Mali stood there laughing their heads off

25

Then to everyonersquos relief Murari Dev slowly crawled outfrom under the stage and as Paltan and Raghu Singhrushed up to help him he stood up groggily He wasquite a sight his snazzy glasses askew his beardcovered in spiderrsquos web and his silk robe all dusty

ldquoWhat happenedrdquo Damu asked puzzled ldquoI thought itwas a vanishing actrdquo Kallu said

It took a while to solve the mystery The stage had beenmade with three wooden folding tables and one of themhad a broken leg When fat Murari Dev had stepped onit the table had collapsed taking him down with it Henow sat panting on a chair flushed dishevelled andobviously feeling very sorry for himself

26

At this crucial moment Saru spoke up Planting herselfin front of the astrologer she bent a stern face towardshim and said clearly above the hubbub ldquoBut MurariDevji I donrsquot understand thisrdquo

The fat astrologer sat up and stared at her

ldquoYou could read the numbers pick walnuts out of the airand predict futures How is it that you didnrsquot know thatthe table was brokenrdquo

In the growing silence Murari Dev glared at Saru andher gang who were standing there looking critically athim Then with a grim look on his face he got up andstalked out of the pandal as everyone began to laughMoti Dadi laughed so hard that she had anothercoughing fit and everyone agreed it had been a reallygreat show

27

28

Story AttributionThis story Kallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man is written by Subhadra Sen Gupta copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license

Other CreditsKallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man has been published on StoryWeaver by Pratham Books The development of this book has been supported byPANI Foundation wwwprathambooksorg

Illustration AttributionsCover page A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page2 Framed photographs of seven people by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page 4 Twoboys talking in front of a photo of an old bearded man by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 licensePage 5 Two men fighting with each other while another looks away by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license Page 7 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page11 A boy peeping into a courtyard where two men are cooking in a large pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 13 A stern man stirring a large cooking pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released underCC BY 40 license Page 14 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40license Page 16 A crowd of people sitting on the ground bored and disgruntled by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 17 A bored and angry girl sitting with a bag of vegatables by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reservedReleased under CC BY 40 license Page 19 A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license

Disclaimer httpswwwstoryweaverorginterms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved This book is CC -BY -40 licensed You can copymodify distribute and perform the work even for commercialpurposes all without asking permission For full terms of use andattribution httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby40

Peering in they discovered that the main tent waspacked with people They squeezed in at the back andlooked around it looked like the whole village waspresent

11

There was Dharampal Chacha the chai shop owner whoplayed Ram in the Ramleela and his pretty wife BilloChachi Kishan Prasad the grocer was chatting withMasterji who was offering him a paan

Even Mangu Mali the mango orchard owner was sittingin a corner giving everyone his sour smile

Badri the mad buffalo man who was sitting right infront of them turned gave a grin mdash his huge yellowteeth gleaming behind his bushy moustache - andasked ldquoDid you check the kitchen at the backrdquo

12

ldquoOf course I didrdquo Damu gave a superior smile He nevermissed out on important matters like food ldquoThey aremaking halwa and puri with asli gheerdquo

ldquoAha ha hardquo Badri rolled his eyes in ecstasy

13

ldquoRaghu Singh is a foolrdquo Mangu Mali said grimlyldquofeeding everyone and wasting money like thisrdquo

A sort of stage had been built in front with foldingtables A very tall thin man was busy covering it with amattress and a white sheet and then he placed a coupleof bolsters on top He lit a bunch of incense sticks andwaved them about in the air

14

ldquoWhorsquos thatrdquo Munia wanted to know

ldquoThat is Paltan Pandeyrdquo Shabbo said as the thin manbegan fixing a mike ldquoI asked him and he told me that hewas the Maharajrsquos number one assistantrdquo

ldquoWhere is number twordquo Kallu looked around

ldquoI donrsquot think there is onerdquo Damu laughed

Kallu wondered if people planned to spend their hardearned money to get their horoscopes read or likehis gang were only there for the lsquoasli-ghee-halwa-puriprasadrsquo treat

15

Madan Murari Dev Maharaj was late and everyone wasgetting restless Heads kept turning to the opening inthe tent to see if he was coming A couple of babiesbegan to bawl then Moti Dadi had a coughing fit andSaru had to go out and get her a glass of water

16

Billo Chachi had come prepared to wait and had nearlyfinished knitting the sleeve of a sweater Noticing thegrowing restlessness Paltan Pandey suddenly sat downwith a harmonium and began to sing a bhajan in a flattuneless moan

Everyone was falling into a bored trance when to theirsurprise Paltan suddenly shot up his arms in the air andyelled ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo making everyone jump

17

It seemed the audience was expected to join in and theydid At least it was something to do So everyone wavedtheir arms and echoed his call ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo

The gang grinned at each other and joined in yelling atthe top of their voices ldquoJai Kapil Dev Jai Kapil Devrdquo butafter they had called for their cricket hero Kapil the thirdtime some of the elders turned and glared at them andthey decided to shut up Too much of the funny stuffcould get them kicked out of the tent and as Damupointed out halwa-puri was at stake As if finally hearingtheir calls Murari Dev arrived leaning on the arm ofRaghu Singh and walking very very slowly

ldquoBaap rerdquo an astonished Saru whispered ldquoHersquos reallyfatrdquo ldquoThat photo on the poster must have been takenyears agordquo

18

Murari Dev was quite short and wearing a bright redflowing silk robe and rows and rows of multi-colouredbeads were hanging around his neck His long greybeard flowed down over his generous pot-belly and hewas quite bald There was a red tikka drawn on hisforehead and even though it was evening to everyonersquossurprise he wore a jazzy pair of dark glasses

19

ldquoDark glassesrdquo Damu looked around ldquowherersquos thesunrdquo

Murari Dev went past them and they were swept awayby the strong scent of his cologne

ldquoKya baatrdquo Kallu commented happily ldquoDark glassesbead necklaces perfume this is a hero horoscope manStraight from Bollywoodrdquo

Munia was still staring at Paltan with a thoughtful frownldquoPaltan looks familiar somehowrdquo

ldquoI knowrdquo Shabbo grinned ldquoin a safari suit hersquod look justlike Ram Lochan at the petrol pumprdquo

ldquoCorrectrdquo they all said together Badri turned to glare atthem ldquoChuprdquo So they shut up but Munia and Saru hadto try really hard to stop the giggles They never knewastrology could be so funny By then Murari Dev wassitting leaning against a bolster panting slightly andwiping his face with a handkerchief

20

Paltan rushed up with a glass of water Raghu Singhswitched on a table fan Murari Dev cleared his throatchecked his watch and pulled the mike closer

ldquoPlease startrdquo Damu muttered ldquothe halwa is gettingcoldrdquo With majestic slowness Murari Dev stood upwalked to the edge of the stage and with a dramaticflourish waved his podgy hands in the air

21

Suddenly walnuts and raisins were raining on theaudience Behind the astrologer Paltan was bangingaway at the harmonium and swaying to the tune MurariDev waved his arms again and more raisins and walnutsflew around

22

ldquoTheyrsquore realrdquo Saru mumbled busy chewing

ldquoMust have got them from Kishen Prasadrsquos grocerystorerdquo Damu said as he scrambled about for more

The gang sat up It looked like the introduction was overand the show was about to begin Paltan announced onthe mike that Murari Dev would now predict the futureand read minds

He then walked around in the audience with chits ofpaper Someone would write a number on a chit whichwould be sealed inside an envelope and carried to theastrologer who would touch the envelope hum amantra and then recite the number correctly

23

Very impressed by the mind reading people were soontrooping up on stage to know about their futures andmany of them were carrying their horoscopes

Murari Dev talked to them in a low voice and thenwhispered his predictions into their ears So the gangcould not hear anything The rupee notes were soonpiling up in the brass plate kept before him

Finally the show was over and everyone got their leafplate of halwa-puri To the background music of theharmonium Murari Dev got up and swayed across thestage

Then with a piercing yell and a splintering crash MurariDev vanished

24

There was pandemonium in the pandal Paltan andRaghu Singh were frantically searching for him MotiDadi was weeping loudly and calling out ldquoMaharaj aapkahan hordquo

Masterji was yelling at the gang ordering them to goand find a torch And in the middle of all the chaos Badriand Mangu Mali stood there laughing their heads off

25

Then to everyonersquos relief Murari Dev slowly crawled outfrom under the stage and as Paltan and Raghu Singhrushed up to help him he stood up groggily He wasquite a sight his snazzy glasses askew his beardcovered in spiderrsquos web and his silk robe all dusty

ldquoWhat happenedrdquo Damu asked puzzled ldquoI thought itwas a vanishing actrdquo Kallu said

It took a while to solve the mystery The stage had beenmade with three wooden folding tables and one of themhad a broken leg When fat Murari Dev had stepped onit the table had collapsed taking him down with it Henow sat panting on a chair flushed dishevelled andobviously feeling very sorry for himself

26

At this crucial moment Saru spoke up Planting herselfin front of the astrologer she bent a stern face towardshim and said clearly above the hubbub ldquoBut MurariDevji I donrsquot understand thisrdquo

The fat astrologer sat up and stared at her

ldquoYou could read the numbers pick walnuts out of the airand predict futures How is it that you didnrsquot know thatthe table was brokenrdquo

In the growing silence Murari Dev glared at Saru andher gang who were standing there looking critically athim Then with a grim look on his face he got up andstalked out of the pandal as everyone began to laughMoti Dadi laughed so hard that she had anothercoughing fit and everyone agreed it had been a reallygreat show

27

28

Story AttributionThis story Kallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man is written by Subhadra Sen Gupta copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license

Other CreditsKallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man has been published on StoryWeaver by Pratham Books The development of this book has been supported byPANI Foundation wwwprathambooksorg

Illustration AttributionsCover page A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page2 Framed photographs of seven people by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page 4 Twoboys talking in front of a photo of an old bearded man by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 licensePage 5 Two men fighting with each other while another looks away by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license Page 7 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page11 A boy peeping into a courtyard where two men are cooking in a large pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 13 A stern man stirring a large cooking pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released underCC BY 40 license Page 14 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40license Page 16 A crowd of people sitting on the ground bored and disgruntled by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 17 A bored and angry girl sitting with a bag of vegatables by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reservedReleased under CC BY 40 license Page 19 A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license

Disclaimer httpswwwstoryweaverorginterms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved This book is CC -BY -40 licensed You can copymodify distribute and perform the work even for commercialpurposes all without asking permission For full terms of use andattribution httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby40

There was Dharampal Chacha the chai shop owner whoplayed Ram in the Ramleela and his pretty wife BilloChachi Kishan Prasad the grocer was chatting withMasterji who was offering him a paan

Even Mangu Mali the mango orchard owner was sittingin a corner giving everyone his sour smile

Badri the mad buffalo man who was sitting right infront of them turned gave a grin mdash his huge yellowteeth gleaming behind his bushy moustache - andasked ldquoDid you check the kitchen at the backrdquo

12

ldquoOf course I didrdquo Damu gave a superior smile He nevermissed out on important matters like food ldquoThey aremaking halwa and puri with asli gheerdquo

ldquoAha ha hardquo Badri rolled his eyes in ecstasy

13

ldquoRaghu Singh is a foolrdquo Mangu Mali said grimlyldquofeeding everyone and wasting money like thisrdquo

A sort of stage had been built in front with foldingtables A very tall thin man was busy covering it with amattress and a white sheet and then he placed a coupleof bolsters on top He lit a bunch of incense sticks andwaved them about in the air

