The Power Of Palms

    There were lines on his face, lines of books on his shelf, lines of customers outside his tent, lines on tree trunks beyond the silky walls of his tent, and so forth; but the lines that interested him the most were the ones on the palms of the lady sitting opposite to him. 

     "How now, sir?" anxiously beseeched the lady, after the palm reader looked at her hand with great deliberation. 

     "Hmm...interesting...very interesting. I see that you and your life have undergone many changes in the recent past...?" said he, wanting to sound more and more contemplative. 

    "Eh, well, yeah...I have" Seriously? Isn't that obvious from my protruding tummy.

    "I knew it!" he exclaimed, snapping his fingers. He then continued examining her palms. 

    "I perceive you're having difficulty dealing with life aren't you? You're experiencing certain things which you have never experienced before" 

     It could well be estimated from the lady's youthful looks that her belly had tumefied for the very first time.

    "Hell, yes" replied she, whose restlessness grew with the palm reader's every sentence. "Perhaps if you could just foresee my future..." she implored in her softest of voices, throwing glances at the modified part of her body. 

    "You should've told me before, madam! Nevermind, nevermind. Give me a bit" he said in an irritated tone and went back to the lady's hand. 

    "I apologise. You know I just-" 

    "Hush, madam! You need to maintain silence. I...I can see it. Hush" 

     All of it seemed more like a game of pretence to her, though she found it better to keep her mouth shut. 

    "I sense the presence of four people, that is to say- the doctor, the nurse, your baby, and you, during the auspicious time of nativity" he theorised, staring straight into her eyes. 

    Is this some kind of joke? "Tell me something else!" she grumbled; her annoyance reaching its limits. 

    "Calm down, madam. Calm down" he sweat nervously. 

    "Okay, hold on, I got something else..." he continued, "Hmm...I see...I see a lotus! And it's peach-tinged petals. The petals- they...they slowly unfold...and what they reveal is the head-" 

     Before the palm reader could break the so-called suspense, he was thrown back onto the ground along with his chair by the mighty hard blow. And the victorious lady stomped out of the purple and gold tent, showing him the true power of palms.

Author's Note

What say?

Reviews

[Delmar Cooper]

Well done. The introduction led us to the exact spot we needed for a proper beginning. The information was carefully rationed throughout the tale and the ending was sudden and surprising, perhaps not a strategic surprise but surely a tactical surprise.

So you think there is nothing to palmistry? Nothing at all? Even skepticism is a story mine. Thanks for sharing this.

[Zoya]

Thank you, Delmar! Glad you liked it. There sure is something to palmistry. I just believe it's losing its essence gradually. Too many fraudsters nowadays, I think.

[Delmar Cooper]

Of course I agree about fortune telling hucksterism. I do believe there are people, rather like the Sherlock Holmes model, sensitive to human clues. If the eyes are windows of the soul can not the hands be revelatory of occupation etc. All this is off subject to your fine story and I should not digress from that.

[Zoya]

I understand what you're saying, and I do agree to it. Thank you again for your time and review.

[Ghania]

ha ha. That was funny. And very real. Palmists are mostly pretentious. They tell things we already know, or those which are pretty obvious. They may weaken your faith. So it'better to trust God, and pray for what you want only from Him.
Very-well written!

[Tony Jordan]

Trust God - He seems to have abandoned us all.

[Ghania]

i don't know what you feel right now to say this but believe me Tony, He never leaves. Some things come to us at the right time. He never abandons us.
Blessings. :)

[Zoya]

Rightly said, NB! And thank you for your review.

[Ghania]

You're welcome. Zoe. B)

[Great Aunt Astri]

Hello Nerdy. Re you comment to Tony. Seriously, perhaps you should not be so serious. Do any of us really know about God? There are so many different ways of believing in Him. I am really pleased you feel the way you do, but I think many people must feel they have been abandoned. Some people have really hard lives.

[Ghania]

Hi Astri, oh, I am not. I just gave a view.
I am sorry if I sound