14

ldquoWhorsquos thatrdquo Munia wanted to know

ldquoThat is Paltan Pandeyrdquo Shabbo said as the thin manbegan fixing a mike ldquoI asked him and he told me that hewas the Maharajrsquos number one assistantrdquo

ldquoWhere is number twordquo Kallu looked around

ldquoI donrsquot think there is onerdquo Damu laughed

Kallu wondered if people planned to spend their hardearned money to get their horoscopes read or likehis gang were only there for the lsquoasli-ghee-halwa-puriprasadrsquo treat

15

Madan Murari Dev Maharaj was late and everyone wasgetting restless Heads kept turning to the opening inthe tent to see if he was coming A couple of babiesbegan to bawl then Moti Dadi had a coughing fit andSaru had to go out and get her a glass of water

16

Billo Chachi had come prepared to wait and had nearlyfinished knitting the sleeve of a sweater Noticing thegrowing restlessness Paltan Pandey suddenly sat downwith a harmonium and began to sing a bhajan in a flattuneless moan

Everyone was falling into a bored trance when to theirsurprise Paltan suddenly shot up his arms in the air andyelled ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo making everyone jump

17

It seemed the audience was expected to join in and theydid At least it was something to do So everyone wavedtheir arms and echoed his call ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo

The gang grinned at each other and joined in yelling atthe top of their voices ldquoJai Kapil Dev Jai Kapil Devrdquo butafter they had called for their cricket hero Kapil the thirdtime some of the elders turned and glared at them andthey decided to shut up Too much of the funny stuffcould get them kicked out of the tent and as Damupointed out halwa-puri was at stake As if finally hearingtheir calls Murari Dev arrived leaning on the arm ofRaghu Singh and walking very very slowly

ldquoBaap rerdquo an astonished Saru whispered ldquoHersquos reallyfatrdquo ldquoThat photo on the poster must have been takenyears agordquo

18

Murari Dev was quite short and wearing a bright redflowing silk robe and rows and rows of multi-colouredbeads were hanging around his neck His long greybeard flowed down over his generous pot-belly and hewas quite bald There was a red tikka drawn on hisforehead and even though it was evening to everyonersquossurprise he wore a jazzy pair of dark glasses

19

ldquoDark glassesrdquo Damu looked around ldquowherersquos thesunrdquo

Murari Dev went past them and they were swept awayby the strong scent of his cologne

ldquoKya baatrdquo Kallu commented happily ldquoDark glassesbead necklaces perfume this is a hero horoscope manStraight from Bollywoodrdquo

Munia was still staring at Paltan with a thoughtful frownldquoPaltan looks familiar somehowrdquo

ldquoI knowrdquo Shabbo grinned ldquoin a safari suit hersquod look justlike Ram Lochan at the petrol pumprdquo

ldquoCorrectrdquo they all said together Badri turned to glare atthem ldquoChuprdquo So they shut up but Munia and Saru hadto try really hard to stop the giggles They never knewastrology could be so funny By then Murari Dev wassitting leaning against a bolster panting slightly andwiping his face with a handkerchief

20

Paltan rushed up with a glass of water Raghu Singhswitched on a table fan Murari Dev cleared his throatchecked his watch and pulled the mike closer

ldquoPlease startrdquo Damu muttered ldquothe halwa is gettingcoldrdquo With majestic slowness Murari Dev stood upwalked to the edge of the stage and with a dramaticflourish waved his podgy hands in the air

21

Suddenly walnuts and raisins were raining on theaudience Behind the astrologer Paltan was bangingaway at the harmonium and swaying to the tune MurariDev waved his arms again and more raisins and walnutsflew around

22

ldquoTheyrsquore realrdquo Saru mumbled busy chewing

ldquoMust have got them from Kishen Prasadrsquos grocerystorerdquo Damu said as he scrambled about for more

The gang sat up It looked like the introduction was overand the show was about to begin Paltan announced onthe mike that Murari Dev would now predict the futureand read minds

He then walked around in the audience with chits ofpaper Someone would write a number on a chit whichwould be sealed inside an envelope and carried to theastrologer who would touch the envelope hum amantra and then recite the number correctly

23

Very impressed by the mind reading people were soontrooping up on stage to know about their futures andmany of them were carrying their horoscopes

Murari Dev talked to them in a low voice and thenwhispered his predictions into their ears So the gangcould not hear anything The rupee notes were soonpiling up in the brass plate kept before him

Finally the show was over and everyone got their leafplate of halwa-puri To the background music of theharmonium Murari Dev got up and swayed across thestage

Then with a piercing yell and a splintering crash MurariDev vanished

24

There was pandemonium in the pandal Paltan andRaghu Singh were frantically searching for him MotiDadi was weeping loudly and calling out ldquoMaharaj aapkahan hordquo

Masterji was yelling at the gang ordering them to goand find a torch And in the middle of all the chaos Badriand Mangu Mali stood there laughing their heads off

25

Then to everyonersquos relief Murari Dev slowly crawled outfrom under the stage and as Paltan and Raghu Singhrushed up to help him he stood up groggily He wasquite a sight his snazzy glasses askew his beardcovered in spiderrsquos web and his silk robe all dusty

ldquoWhat happenedrdquo Damu asked puzzled ldquoI thought itwas a vanishing actrdquo Kallu said

It took a while to solve the mystery The stage had beenmade with three wooden folding tables and one of themhad a broken leg When fat Murari Dev had stepped onit the table had collapsed taking him down with it Henow sat panting on a chair flushed dishevelled andobviously feeling very sorry for himself

26

At this crucial moment Saru spoke up Planting herselfin front of the astrologer she bent a stern face towardshim and said clearly above the hubbub ldquoBut MurariDevji I donrsquot understand thisrdquo

The fat astrologer sat up and stared at her

ldquoYou could read the numbers pick walnuts out of the airand predict futures How is it that you didnrsquot know thatthe table was brokenrdquo

In the growing silence Murari Dev glared at Saru andher gang who were standing there looking critically athim Then with a grim look on his face he got up andstalked out of the pandal as everyone began to laughMoti Dadi laughed so hard that she had anothercoughing fit and everyone agreed it had been a reallygreat show

27

28

Story AttributionThis story Kallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man is written by Subhadra Sen Gupta copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license

Other CreditsKallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man has been published on StoryWeaver by Pratham Books The development of this book has been supported byPANI Foundation wwwprathambooksorg

Illustration AttributionsCover page A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page2 Framed photographs of seven people by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page 4 Twoboys talking in front of a photo of an old bearded man by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 licensePage 5 Two men fighting with each other while another looks away by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license Page 7 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page11 A boy peeping into a courtyard where two men are cooking in a large pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 13 A stern man stirring a large cooking pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released underCC BY 40 license Page 14 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40license Page 16 A crowd of people sitting on the ground bored and disgruntled by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 17 A bored and angry girl sitting with a bag of vegatables by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reservedReleased under CC BY 40 license Page 19 A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license

Disclaimer httpswwwstoryweaverorginterms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved This book is CC -BY -40 licensed You can copymodify distribute and perform the work even for commercialpurposes all without asking permission For full terms of use andattribution httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby40

ldquoOf course I didrdquo Damu gave a superior smile He nevermissed out on important matters like food ldquoThey aremaking halwa and puri with asli gheerdquo

ldquoAha ha hardquo Badri rolled his eyes in ecstasy

13

ldquoRaghu Singh is a foolrdquo Mangu Mali said grimlyldquofeeding everyone and wasting money like thisrdquo

A sort of stage had been built in front with foldingtables A very tall thin man was busy covering it with amattress and a white sheet and then he placed a coupleof bolsters on top He lit a bunch of incense sticks andwaved them about in the air

14

ldquoWhorsquos thatrdquo Munia wanted to know

ldquoThat is Paltan Pandeyrdquo Shabbo said as the thin manbegan fixing a mike ldquoI asked him and he told me that hewas the Maharajrsquos number one assistantrdquo

ldquoWhere is number twordquo Kallu looked around

ldquoI donrsquot think there is onerdquo Damu laughed

Kallu wondered if people planned to spend their hardearned money to get their horoscopes read or likehis gang were only there for the lsquoasli-ghee-halwa-puriprasadrsquo treat

15

Madan Murari Dev Maharaj was late and everyone wasgetting restless Heads kept turning to the opening inthe tent to see if he was coming A couple of babiesbegan to bawl then Moti Dadi had a coughing fit andSaru had to go out and get her a glass of water

16

Billo Chachi had come prepared to wait and had nearlyfinished knitting the sleeve of a sweater Noticing thegrowing restlessness Paltan Pandey suddenly sat downwith a harmonium and began to sing a bhajan in a flattuneless moan

Everyone was falling into a bored trance when to theirsurprise Paltan suddenly shot up his arms in the air andyelled ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo making everyone jump

17

It seemed the audience was expected to join in and theydid At least it was something to do So everyone wavedtheir arms and echoed his call ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo

The gang grinned at each other and joined in yelling atthe top of their voices ldquoJai Kapil Dev Jai Kapil Devrdquo butafter they had called for their cricket hero Kapil the thirdtime some of the elders turned and glared at them andthey decided to shut up Too much of the funny stuffcould get them kicked out of the tent and as Damupointed out halwa-puri was at stake As if finally hearingtheir calls Murari Dev arrived leaning on the arm ofRaghu Singh and walking very very slowly

ldquoBaap rerdquo an astonished Saru whispered ldquoHersquos reallyfatrdquo ldquoThat photo on the poster must have been takenyears agordquo

18

Murari Dev was quite short and wearing a bright redflowing silk robe and rows and rows of multi-colouredbeads were hanging around his neck His long greybeard flowed down over his generous pot-belly and hewas quite bald There was a red tikka drawn on hisforehead and even though it was evening to everyonersquossurprise he wore a jazzy pair of dark glasses

19

ldquoDark glassesrdquo Damu looked around ldquowherersquos thesunrdquo

Murari Dev went past them and they were swept awayby the strong scent of his cologne

ldquoKya baatrdquo Kallu commented happily ldquoDark glassesbead necklaces perfume this is a hero horoscope manStraight from Bollywoodrdquo

Munia was still staring at Paltan with a thoughtful frownldquoPaltan looks familiar somehowrdquo

ldquoI knowrdquo Shabbo grinned ldquoin a safari suit hersquod look justlike Ram Lochan at the petrol pumprdquo

ldquoCorrectrdquo they all said together Badri turned to glare atthem ldquoChuprdquo So they shut up but Munia and Saru hadto try really hard to stop the giggles They never knewastrology could be so funny By then Murari Dev wassitting leaning against a bolster panting slightly andwiping his face with a handkerchief

20

Paltan rushed up with a glass of water Raghu Singhswitched on a table fan Murari Dev cleared his throatchecked his watch and pulled the mike closer

ldquoPlease startrdquo Damu muttered ldquothe halwa is gettingcoldrdquo With majestic slowness Murari Dev stood upwalked to the edge of the stage and with a dramaticflourish waved his podgy hands in the air

21

Suddenly walnuts and raisins were raining on theaudience Behind the astrologer Paltan was bangingaway at the harmonium and swaying to the tune MurariDev waved his arms again and more raisins and walnutsflew around

22

ldquoTheyrsquore realrdquo Saru mumbled busy chewing

ldquoMust have got them from Kishen Prasadrsquos grocerystorerdquo Damu said as he scrambled about for more

The gang sat up It looked like the introduction was overand the show was about to begin Paltan announced onthe mike that Murari Dev would now predict the futureand read minds

He then walked around in the audience with chits ofpaper Someone would write a number on a chit whichwould be sealed inside an envelope and carried to theastrologer who would touch the envelope hum amantra and then recite the number correctly

23

Very impressed by the mind reading people were soontrooping up on stage to know about their futures andmany of them were carrying their horoscopes

Murari Dev talked to them in a low voice and thenwhispered his predictions into their ears So the gangcould not hear anything The rupee notes were soonpiling up in the brass plate kept before him

Finally the show was over and everyone got their leafplate of halwa-puri To the background music of theharmonium Murari Dev got up and swayed across thestage

Then with a piercing yell and a splintering crash MurariDev vanished

24

There was pandemonium in the pandal Paltan andRaghu Singh were frantically searching for him MotiDadi was weeping loudly and calling out ldquoMaharaj aapkahan hordquo

Masterji was yelling at the gang ordering them to goand find a torch And in the middle of all the chaos Badriand Mangu Mali stood there laughing their heads off

25

Then to everyonersquos relief Murari Dev slowly crawled outfrom under the stage and as Paltan and Raghu Singhrushed up to help him he stood up groggily He wasquite a sight his snazzy glasses askew his beardcovered in spiderrsquos web and his silk robe all dusty

ldquoWhat happenedrdquo Damu asked puzzled ldquoI thought itwas a vanishing actrdquo Kallu said

It took a while to solve the mystery The stage had beenmade with three wooden folding tables and one of themhad a broken leg When fat Murari Dev had stepped onit the table had collapsed taking him down with it Henow sat panting on a chair flushed dishevelled andobviously feeling very sorry for himself

26

At this crucial moment Saru spoke up Planting herselfin front of the astrologer she bent a stern face towardshim and said clearly above the hubbub ldquoBut MurariDevji I donrsquot understand thisrdquo

The fat astrologer sat up and stared at her

ldquoYou could read the numbers pick walnuts out of the airand predict futures How is it that you didnrsquot know thatthe table was brokenrdquo

In the growing silence Murari Dev glared at Saru andher gang who were standing there looking critically athim Then with a grim look on his face he got up andstalked out of the pandal as everyone began to laughMoti Dadi laughed so hard that she had anothercoughing fit and everyone agreed it had been a reallygreat show

27

28

Story AttributionThis story Kallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man is written by Subhadra Sen Gupta copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license

Other CreditsKallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man has been published on StoryWeaver by Pratham Books The development of this book has been supported byPANI Foundation wwwprathambooksorg

Illustration AttributionsCover page A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page2 Framed photographs of seven people by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page 4 Twoboys talking in front of a photo of an old bearded man by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 licensePage 5 Two men fighting with each other while another looks away by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license Page 7 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page11 A boy peeping into a courtyard where two men are cooking in a large pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 13 A stern man stirring a large cooking pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released underCC BY 40 license Page 14 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40license Page 16 A crowd of people sitting on the ground bored and disgruntled by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 17 A bored and angry girl sitting with a bag of vegatables by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reservedReleased under CC BY 40 license Page 19 A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license

Disclaimer httpswwwstoryweaverorginterms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved This book is CC -BY -40 licensed You can copymodify distribute and perform the work even for commercialpurposes all without asking permission For full terms of use andattribution httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby40

ldquoRaghu Singh is a foolrdquo Mangu Mali said grimlyldquofeeding everyone and wasting money like thisrdquo

A sort of stage had been built in front with foldingtables A very tall thin man was busy covering it with amattress and a white sheet and then he placed a coupleof bolsters on top He lit a bunch of incense sticks andwaved them about in the air

14

ldquoWhorsquos thatrdquo Munia wanted to know

ldquoThat is Paltan Pandeyrdquo Shabbo said as the thin manbegan fixing a mike ldquoI asked him and he told me that hewas the Maharajrsquos number one assistantrdquo

ldquoWhere is number twordquo Kallu looked around

ldquoI donrsquot think there is onerdquo Damu laughed

Kallu wondered if people planned to spend their hardearned money to get their horoscopes read or likehis gang were only there for the lsquoasli-ghee-halwa-puriprasadrsquo treat

15

Madan Murari Dev Maharaj was late and everyone wasgetting restless Heads kept turning to the opening inthe tent to see if he was coming A couple of babiesbegan to bawl then Moti Dadi had a coughing fit andSaru had to go out and get her a glass of water

16

Billo Chachi had come prepared to wait and had nearlyfinished knitting the sleeve of a sweater Noticing thegrowing restlessness Paltan Pandey suddenly sat downwith a harmonium and began to sing a bhajan in a flattuneless moan

Everyone was falling into a bored trance when to theirsurprise Paltan suddenly shot up his arms in the air andyelled ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo making everyone jump

17

It seemed the audience was expected to join in and theydid At least it was something to do So everyone wavedtheir arms and echoed his call ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo

The gang grinned at each other and joined in yelling atthe top of their voices ldquoJai Kapil Dev Jai Kapil Devrdquo butafter they had called for their cricket hero Kapil the thirdtime some of the elders turned and glared at them andthey decided to shut up Too much of the funny stuffcould get them kicked out of the tent and as Damupointed out halwa-puri was at stake As if finally hearingtheir calls Murari Dev arrived leaning on the arm ofRaghu Singh and walking very very slowly

ldquoBaap rerdquo an astonished Saru whispered ldquoHersquos reallyfatrdquo ldquoThat photo on the poster must have been takenyears agordquo

18

Murari Dev was quite short and wearing a bright redflowing silk robe and rows and rows of multi-colouredbeads were hanging around his neck His long greybeard flowed down over his generous pot-belly and hewas quite bald There was a red tikka drawn on hisforehead and even though it was evening to everyonersquossurprise he wore a jazzy pair of dark glasses

19

ldquoDark glassesrdquo Damu looked around ldquowherersquos thesunrdquo

Murari Dev went past them and they were swept awayby the strong scent of his cologne

ldquoKya baatrdquo Kallu commented happily ldquoDark glassesbead necklaces perfume this is a hero horoscope manStraight from Bollywoodrdquo

Munia was still staring at Paltan with a thoughtful frownldquoPaltan looks familiar somehowrdquo

ldquoI knowrdquo Shabbo grinned ldquoin a safari suit hersquod look justlike Ram Lochan at the petrol pumprdquo

ldquoCorrectrdquo they all said together Badri turned to glare atthem ldquoChuprdquo So they shut up but Munia and Saru hadto try really hard to stop the giggles They never knewastrology could be so funny By then Murari Dev wassitting leaning against a bolster panting slightly andwiping his face with a handkerchief

20

Paltan rushed up with a glass of water Raghu Singhswitched on a table fan Murari Dev cleared his throatchecked his watch and pulled the mike closer

ldquoPlease startrdquo Damu muttered ldquothe halwa is gettingcoldrdquo With majestic slowness Murari Dev stood upwalked to the edge of the stage and with a dramaticflourish waved his podgy hands in the air

21

Suddenly walnuts and raisins were raining on theaudience Behind the astrologer Paltan was bangingaway at the harmonium and swaying to the tune MurariDev waved his arms again and more raisins and walnutsflew around

22

ldquoTheyrsquore realrdquo Saru mumbled busy chewing

ldquoMust have got them from Kishen Prasadrsquos grocerystorerdquo Damu said as he scrambled about for more

The gang sat up It looked like the introduction was overand the show was about to begin Paltan announced onthe mike that Murari Dev would now predict the futureand read minds

He then walked around in the audience with chits ofpaper Someone would write a number on a chit whichwould be sealed inside an envelope and carried to theastrologer who would touch the envelope hum amantra and then recite the number correctly

23

Very impressed by the mind reading people were soontrooping up on stage to know about their futures andmany of them were carrying their horoscopes

Murari Dev talked to them in a low voice and thenwhispered his predictions into their ears So the gangcould not hear anything The rupee notes were soonpiling up in the brass plate kept before him

Finally the show was over and everyone got their leafplate of halwa-puri To the background music of theharmonium Murari Dev got up and swayed across thestage

Then with a piercing yell and a splintering crash MurariDev vanished

24

There was pandemonium in the pandal Paltan andRaghu Singh were frantically searching for him MotiDadi was weeping loudly and calling out ldquoMaharaj aapkahan hordquo

Masterji was yelling at the gang ordering them to goand find a torch And in the middle of all the chaos Badriand Mangu Mali stood there laughing their heads off

25

Then to everyonersquos relief Murari Dev slowly crawled outfrom under the stage and as Paltan and Raghu Singhrushed up to help him he stood up groggily He wasquite a sight his snazzy glasses askew his beardcovered in spiderrsquos web and his silk robe all dusty

ldquoWhat happenedrdquo Damu asked puzzled ldquoI thought itwas a vanishing actrdquo Kallu said

It took a while to solve the mystery The stage had beenmade with three wooden folding tables and one of themhad a broken leg When fat Murari Dev had stepped onit the table had collapsed taking him down with it Henow sat panting on a chair flushed dishevelled andobviously feeling very sorry for himself

26

At this crucial moment Saru spoke up Planting herselfin front of the astrologer she bent a stern face towardshim and said clearly above the hubbub ldquoBut MurariDevji I donrsquot understand thisrdquo

The fat astrologer sat up and stared at her

ldquoYou could read the numbers pick walnuts out of the airand predict futures How is it that you didnrsquot know thatthe table was brokenrdquo

In the growing silence Murari Dev glared at Saru andher gang who were standing there looking critically athim Then with a grim look on his face he got up andstalked out of the pandal as everyone began to laughMoti Dadi laughed so hard that she had anothercoughing fit and everyone agreed it had been a reallygreat show

27

28

Story AttributionThis story Kallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man is written by Subhadra Sen Gupta copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license

Other CreditsKallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man has been published on StoryWeaver by Pratham Books The development of this book has been supported byPANI Foundation wwwprathambooksorg

Illustration AttributionsCover page A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page2 Framed photographs of seven people by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page 4 Twoboys talking in front of a photo of an old bearded man by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 licensePage 5 Two men fighting with each other while another looks away by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license Page 7 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page11 A boy peeping into a courtyard where two men are cooking in a large pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 13 A stern man stirring a large cooking pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released underCC BY 40 license Page 14 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40license Page 16 A crowd of people sitting on the ground bored and disgruntled by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 17 A bored and angry girl sitting with a bag of vegatables by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reservedReleased under CC BY 40 license Page 19 A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license

Disclaimer httpswwwstoryweaverorginterms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved This book is CC -BY -40 licensed You can copymodify distribute and perform the work even for commercialpurposes all without asking permission For full terms of use andattribution httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby40

ldquoWhorsquos thatrdquo Munia wanted to know

ldquoThat is Paltan Pandeyrdquo Shabbo said as the thin manbegan fixing a mike ldquoI asked him and he told me that hewas the Maharajrsquos number one assistantrdquo

ldquoWhere is number twordquo Kallu looked around

ldquoI donrsquot think there is onerdquo Damu laughed

Kallu wondered if people planned to spend their hardearned money to get their horoscopes read or likehis gang were only there for the lsquoasli-ghee-halwa-puriprasadrsquo treat

15

Madan Murari Dev Maharaj was late and everyone wasgetting restless Heads kept turning to the opening inthe tent to see if he was coming A couple of babiesbegan to bawl then Moti Dadi had a coughing fit andSaru had to go out and get her a glass of water

16

Billo Chachi had come prepared to wait and had nearlyfinished knitting the sleeve of a sweater Noticing thegrowing restlessness Paltan Pandey suddenly sat downwith a harmonium and began to sing a bhajan in a flattuneless moan

Everyone was falling into a bored trance when to theirsurprise Paltan suddenly shot up his arms in the air andyelled ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo making everyone jump

17

It seemed the audience was expected to join in and theydid At least it was something to do So everyone wavedtheir arms and echoed his call ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo

The gang grinned at each other and joined in yelling atthe top of their voices ldquoJai Kapil Dev Jai Kapil Devrdquo butafter they had called for their cricket hero Kapil the thirdtime some of the elders turned and glared at them andthey decided to shut up Too much of the funny stuffcould get them kicked out of the tent and as Damupointed out halwa-puri was at stake As if finally hearingtheir calls Murari Dev arrived leaning on the arm ofRaghu Singh and walking very very slowly

ldquoBaap rerdquo an astonished Saru whispered ldquoHersquos reallyfatrdquo ldquoThat photo on the poster must have been takenyears agordquo

18

Murari Dev was quite short and wearing a bright redflowing silk robe and rows and rows of multi-colouredbeads were hanging around his neck His long greybeard flowed down over his generous pot-belly and hewas quite bald There was a red tikka drawn on hisforehead and even though it was evening to everyonersquossurprise he wore a jazzy pair of dark glasses

19

ldquoDark glassesrdquo Damu looked around ldquowherersquos thesunrdquo

Murari Dev went past them and they were swept awayby the strong scent of his cologne

ldquoKya baatrdquo Kallu commented happily ldquoDark glassesbead necklaces perfume this is a hero horoscope manStraight from Bollywoodrdquo

Munia was still staring at Paltan with a thoughtful frownldquoPaltan looks familiar somehowrdquo

ldquoI knowrdquo Shabbo grinned ldquoin a safari suit hersquod look justlike Ram Lochan at the petrol pumprdquo

ldquoCorrectrdquo they all said together Badri turned to glare atthem ldquoChuprdquo So they shut up but Munia and Saru hadto try really hard to stop the giggles They never knewastrology could be so funny By then Murari Dev wassitting leaning against a bolster panting slightly andwiping his face with a handkerchief

20

Paltan rushed up with a glass of water Raghu Singhswitched on a table fan Murari Dev cleared his throatchecked his watch and pulled the mike closer

ldquoPlease startrdquo Damu muttered ldquothe halwa is gettingcoldrdquo With majestic slowness Murari Dev stood upwalked to the edge of the stage and with a dramaticflourish waved his podgy hands in the air

21

Suddenly walnuts and raisins were raining on theaudience Behind the astrologer Paltan was bangingaway at the harmonium and swaying to the tune MurariDev waved his arms again and more raisins and walnutsflew around

22

ldquoTheyrsquore realrdquo Saru mumbled busy chewing

ldquoMust have got them from Kishen Prasadrsquos grocerystorerdquo Damu said as he scrambled about for more

The gang sat up It looked like the introduction was overand the show was about to begin Paltan announced onthe mike that Murari Dev would now predict the futureand read minds

He then walked around in the audience with chits ofpaper Someone would write a number on a chit whichwould be sealed inside an envelope and carried to theastrologer who would touch the envelope hum amantra and then recite the number correctly

23

Very impressed by the mind reading people were soontrooping up on stage to know about their futures andmany of them were carrying their horoscopes

Murari Dev talked to them in a low voice and thenwhispered his predictions into their ears So the gangcould not hear anything The rupee notes were soonpiling up in the brass plate kept before him

Finally the show was over and everyone got their leafplate of halwa-puri To the background music of theharmonium Murari Dev got up and swayed across thestage

Then with a piercing yell and a splintering crash MurariDev vanished

24

There was pandemonium in the pandal Paltan andRaghu Singh were frantically searching for him MotiDadi was weeping loudly and calling out ldquoMaharaj aapkahan hordquo

Masterji was yelling at the gang ordering them to goand find a torch And in the middle of all the chaos Badriand Mangu Mali stood there laughing their heads off

25

Then to everyonersquos relief Murari Dev slowly crawled outfrom under the stage and as Paltan and Raghu Singhrushed up to help him he stood up groggily He wasquite a sight his snazzy glasses askew his beardcovered in spiderrsquos web and his silk robe all dusty

ldquoWhat happenedrdquo Damu asked puzzled ldquoI thought itwas a vanishing actrdquo Kallu said

It took a while to solve the mystery The stage had beenmade with three wooden folding tables and one of themhad a broken leg When fat Murari Dev had stepped onit the table had collapsed taking him down with it Henow sat panting on a chair flushed dishevelled andobviously feeling very sorry for himself

26

At this crucial moment Saru spoke up Planting herselfin front of the astrologer she bent a stern face towardshim and said clearly above the hubbub ldquoBut MurariDevji I donrsquot understand thisrdquo

The fat astrologer sat up and stared at her

ldquoYou could read the numbers pick walnuts out of the airand predict futures How is it that you didnrsquot know thatthe table was brokenrdquo

In the growing silence Murari Dev glared at Saru andher gang who were standing there looking critically athim Then with a grim look on his face he got up andstalked out of the pandal as everyone began to laughMoti Dadi laughed so hard that she had anothercoughing fit and everyone agreed it had been a reallygreat show

27

28

Story AttributionThis story Kallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man is written by Subhadra Sen Gupta copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license

Other CreditsKallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man has been published on StoryWeaver by Pratham Books The development of this book has been supported byPANI Foundation wwwprathambooksorg

Illustration AttributionsCover page A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page2 Framed photographs of seven people by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page 4 Twoboys talking in front of a photo of an old bearded man by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 licensePage 5 Two men fighting with each other while another looks away by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license Page 7 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page11 A boy peeping into a courtyard where two men are cooking in a large pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 13 A stern man stirring a large cooking pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released underCC BY 40 license Page 14 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40license Page 16 A crowd of people sitting on the ground bored and disgruntled by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 17 A bored and angry girl sitting with a bag of vegatables by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reservedReleased under CC BY 40 license Page 19 A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license

Disclaimer httpswwwstoryweaverorginterms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved This book is CC -BY -40 licensed You can copymodify distribute and perform the work even for commercialpurposes all without asking permission For full terms of use andattribution httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby40

Madan Murari Dev Maharaj was late and everyone wasgetting restless Heads kept turning to the opening inthe tent to see if he was coming A couple of babiesbegan to bawl then Moti Dadi had a coughing fit andSaru had to go out and get her a glass of water

16

Billo Chachi had come prepared to wait and had nearlyfinished knitting the sleeve of a sweater Noticing thegrowing restlessness Paltan Pandey suddenly sat downwith a harmonium and began to sing a bhajan in a flattuneless moan

Everyone was falling into a bored trance when to theirsurprise Paltan suddenly shot up his arms in the air andyelled ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo making everyone jump

17

It seemed the audience was expected to join in and theydid At least it was something to do So everyone wavedtheir arms and echoed his call ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo

The gang grinned at each other and joined in yelling atthe top of their voices ldquoJai Kapil Dev Jai Kapil Devrdquo butafter they had called for their cricket hero Kapil the thirdtime some of the elders turned and glared at them andthey decided to shut up Too much of the funny stuffcould get them kicked out of the tent and as Damupointed out halwa-puri was at stake As if finally hearingtheir calls Murari Dev arrived leaning on the arm ofRaghu Singh and walking very very slowly

ldquoBaap rerdquo an astonished Saru whispered ldquoHersquos reallyfatrdquo ldquoThat photo on the poster must have been takenyears agordquo

18

Murari Dev was quite short and wearing a bright redflowing silk robe and rows and rows of multi-colouredbeads were hanging around his neck His long greybeard flowed down over his generous pot-belly and hewas quite bald There was a red tikka drawn on hisforehead and even though it was evening to everyonersquossurprise he wore a jazzy pair of dark glasses

19

ldquoDark glassesrdquo Damu looked around ldquowherersquos thesunrdquo

Murari Dev went past them and they were swept awayby the strong scent of his cologne

ldquoKya baatrdquo Kallu commented happily ldquoDark glassesbead necklaces perfume this is a hero horoscope manStraight from Bollywoodrdquo

Munia was still staring at Paltan with a thoughtful frownldquoPaltan looks familiar somehowrdquo

ldquoI knowrdquo Shabbo grinned ldquoin a safari suit hersquod look justlike Ram Lochan at the petrol pumprdquo

ldquoCorrectrdquo they all said together Badri turned to glare atthem ldquoChuprdquo So they shut up but Munia and Saru hadto try really hard to stop the giggles They never knewastrology could be so funny By then Murari Dev wassitting leaning against a bolster panting slightly andwiping his face with a handkerchief

20

Paltan rushed up with a glass of water Raghu Singhswitched on a table fan Murari Dev cleared his throatchecked his watch and pulled the mike closer

ldquoPlease startrdquo Damu muttered ldquothe halwa is gettingcoldrdquo With majestic slowness Murari Dev stood upwalked to the edge of the stage and with a dramaticflourish waved his podgy hands in the air

21

Suddenly walnuts and raisins were raining on theaudience Behind the astrologer Paltan was bangingaway at the harmonium and swaying to the tune MurariDev waved his arms again and more raisins and walnutsflew around

22

ldquoTheyrsquore realrdquo Saru mumbled busy chewing

ldquoMust have got them from Kishen Prasadrsquos grocerystorerdquo Damu said as he scrambled about for more

The gang sat up It looked like the introduction was overand the show was about to begin Paltan announced onthe mike that Murari Dev would now predict the futureand read minds

He then walked around in the audience with chits ofpaper Someone would write a number on a chit whichwould be sealed inside an envelope and carried to theastrologer who would touch the envelope hum amantra and then recite the number correctly

23

Very impressed by the mind reading people were soontrooping up on stage to know about their futures andmany of them were carrying their horoscopes

Murari Dev talked to them in a low voice and thenwhispered his predictions into their ears So the gangcould not hear anything The rupee notes were soonpiling up in the brass plate kept before him

Finally the show was over and everyone got their leafplate of halwa-puri To the background music of theharmonium Murari Dev got up and swayed across thestage

Then with a piercing yell and a splintering crash MurariDev vanished

24

There was pandemonium in the pandal Paltan andRaghu Singh were frantically searching for him MotiDadi was weeping loudly and calling out ldquoMaharaj aapkahan hordquo

Masterji was yelling at the gang ordering them to goand find a torch And in the middle of all the chaos Badriand Mangu Mali stood there laughing their heads off

25

Then to everyonersquos relief Murari Dev slowly crawled outfrom under the stage and as Paltan and Raghu Singhrushed up to help him he stood up groggily He wasquite a sight his snazzy glasses askew his beardcovered in spiderrsquos web and his silk robe all dusty

ldquoWhat happenedrdquo Damu asked puzzled ldquoI thought itwas a vanishing actrdquo Kallu said

It took a while to solve the mystery The stage had beenmade with three wooden folding tables and one of themhad a broken leg When fat Murari Dev had stepped onit the table had collapsed taking him down with it Henow sat panting on a chair flushed dishevelled andobviously feeling very sorry for himself

26

At this crucial moment Saru spoke up Planting herselfin front of the astrologer she bent a stern face towardshim and said clearly above the hubbub ldquoBut MurariDevji I donrsquot understand thisrdquo

The fat astrologer sat up and stared at her

ldquoYou could read the numbers pick walnuts out of the airand predict futures How is it that you didnrsquot know thatthe table was brokenrdquo

In the growing silence Murari Dev glared at Saru andher gang who were standing there looking critically athim Then with a grim look on his face he got up andstalked out of the pandal as everyone began to laughMoti Dadi laughed so hard that she had anothercoughing fit and everyone agreed it had been a reallygreat show

27

28

Story AttributionThis story Kallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man is written by Subhadra Sen Gupta copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license

Other CreditsKallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man has been published on StoryWeaver by Pratham Books The development of this book has been supported byPANI Foundation wwwprathambooksorg

Illustration AttributionsCover page A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page2 Framed photographs of seven people by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page 4 Twoboys talking in front of a photo of an old bearded man by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 licensePage 5 Two men fighting with each other while another looks away by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license Page 7 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page11 A boy peeping into a courtyard where two men are cooking in a large pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 13 A stern man stirring a large cooking pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released underCC BY 40 license Page 14 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40license Page 16 A crowd of people sitting on the ground bored and disgruntled by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 17 A bored and angry girl sitting with a bag of vegatables by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reservedReleased under CC BY 40 license Page 19 A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license

Disclaimer httpswwwstoryweaverorginterms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved This book is CC -BY -40 licensed You can copymodify distribute and perform the work even for commercialpurposes all without asking permission For full terms of use andattribution httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby40

Billo Chachi had come prepared to wait and had nearlyfinished knitting the sleeve of a sweater Noticing thegrowing restlessness Paltan Pandey suddenly sat downwith a harmonium and began to sing a bhajan in a flattuneless moan

Everyone was falling into a bored trance when to theirsurprise Paltan suddenly shot up his arms in the air andyelled ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo making everyone jump

17

It seemed the audience was expected to join in and theydid At least it was something to do So everyone wavedtheir arms and echoed his call ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo

The gang grinned at each other and joined in yelling atthe top of their voices ldquoJai Kapil Dev Jai Kapil Devrdquo butafter they had called for their cricket hero Kapil the thirdtime some of the elders turned and glared at them andthey decided to shut up Too much of the funny stuffcould get them kicked out of the tent and as Damupointed out halwa-puri was at stake As if finally hearingtheir calls Murari Dev arrived leaning on the arm ofRaghu Singh and walking very very slowly

ldquoBaap rerdquo an astonished Saru whispered ldquoHersquos reallyfatrdquo ldquoThat photo on the poster must have been takenyears agordquo

18

Murari Dev was quite short and wearing a bright redflowing silk robe and rows and rows of multi-colouredbeads were hanging around his neck His long greybeard flowed down over his generous pot-belly and hewas quite bald There was a red tikka drawn on hisforehead and even though it was evening to everyonersquossurprise he wore a jazzy pair of dark glasses

19

ldquoDark glassesrdquo Damu looked around ldquowherersquos thesunrdquo

Murari Dev went past them and they were swept awayby the strong scent of his cologne

ldquoKya baatrdquo Kallu commented happily ldquoDark glassesbead necklaces perfume this is a hero horoscope manStraight from Bollywoodrdquo

Munia was still staring at Paltan with a thoughtful frownldquoPaltan looks familiar somehowrdquo

ldquoI knowrdquo Shabbo grinned ldquoin a safari suit hersquod look justlike Ram Lochan at the petrol pumprdquo

ldquoCorrectrdquo they all said together Badri turned to glare atthem ldquoChuprdquo So they shut up but Munia and Saru hadto try really hard to stop the giggles They never knewastrology could be so funny By then Murari Dev wassitting leaning against a bolster panting slightly andwiping his face with a handkerchief

20

Paltan rushed up with a glass of water Raghu Singhswitched on a table fan Murari Dev cleared his throatchecked his watch and pulled the mike closer

ldquoPlease startrdquo Damu muttered ldquothe halwa is gettingcoldrdquo With majestic slowness Murari Dev stood upwalked to the edge of the stage and with a dramaticflourish waved his podgy hands in the air

21

Suddenly walnuts and raisins were raining on theaudience Behind the astrologer Paltan was bangingaway at the harmonium and swaying to the tune MurariDev waved his arms again and more raisins and walnutsflew around

22

ldquoTheyrsquore realrdquo Saru mumbled busy chewing

ldquoMust have got them from Kishen Prasadrsquos grocerystorerdquo Damu said as he scrambled about for more

The gang sat up It looked like the introduction was overand the show was about to begin Paltan announced onthe mike that Murari Dev would now predict the futureand read minds

He then walked around in the audience with chits ofpaper Someone would write a number on a chit whichwould be sealed inside an envelope and carried to theastrologer who would touch the envelope hum amantra and then recite the number correctly

23

Very impressed by the mind reading people were soontrooping up on stage to know about their futures andmany of them were carrying their horoscopes

Murari Dev talked to them in a low voice and thenwhispered his predictions into their ears So the gangcould not hear anything The rupee notes were soonpiling up in the brass plate kept before him

Finally the show was over and everyone got their leafplate of halwa-puri To the background music of theharmonium Murari Dev got up and swayed across thestage

Then with a piercing yell and a splintering crash MurariDev vanished

24

There was pandemonium in the pandal Paltan andRaghu Singh were frantically searching for him MotiDadi was weeping loudly and calling out ldquoMaharaj aapkahan hordquo

Masterji was yelling at the gang ordering them to goand find a torch And in the middle of all the chaos Badriand Mangu Mali stood there laughing their heads off

25

Then to everyonersquos relief Murari Dev slowly crawled outfrom under the stage and as Paltan and Raghu Singhrushed up to help him he stood up groggily He wasquite a sight his snazzy glasses askew his beardcovered in spiderrsquos web and his silk robe all dusty

ldquoWhat happenedrdquo Damu asked puzzled ldquoI thought itwas a vanishing actrdquo Kallu said

It took a while to solve the mystery The stage had beenmade with three wooden folding tables and one of themhad a broken leg When fat Murari Dev had stepped onit the table had collapsed taking him down with it Henow sat panting on a chair flushed dishevelled andobviously feeling very sorry for himself

26

At this crucial moment Saru spoke up Planting herselfin front of the astrologer she bent a stern face towardshim and said clearly above the hubbub ldquoBut MurariDevji I donrsquot understand thisrdquo

The fat astrologer sat up and stared at her

ldquoYou could read the numbers pick walnuts out of the airand predict futures How is it that you didnrsquot know thatthe table was brokenrdquo

In the growing silence Murari Dev glared at Saru andher gang who were standing there looking critically athim Then with a grim look on his face he got up andstalked out of the pandal as everyone began to laughMoti Dadi laughed so hard that she had anothercoughing fit and everyone agreed it had been a reallygreat show

27

28

Story AttributionThis story Kallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man is written by Subhadra Sen Gupta copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license

Other CreditsKallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man has been published on StoryWeaver by Pratham Books The development of this book has been supported byPANI Foundation wwwprathambooksorg

Illustration AttributionsCover page A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page2 Framed photographs of seven people by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page 4 Twoboys talking in front of a photo of an old bearded man by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 licensePage 5 Two men fighting with each other while another looks away by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license Page 7 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page11 A boy peeping into a courtyard where two men are cooking in a large pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 13 A stern man stirring a large cooking pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released underCC BY 40 license Page 14 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40license Page 16 A crowd of people sitting on the ground bored and disgruntled by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 17 A bored and angry girl sitting with a bag of vegatables by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reservedReleased under CC BY 40 license Page 19 A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license

Disclaimer httpswwwstoryweaverorginterms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved This book is CC -BY -40 licensed You can copymodify distribute and perform the work even for commercialpurposes all without asking permission For full terms of use andattribution httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby40

It seemed the audience was expected to join in and theydid At least it was something to do So everyone wavedtheir arms and echoed his call ldquoJai Murari Devrdquo

The gang grinned at each other and joined in yelling atthe top of their voices ldquoJai Kapil Dev Jai Kapil Devrdquo butafter they had called for their cricket hero Kapil the thirdtime some of the elders turned and glared at them andthey decided to shut up Too much of the funny stuffcould get them kicked out of the tent and as Damupointed out halwa-puri was at stake As if finally hearingtheir calls Murari Dev arrived leaning on the arm ofRaghu Singh and walking very very slowly

ldquoBaap rerdquo an astonished Saru whispered ldquoHersquos reallyfatrdquo ldquoThat photo on the poster must have been takenyears agordquo

18

Murari Dev was quite short and wearing a bright redflowing silk robe and rows and rows of multi-colouredbeads were hanging around his neck His long greybeard flowed down over his generous pot-belly and hewas quite bald There was a red tikka drawn on hisforehead and even though it was evening to everyonersquossurprise he wore a jazzy pair of dark glasses

19

ldquoDark glassesrdquo Damu looked around ldquowherersquos thesunrdquo

Murari Dev went past them and they were swept awayby the strong scent of his cologne

ldquoKya baatrdquo Kallu commented happily ldquoDark glassesbead necklaces perfume this is a hero horoscope manStraight from Bollywoodrdquo

Munia was still staring at Paltan with a thoughtful frownldquoPaltan looks familiar somehowrdquo

ldquoI knowrdquo Shabbo grinned ldquoin a safari suit hersquod look justlike Ram Lochan at the petrol pumprdquo

ldquoCorrectrdquo they all said together Badri turned to glare atthem ldquoChuprdquo So they shut up but Munia and Saru hadto try really hard to stop the giggles They never knewastrology could be so funny By then Murari Dev wassitting leaning against a bolster panting slightly andwiping his face with a handkerchief

20

Paltan rushed up with a glass of water Raghu Singhswitched on a table fan Murari Dev cleared his throatchecked his watch and pulled the mike closer

ldquoPlease startrdquo Damu muttered ldquothe halwa is gettingcoldrdquo With majestic slowness Murari Dev stood upwalked to the edge of the stage and with a dramaticflourish waved his podgy hands in the air

21

Suddenly walnuts and raisins were raining on theaudience Behind the astrologer Paltan was bangingaway at the harmonium and swaying to the tune MurariDev waved his arms again and more raisins and walnutsflew around

22

ldquoTheyrsquore realrdquo Saru mumbled busy chewing

ldquoMust have got them from Kishen Prasadrsquos grocerystorerdquo Damu said as he scrambled about for more

The gang sat up It looked like the introduction was overand the show was about to begin Paltan announced onthe mike that Murari Dev would now predict the futureand read minds

He then walked around in the audience with chits ofpaper Someone would write a number on a chit whichwould be sealed inside an envelope and carried to theastrologer who would touch the envelope hum amantra and then recite the number correctly

23

Very impressed by the mind reading people were soontrooping up on stage to know about their futures andmany of them were carrying their horoscopes

Murari Dev talked to them in a low voice and thenwhispered his predictions into their ears So the gangcould not hear anything The rupee notes were soonpiling up in the brass plate kept before him

Finally the show was over and everyone got their leafplate of halwa-puri To the background music of theharmonium Murari Dev got up and swayed across thestage

Then with a piercing yell and a splintering crash MurariDev vanished

24

There was pandemonium in the pandal Paltan andRaghu Singh were frantically searching for him MotiDadi was weeping loudly and calling out ldquoMaharaj aapkahan hordquo

Masterji was yelling at the gang ordering them to goand find a torch And in the middle of all the chaos Badriand Mangu Mali stood there laughing their heads off

25

Then to everyonersquos relief Murari Dev slowly crawled outfrom under the stage and as Paltan and Raghu Singhrushed up to help him he stood up groggily He wasquite a sight his snazzy glasses askew his beardcovered in spiderrsquos web and his silk robe all dusty

ldquoWhat happenedrdquo Damu asked puzzled ldquoI thought itwas a vanishing actrdquo Kallu said

It took a while to solve the mystery The stage had beenmade with three wooden folding tables and one of themhad a broken leg When fat Murari Dev had stepped onit the table had collapsed taking him down with it Henow sat panting on a chair flushed dishevelled andobviously feeling very sorry for himself

26

At this crucial moment Saru spoke up Planting herselfin front of the astrologer she bent a stern face towardshim and said clearly above the hubbub ldquoBut MurariDevji I donrsquot understand thisrdquo

The fat astrologer sat up and stared at her

ldquoYou could read the numbers pick walnuts out of the airand predict futures How is it that you didnrsquot know thatthe table was brokenrdquo

In the growing silence Murari Dev glared at Saru andher gang who were standing there looking critically athim Then with a grim look on his face he got up andstalked out of the pandal as everyone began to laughMoti Dadi laughed so hard that she had anothercoughing fit and everyone agreed it had been a reallygreat show

27

28

Story AttributionThis story Kallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man is written by Subhadra Sen Gupta copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license

Other CreditsKallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man has been published on StoryWeaver by Pratham Books The development of this book has been supported byPANI Foundation wwwprathambooksorg

Illustration AttributionsCover page A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page2 Framed photographs of seven people by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page 4 Twoboys talking in front of a photo of an old bearded man by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 licensePage 5 Two men fighting with each other while another looks away by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license Page 7 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page11 A boy peeping into a courtyard where two men are cooking in a large pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 13 A stern man stirring a large cooking pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released underCC BY 40 license Page 14 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40license Page 16 A crowd of people sitting on the ground bored and disgruntled by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 17 A bored and angry girl sitting with a bag of vegatables by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reservedReleased under CC BY 40 license Page 19 A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license

Disclaimer httpswwwstoryweaverorginterms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved This book is CC -BY -40 licensed You can copymodify distribute and perform the work even for commercialpurposes all without asking permission For full terms of use andattribution httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby40

Murari Dev was quite short and wearing a bright redflowing silk robe and rows and rows of multi-colouredbeads were hanging around his neck His long greybeard flowed down over his generous pot-belly and hewas quite bald There was a red tikka drawn on hisforehead and even though it was evening to everyonersquossurprise he wore a jazzy pair of dark glasses

19

ldquoDark glassesrdquo Damu looked around ldquowherersquos thesunrdquo

Murari Dev went past them and they were swept awayby the strong scent of his cologne

ldquoKya baatrdquo Kallu commented happily ldquoDark glassesbead necklaces perfume this is a hero horoscope manStraight from Bollywoodrdquo

Munia was still staring at Paltan with a thoughtful frownldquoPaltan looks familiar somehowrdquo

ldquoI knowrdquo Shabbo grinned ldquoin a safari suit hersquod look justlike Ram Lochan at the petrol pumprdquo

ldquoCorrectrdquo they all said together Badri turned to glare atthem ldquoChuprdquo So they shut up but Munia and Saru hadto try really hard to stop the giggles They never knewastrology could be so funny By then Murari Dev wassitting leaning against a bolster panting slightly andwiping his face with a handkerchief

20

Paltan rushed up with a glass of water Raghu Singhswitched on a table fan Murari Dev cleared his throatchecked his watch and pulled the mike closer

ldquoPlease startrdquo Damu muttered ldquothe halwa is gettingcoldrdquo With majestic slowness Murari Dev stood upwalked to the edge of the stage and with a dramaticflourish waved his podgy hands in the air

21

Suddenly walnuts and raisins were raining on theaudience Behind the astrologer Paltan was bangingaway at the harmonium and swaying to the tune MurariDev waved his arms again and more raisins and walnutsflew around

22

ldquoTheyrsquore realrdquo Saru mumbled busy chewing

ldquoMust have got them from Kishen Prasadrsquos grocerystorerdquo Damu said as he scrambled about for more

The gang sat up It looked like the introduction was overand the show was about to begin Paltan announced onthe mike that Murari Dev would now predict the futureand read minds

He then walked around in the audience with chits ofpaper Someone would write a number on a chit whichwould be sealed inside an envelope and carried to theastrologer who would touch the envelope hum amantra and then recite the number correctly

23

Very impressed by the mind reading people were soontrooping up on stage to know about their futures andmany of them were carrying their horoscopes

Murari Dev talked to them in a low voice and thenwhispered his predictions into their ears So the gangcould not hear anything The rupee notes were soonpiling up in the brass plate kept before him

Finally the show was over and everyone got their leafplate of halwa-puri To the background music of theharmonium Murari Dev got up and swayed across thestage

Then with a piercing yell and a splintering crash MurariDev vanished

24

There was pandemonium in the pandal Paltan andRaghu Singh were frantically searching for him MotiDadi was weeping loudly and calling out ldquoMaharaj aapkahan hordquo

Masterji was yelling at the gang ordering them to goand find a torch And in the middle of all the chaos Badriand Mangu Mali stood there laughing their heads off

25

Then to everyonersquos relief Murari Dev slowly crawled outfrom under the stage and as Paltan and Raghu Singhrushed up to help him he stood up groggily He wasquite a sight his snazzy glasses askew his beardcovered in spiderrsquos web and his silk robe all dusty

ldquoWhat happenedrdquo Damu asked puzzled ldquoI thought itwas a vanishing actrdquo Kallu said

It took a while to solve the mystery The stage had beenmade with three wooden folding tables and one of themhad a broken leg When fat Murari Dev had stepped onit the table had collapsed taking him down with it Henow sat panting on a chair flushed dishevelled andobviously feeling very sorry for himself

26

At this crucial moment Saru spoke up Planting herselfin front of the astrologer she bent a stern face towardshim and said clearly above the hubbub ldquoBut MurariDevji I donrsquot understand thisrdquo

The fat astrologer sat up and stared at her

ldquoYou could read the numbers pick walnuts out of the airand predict futures How is it that you didnrsquot know thatthe table was brokenrdquo

In the growing silence Murari Dev glared at Saru andher gang who were standing there looking critically athim Then with a grim look on his face he got up andstalked out of the pandal as everyone began to laughMoti Dadi laughed so hard that she had anothercoughing fit and everyone agreed it had been a reallygreat show

27

28

Story AttributionThis story Kallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man is written by Subhadra Sen Gupta copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license

Other CreditsKallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man has been published on StoryWeaver by Pratham Books The development of this book has been supported byPANI Foundation wwwprathambooksorg

Illustration AttributionsCover page A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page2 Framed photographs of seven people by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page 4 Twoboys talking in front of a photo of an old bearded man by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 licensePage 5 Two men fighting with each other while another looks away by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license Page 7 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page11 A boy peeping into a courtyard where two men are cooking in a large pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 13 A stern man stirring a large cooking pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released underCC BY 40 license Page 14 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40license Page 16 A crowd of people sitting on the ground bored and disgruntled by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 17 A bored and angry girl sitting with a bag of vegatables by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reservedReleased under CC BY 40 license Page 19 A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license

Disclaimer httpswwwstoryweaverorginterms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved This book is CC -BY -40 licensed You can copymodify distribute and perform the work even for commercialpurposes all without asking permission For full terms of use andattribution httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby40

ldquoDark glassesrdquo Damu looked around ldquowherersquos thesunrdquo

Murari Dev went past them and they were swept awayby the strong scent of his cologne

ldquoKya baatrdquo Kallu commented happily ldquoDark glassesbead necklaces perfume this is a hero horoscope manStraight from Bollywoodrdquo

Munia was still staring at Paltan with a thoughtful frownldquoPaltan looks familiar somehowrdquo

ldquoI knowrdquo Shabbo grinned ldquoin a safari suit hersquod look justlike Ram Lochan at the petrol pumprdquo

ldquoCorrectrdquo they all said together Badri turned to glare atthem ldquoChuprdquo So they shut up but Munia and Saru hadto try really hard to stop the giggles They never knewastrology could be so funny By then Murari Dev wassitting leaning against a bolster panting slightly andwiping his face with a handkerchief

20

Paltan rushed up with a glass of water Raghu Singhswitched on a table fan Murari Dev cleared his throatchecked his watch and pulled the mike closer

ldquoPlease startrdquo Damu muttered ldquothe halwa is gettingcoldrdquo With majestic slowness Murari Dev stood upwalked to the edge of the stage and with a dramaticflourish waved his podgy hands in the air

21

Suddenly walnuts and raisins were raining on theaudience Behind the astrologer Paltan was bangingaway at the harmonium and swaying to the tune MurariDev waved his arms again and more raisins and walnutsflew around

22

ldquoTheyrsquore realrdquo Saru mumbled busy chewing

ldquoMust have got them from Kishen Prasadrsquos grocerystorerdquo Damu said as he scrambled about for more

The gang sat up It looked like the introduction was overand the show was about to begin Paltan announced onthe mike that Murari Dev would now predict the futureand read minds

He then walked around in the audience with chits ofpaper Someone would write a number on a chit whichwould be sealed inside an envelope and carried to theastrologer who would touch the envelope hum amantra and then recite the number correctly

23

Very impressed by the mind reading people were soontrooping up on stage to know about their futures andmany of them were carrying their horoscopes

Murari Dev talked to them in a low voice and thenwhispered his predictions into their ears So the gangcould not hear anything The rupee notes were soonpiling up in the brass plate kept before him

Finally the show was over and everyone got their leafplate of halwa-puri To the background music of theharmonium Murari Dev got up and swayed across thestage

Then with a piercing yell and a splintering crash MurariDev vanished

24

There was pandemonium in the pandal Paltan andRaghu Singh were frantically searching for him MotiDadi was weeping loudly and calling out ldquoMaharaj aapkahan hordquo

Masterji was yelling at the gang ordering them to goand find a torch And in the middle of all the chaos Badriand Mangu Mali stood there laughing their heads off

25

Then to everyonersquos relief Murari Dev slowly crawled outfrom under the stage and as Paltan and Raghu Singhrushed up to help him he stood up groggily He wasquite a sight his snazzy glasses askew his beardcovered in spiderrsquos web and his silk robe all dusty

ldquoWhat happenedrdquo Damu asked puzzled ldquoI thought itwas a vanishing actrdquo Kallu said

It took a while to solve the mystery The stage had beenmade with three wooden folding tables and one of themhad a broken leg When fat Murari Dev had stepped onit the table had collapsed taking him down with it Henow sat panting on a chair flushed dishevelled andobviously feeling very sorry for himself

26

At this crucial moment Saru spoke up Planting herselfin front of the astrologer she bent a stern face towardshim and said clearly above the hubbub ldquoBut MurariDevji I donrsquot understand thisrdquo

The fat astrologer sat up and stared at her

ldquoYou could read the numbers pick walnuts out of the airand predict futures How is it that you didnrsquot know thatthe table was brokenrdquo

In the growing silence Murari Dev glared at Saru andher gang who were standing there looking critically athim Then with a grim look on his face he got up andstalked out of the pandal as everyone began to laughMoti Dadi laughed so hard that she had anothercoughing fit and everyone agreed it had been a reallygreat show

27

28

Story AttributionThis story Kallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man is written by Subhadra Sen Gupta copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license

Other CreditsKallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man has been published on StoryWeaver by Pratham Books The development of this book has been supported byPANI Foundation wwwprathambooksorg

Illustration AttributionsCover page A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page2 Framed photographs of seven people by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page 4 Twoboys talking in front of a photo of an old bearded man by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 licensePage 5 Two men fighting with each other while another looks away by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license Page 7 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page11 A boy peeping into a courtyard where two men are cooking in a large pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 13 A stern man stirring a large cooking pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released underCC BY 40 license Page 14 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40license Page 16 A crowd of people sitting on the ground bored and disgruntled by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 17 A bored and angry girl sitting with a bag of vegatables by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reservedReleased under CC BY 40 license Page 19 A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license

Disclaimer httpswwwstoryweaverorginterms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved This book is CC -BY -40 licensed You can copymodify distribute and perform the work even for commercialpurposes all without asking permission For full terms of use andattribution httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby40

Paltan rushed up with a glass of water Raghu Singhswitched on a table fan Murari Dev cleared his throatchecked his watch and pulled the mike closer

ldquoPlease startrdquo Damu muttered ldquothe halwa is gettingcoldrdquo With majestic slowness Murari Dev stood upwalked to the edge of the stage and with a dramaticflourish waved his podgy hands in the air

21

Suddenly walnuts and raisins were raining on theaudience Behind the astrologer Paltan was bangingaway at the harmonium and swaying to the tune MurariDev waved his arms again and more raisins and walnutsflew around

22

ldquoTheyrsquore realrdquo Saru mumbled busy chewing

ldquoMust have got them from Kishen Prasadrsquos grocerystorerdquo Damu said as he scrambled about for more

The gang sat up It looked like the introduction was overand the show was about to begin Paltan announced onthe mike that Murari Dev would now predict the futureand read minds

He then walked around in the audience with chits ofpaper Someone would write a number on a chit whichwould be sealed inside an envelope and carried to theastrologer who would touch the envelope hum amantra and then recite the number correctly

23

Very impressed by the mind reading people were soontrooping up on stage to know about their futures andmany of them were carrying their horoscopes

Murari Dev talked to them in a low voice and thenwhispered his predictions into their ears So the gangcould not hear anything The rupee notes were soonpiling up in the brass plate kept before him

Finally the show was over and everyone got their leafplate of halwa-puri To the background music of theharmonium Murari Dev got up and swayed across thestage

Then with a piercing yell and a splintering crash MurariDev vanished

24

There was pandemonium in the pandal Paltan andRaghu Singh were frantically searching for him MotiDadi was weeping loudly and calling out ldquoMaharaj aapkahan hordquo

Masterji was yelling at the gang ordering them to goand find a torch And in the middle of all the chaos Badriand Mangu Mali stood there laughing their heads off

25

Then to everyonersquos relief Murari Dev slowly crawled outfrom under the stage and as Paltan and Raghu Singhrushed up to help him he stood up groggily He wasquite a sight his snazzy glasses askew his beardcovered in spiderrsquos web and his silk robe all dusty

ldquoWhat happenedrdquo Damu asked puzzled ldquoI thought itwas a vanishing actrdquo Kallu said

It took a while to solve the mystery The stage had beenmade with three wooden folding tables and one of themhad a broken leg When fat Murari Dev had stepped onit the table had collapsed taking him down with it Henow sat panting on a chair flushed dishevelled andobviously feeling very sorry for himself

26

At this crucial moment Saru spoke up Planting herselfin front of the astrologer she bent a stern face towardshim and said clearly above the hubbub ldquoBut MurariDevji I donrsquot understand thisrdquo

The fat astrologer sat up and stared at her

ldquoYou could read the numbers pick walnuts out of the airand predict futures How is it that you didnrsquot know thatthe table was brokenrdquo

In the growing silence Murari Dev glared at Saru andher gang who were standing there looking critically athim Then with a grim look on his face he got up andstalked out of the pandal as everyone began to laughMoti Dadi laughed so hard that she had anothercoughing fit and everyone agreed it had been a reallygreat show

27

28

Story AttributionThis story Kallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man is written by Subhadra Sen Gupta copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license

Other CreditsKallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man has been published on StoryWeaver by Pratham Books The development of this book has been supported byPANI Foundation wwwprathambooksorg

Illustration AttributionsCover page A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page2 Framed photographs of seven people by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page 4 Twoboys talking in front of a photo of an old bearded man by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 licensePage 5 Two men fighting with each other while another looks away by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license Page 7 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page11 A boy peeping into a courtyard where two men are cooking in a large pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 13 A stern man stirring a large cooking pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released underCC BY 40 license Page 14 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40license Page 16 A crowd of people sitting on the ground bored and disgruntled by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 17 A bored and angry girl sitting with a bag of vegatables by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reservedReleased under CC BY 40 license Page 19 A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license

Disclaimer httpswwwstoryweaverorginterms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved This book is CC -BY -40 licensed You can copymodify distribute and perform the work even for commercialpurposes all without asking permission For full terms of use andattribution httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby40

Suddenly walnuts and raisins were raining on theaudience Behind the astrologer Paltan was bangingaway at the harmonium and swaying to the tune MurariDev waved his arms again and more raisins and walnutsflew around

22

ldquoTheyrsquore realrdquo Saru mumbled busy chewing

ldquoMust have got them from Kishen Prasadrsquos grocerystorerdquo Damu said as he scrambled about for more

The gang sat up It looked like the introduction was overand the show was about to begin Paltan announced onthe mike that Murari Dev would now predict the futureand read minds

He then walked around in the audience with chits ofpaper Someone would write a number on a chit whichwould be sealed inside an envelope and carried to theastrologer who would touch the envelope hum amantra and then recite the number correctly

23

Very impressed by the mind reading people were soontrooping up on stage to know about their futures andmany of them were carrying their horoscopes

Murari Dev talked to them in a low voice and thenwhispered his predictions into their ears So the gangcould not hear anything The rupee notes were soonpiling up in the brass plate kept before him

Finally the show was over and everyone got their leafplate of halwa-puri To the background music of theharmonium Murari Dev got up and swayed across thestage

Then with a piercing yell and a splintering crash MurariDev vanished

24

There was pandemonium in the pandal Paltan andRaghu Singh were frantically searching for him MotiDadi was weeping loudly and calling out ldquoMaharaj aapkahan hordquo

Masterji was yelling at the gang ordering them to goand find a torch And in the middle of all the chaos Badriand Mangu Mali stood there laughing their heads off

25

Then to everyonersquos relief Murari Dev slowly crawled outfrom under the stage and as Paltan and Raghu Singhrushed up to help him he stood up groggily He wasquite a sight his snazzy glasses askew his beardcovered in spiderrsquos web and his silk robe all dusty

ldquoWhat happenedrdquo Damu asked puzzled ldquoI thought itwas a vanishing actrdquo Kallu said

It took a while to solve the mystery The stage had beenmade with three wooden folding tables and one of themhad a broken leg When fat Murari Dev had stepped onit the table had collapsed taking him down with it Henow sat panting on a chair flushed dishevelled andobviously feeling very sorry for himself

26

At this crucial moment Saru spoke up Planting herselfin front of the astrologer she bent a stern face towardshim and said clearly above the hubbub ldquoBut MurariDevji I donrsquot understand thisrdquo

The fat astrologer sat up and stared at her

ldquoYou could read the numbers pick walnuts out of the airand predict futures How is it that you didnrsquot know thatthe table was brokenrdquo

In the growing silence Murari Dev glared at Saru andher gang who were standing there looking critically athim Then with a grim look on his face he got up andstalked out of the pandal as everyone began to laughMoti Dadi laughed so hard that she had anothercoughing fit and everyone agreed it had been a reallygreat show

27

28

Story AttributionThis story Kallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man is written by Subhadra Sen Gupta copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license

Other CreditsKallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man has been published on StoryWeaver by Pratham Books The development of this book has been supported byPANI Foundation wwwprathambooksorg

Illustration AttributionsCover page A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page2 Framed photographs of seven people by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page 4 Twoboys talking in front of a photo of an old bearded man by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 licensePage 5 Two men fighting with each other while another looks away by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license Page 7 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page11 A boy peeping into a courtyard where two men are cooking in a large pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 13 A stern man stirring a large cooking pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released underCC BY 40 license Page 14 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40license Page 16 A crowd of people sitting on the ground bored and disgruntled by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 17 A bored and angry girl sitting with a bag of vegatables by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reservedReleased under CC BY 40 license Page 19 A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license

Disclaimer httpswwwstoryweaverorginterms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved This book is CC -BY -40 licensed You can copymodify distribute and perform the work even for commercialpurposes all without asking permission For full terms of use andattribution httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby40

ldquoTheyrsquore realrdquo Saru mumbled busy chewing

ldquoMust have got them from Kishen Prasadrsquos grocerystorerdquo Damu said as he scrambled about for more

The gang sat up It looked like the introduction was overand the show was about to begin Paltan announced onthe mike that Murari Dev would now predict the futureand read minds

He then walked around in the audience with chits ofpaper Someone would write a number on a chit whichwould be sealed inside an envelope and carried to theastrologer who would touch the envelope hum amantra and then recite the number correctly

23

Very impressed by the mind reading people were soontrooping up on stage to know about their futures andmany of them were carrying their horoscopes

Murari Dev talked to them in a low voice and thenwhispered his predictions into their ears So the gangcould not hear anything The rupee notes were soonpiling up in the brass plate kept before him

Finally the show was over and everyone got their leafplate of halwa-puri To the background music of theharmonium Murari Dev got up and swayed across thestage

Then with a piercing yell and a splintering crash MurariDev vanished

24

There was pandemonium in the pandal Paltan andRaghu Singh were frantically searching for him MotiDadi was weeping loudly and calling out ldquoMaharaj aapkahan hordquo

Masterji was yelling at the gang ordering them to goand find a torch And in the middle of all the chaos Badriand Mangu Mali stood there laughing their heads off

25

Then to everyonersquos relief Murari Dev slowly crawled outfrom under the stage and as Paltan and Raghu Singhrushed up to help him he stood up groggily He wasquite a sight his snazzy glasses askew his beardcovered in spiderrsquos web and his silk robe all dusty

ldquoWhat happenedrdquo Damu asked puzzled ldquoI thought itwas a vanishing actrdquo Kallu said

It took a while to solve the mystery The stage had beenmade with three wooden folding tables and one of themhad a broken leg When fat Murari Dev had stepped onit the table had collapsed taking him down with it Henow sat panting on a chair flushed dishevelled andobviously feeling very sorry for himself

26

At this crucial moment Saru spoke up Planting herselfin front of the astrologer she bent a stern face towardshim and said clearly above the hubbub ldquoBut MurariDevji I donrsquot understand thisrdquo

The fat astrologer sat up and stared at her

ldquoYou could read the numbers pick walnuts out of the airand predict futures How is it that you didnrsquot know thatthe table was brokenrdquo

In the growing silence Murari Dev glared at Saru andher gang who were standing there looking critically athim Then with a grim look on his face he got up andstalked out of the pandal as everyone began to laughMoti Dadi laughed so hard that she had anothercoughing fit and everyone agreed it had been a reallygreat show

27

28

Story AttributionThis story Kallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man is written by Subhadra Sen Gupta copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license

Other CreditsKallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man has been published on StoryWeaver by Pratham Books The development of this book has been supported byPANI Foundation wwwprathambooksorg

Illustration AttributionsCover page A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page2 Framed photographs of seven people by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page 4 Twoboys talking in front of a photo of an old bearded man by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 licensePage 5 Two men fighting with each other while another looks away by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license Page 7 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page11 A boy peeping into a courtyard where two men are cooking in a large pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 13 A stern man stirring a large cooking pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released underCC BY 40 license Page 14 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40license Page 16 A crowd of people sitting on the ground bored and disgruntled by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 17 A bored and angry girl sitting with a bag of vegatables by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reservedReleased under CC BY 40 license Page 19 A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license

Disclaimer httpswwwstoryweaverorginterms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved This book is CC -BY -40 licensed You can copymodify distribute and perform the work even for commercialpurposes all without asking permission For full terms of use andattribution httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby40

Very impressed by the mind reading people were soontrooping up on stage to know about their futures andmany of them were carrying their horoscopes

Murari Dev talked to them in a low voice and thenwhispered his predictions into their ears So the gangcould not hear anything The rupee notes were soonpiling up in the brass plate kept before him

Finally the show was over and everyone got their leafplate of halwa-puri To the background music of theharmonium Murari Dev got up and swayed across thestage

Then with a piercing yell and a splintering crash MurariDev vanished

24

There was pandemonium in the pandal Paltan andRaghu Singh were frantically searching for him MotiDadi was weeping loudly and calling out ldquoMaharaj aapkahan hordquo

Masterji was yelling at the gang ordering them to goand find a torch And in the middle of all the chaos Badriand Mangu Mali stood there laughing their heads off

25

Then to everyonersquos relief Murari Dev slowly crawled outfrom under the stage and as Paltan and Raghu Singhrushed up to help him he stood up groggily He wasquite a sight his snazzy glasses askew his beardcovered in spiderrsquos web and his silk robe all dusty

ldquoWhat happenedrdquo Damu asked puzzled ldquoI thought itwas a vanishing actrdquo Kallu said

It took a while to solve the mystery The stage had beenmade with three wooden folding tables and one of themhad a broken leg When fat Murari Dev had stepped onit the table had collapsed taking him down with it Henow sat panting on a chair flushed dishevelled andobviously feeling very sorry for himself

26

At this crucial moment Saru spoke up Planting herselfin front of the astrologer she bent a stern face towardshim and said clearly above the hubbub ldquoBut MurariDevji I donrsquot understand thisrdquo

The fat astrologer sat up and stared at her

ldquoYou could read the numbers pick walnuts out of the airand predict futures How is it that you didnrsquot know thatthe table was brokenrdquo

In the growing silence Murari Dev glared at Saru andher gang who were standing there looking critically athim Then with a grim look on his face he got up andstalked out of the pandal as everyone began to laughMoti Dadi laughed so hard that she had anothercoughing fit and everyone agreed it had been a reallygreat show

27

28

Story AttributionThis story Kallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man is written by Subhadra Sen Gupta copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license

Other CreditsKallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man has been published on StoryWeaver by Pratham Books The development of this book has been supported byPANI Foundation wwwprathambooksorg

Illustration AttributionsCover page A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page2 Framed photographs of seven people by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page 4 Twoboys talking in front of a photo of an old bearded man by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 licensePage 5 Two men fighting with each other while another looks away by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license Page 7 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page11 A boy peeping into a courtyard where two men are cooking in a large pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 13 A stern man stirring a large cooking pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released underCC BY 40 license Page 14 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40license Page 16 A crowd of people sitting on the ground bored and disgruntled by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 17 A bored and angry girl sitting with a bag of vegatables by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reservedReleased under CC BY 40 license Page 19 A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license

Disclaimer httpswwwstoryweaverorginterms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved This book is CC -BY -40 licensed You can copymodify distribute and perform the work even for commercialpurposes all without asking permission For full terms of use andattribution httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby40

There was pandemonium in the pandal Paltan andRaghu Singh were frantically searching for him MotiDadi was weeping loudly and calling out ldquoMaharaj aapkahan hordquo

Masterji was yelling at the gang ordering them to goand find a torch And in the middle of all the chaos Badriand Mangu Mali stood there laughing their heads off

25

Then to everyonersquos relief Murari Dev slowly crawled outfrom under the stage and as Paltan and Raghu Singhrushed up to help him he stood up groggily He wasquite a sight his snazzy glasses askew his beardcovered in spiderrsquos web and his silk robe all dusty

ldquoWhat happenedrdquo Damu asked puzzled ldquoI thought itwas a vanishing actrdquo Kallu said

It took a while to solve the mystery The stage had beenmade with three wooden folding tables and one of themhad a broken leg When fat Murari Dev had stepped onit the table had collapsed taking him down with it Henow sat panting on a chair flushed dishevelled andobviously feeling very sorry for himself

26

At this crucial moment Saru spoke up Planting herselfin front of the astrologer she bent a stern face towardshim and said clearly above the hubbub ldquoBut MurariDevji I donrsquot understand thisrdquo

The fat astrologer sat up and stared at her

ldquoYou could read the numbers pick walnuts out of the airand predict futures How is it that you didnrsquot know thatthe table was brokenrdquo

In the growing silence Murari Dev glared at Saru andher gang who were standing there looking critically athim Then with a grim look on his face he got up andstalked out of the pandal as everyone began to laughMoti Dadi laughed so hard that she had anothercoughing fit and everyone agreed it had been a reallygreat show

27

28

Story AttributionThis story Kallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man is written by Subhadra Sen Gupta copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license

Other CreditsKallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man has been published on StoryWeaver by Pratham Books The development of this book has been supported byPANI Foundation wwwprathambooksorg

Illustration AttributionsCover page A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page2 Framed photographs of seven people by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page 4 Twoboys talking in front of a photo of an old bearded man by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 licensePage 5 Two men fighting with each other while another looks away by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license Page 7 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page11 A boy peeping into a courtyard where two men are cooking in a large pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 13 A stern man stirring a large cooking pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released underCC BY 40 license Page 14 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40license Page 16 A crowd of people sitting on the ground bored and disgruntled by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 17 A bored and angry girl sitting with a bag of vegatables by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reservedReleased under CC BY 40 license Page 19 A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license

Disclaimer httpswwwstoryweaverorginterms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved This book is CC -BY -40 licensed You can copymodify distribute and perform the work even for commercialpurposes all without asking permission For full terms of use andattribution httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby40

Then to everyonersquos relief Murari Dev slowly crawled outfrom under the stage and as Paltan and Raghu Singhrushed up to help him he stood up groggily He wasquite a sight his snazzy glasses askew his beardcovered in spiderrsquos web and his silk robe all dusty

ldquoWhat happenedrdquo Damu asked puzzled ldquoI thought itwas a vanishing actrdquo Kallu said

It took a while to solve the mystery The stage had beenmade with three wooden folding tables and one of themhad a broken leg When fat Murari Dev had stepped onit the table had collapsed taking him down with it Henow sat panting on a chair flushed dishevelled andobviously feeling very sorry for himself

26

At this crucial moment Saru spoke up Planting herselfin front of the astrologer she bent a stern face towardshim and said clearly above the hubbub ldquoBut MurariDevji I donrsquot understand thisrdquo

The fat astrologer sat up and stared at her

ldquoYou could read the numbers pick walnuts out of the airand predict futures How is it that you didnrsquot know thatthe table was brokenrdquo

In the growing silence Murari Dev glared at Saru andher gang who were standing there looking critically athim Then with a grim look on his face he got up andstalked out of the pandal as everyone began to laughMoti Dadi laughed so hard that she had anothercoughing fit and everyone agreed it had been a reallygreat show

27

28

Story AttributionThis story Kallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man is written by Subhadra Sen Gupta copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license

Other CreditsKallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man has been published on StoryWeaver by Pratham Books The development of this book has been supported byPANI Foundation wwwprathambooksorg

Illustration AttributionsCover page A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page2 Framed photographs of seven people by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page 4 Twoboys talking in front of a photo of an old bearded man by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 licensePage 5 Two men fighting with each other while another looks away by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license Page 7 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page11 A boy peeping into a courtyard where two men are cooking in a large pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 13 A stern man stirring a large cooking pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released underCC BY 40 license Page 14 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40license Page 16 A crowd of people sitting on the ground bored and disgruntled by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 17 A bored and angry girl sitting with a bag of vegatables by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reservedReleased under CC BY 40 license Page 19 A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license

Disclaimer httpswwwstoryweaverorginterms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved This book is CC -BY -40 licensed You can copymodify distribute and perform the work even for commercialpurposes all without asking permission For full terms of use andattribution httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby40

At this crucial moment Saru spoke up Planting herselfin front of the astrologer she bent a stern face towardshim and said clearly above the hubbub ldquoBut MurariDevji I donrsquot understand thisrdquo

The fat astrologer sat up and stared at her

ldquoYou could read the numbers pick walnuts out of the airand predict futures How is it that you didnrsquot know thatthe table was brokenrdquo

In the growing silence Murari Dev glared at Saru andher gang who were standing there looking critically athim Then with a grim look on his face he got up andstalked out of the pandal as everyone began to laughMoti Dadi laughed so hard that she had anothercoughing fit and everyone agreed it had been a reallygreat show

27

28

Story AttributionThis story Kallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man is written by Subhadra Sen Gupta copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license

Other CreditsKallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man has been published on StoryWeaver by Pratham Books The development of this book has been supported byPANI Foundation wwwprathambooksorg

Illustration AttributionsCover page A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page2 Framed photographs of seven people by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page 4 Twoboys talking in front of a photo of an old bearded man by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 licensePage 5 Two men fighting with each other while another looks away by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license Page 7 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page11 A boy peeping into a courtyard where two men are cooking in a large pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 13 A stern man stirring a large cooking pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released underCC BY 40 license Page 14 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40license Page 16 A crowd of people sitting on the ground bored and disgruntled by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 17 A bored and angry girl sitting with a bag of vegatables by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reservedReleased under CC BY 40 license Page 19 A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license

Disclaimer httpswwwstoryweaverorginterms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved This book is CC -BY -40 licensed You can copymodify distribute and perform the work even for commercialpurposes all without asking permission For full terms of use andattribution httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby40

28

Story AttributionThis story Kallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man is written by Subhadra Sen Gupta copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license

Other CreditsKallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man has been published on StoryWeaver by Pratham Books The development of this book has been supported byPANI Foundation wwwprathambooksorg

Illustration AttributionsCover page A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page2 Framed photographs of seven people by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page 4 Twoboys talking in front of a photo of an old bearded man by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 licensePage 5 Two men fighting with each other while another looks away by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license Page 7 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page11 A boy peeping into a courtyard where two men are cooking in a large pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 13 A stern man stirring a large cooking pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released underCC BY 40 license Page 14 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40license Page 16 A crowd of people sitting on the ground bored and disgruntled by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 17 A bored and angry girl sitting with a bag of vegatables by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reservedReleased under CC BY 40 license Page 19 A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license

Disclaimer httpswwwstoryweaverorginterms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved This book is CC -BY -40 licensed You can copymodify distribute and perform the work even for commercialpurposes all without asking permission For full terms of use andattribution httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby40

Story AttributionThis story Kallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man is written by Subhadra Sen Gupta copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license

Other CreditsKallus world 4 - Hero Horoscope Man has been published on StoryWeaver by Pratham Books The development of this book has been supported byPANI Foundation wwwprathambooksorg

Illustration AttributionsCover page A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page2 Framed photographs of seven people by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page 4 Twoboys talking in front of a photo of an old bearded man by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 licensePage 5 Two men fighting with each other while another looks away by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY40 license Page 7 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page11 A boy peeping into a courtyard where two men are cooking in a large pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 13 A stern man stirring a large cooking pot by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released underCC BY 40 license Page 14 Two boys talking to each other by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40license Page 16 A crowd of people sitting on the ground bored and disgruntled by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license Page 17 A bored and angry girl sitting with a bag of vegatables by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reservedReleased under CC BY 40 license Page 19 A worried man escorts a stylish guru by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Releasedunder CC BY 40 license

Disclaimer httpswwwstoryweaverorginterms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved This book is CC -BY -40 licensed You can copymodify distribute and perform the work even for commercialpurposes all without asking permission For full terms of use andattribution httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby40

Illustration AttributionsPage 21 A worried looking man by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page 22 A stylish gurusinging and dancing on the stage with aplomb by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page 25A stylish guru singing and dancing by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license Page 28 A stylishguru singing and dancing on the stage with aplomb by Tapas Guha copy Pratham Books 2015 Some rights reserved Released under CC BY 40 license

Disclaimer httpswwwstoryweaverorginterms_and_conditions

Some rights reserved This book is CC -BY -40 licensed You can copymodify distribute and perform the work even for commercialpurposes all without asking permission For full terms of use andattribution httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby40

This is a Level 4 book for children who can read fluently and with confidence

(English)

Kallus world 4 - HeroHoroscope Man

Welcome to Khajuria ndash a village where young Kallu and his gang rundelightful adventurous riots almost everyday Sometimes theyquestion village traditions defy bullies or just go about their dailybusiness but Kallu and his gang are up for anything Join them asthey grow wiser and wittier happily roaming the village finding newthings to do and see what they come up with A world renownedAstrologer ndash Palmist ndash Tantra Expert  ndash Futurologist ndashNumerologistetc is visiting the village What could he predict otherthan the future class test questions perhaps Or perform a fewmagic tricks What happens when Kallus gang decides to check outthe horoscope man No need to go to an astrologer to find out Justread onhellip

Pratham Books goes digital to weave a whole new chapter in the realm of multilingual childrens stories Knitting together children authorsillustrators and publishers Folding in teachers and translators To create a rich fabric of openly licensed multilingual stories for the children ofIndia and the world Our unique online platform StoryWeaver is a playground where children parents teachers and librarians can get creativeCome start weaving today and help us get a book in every childs hand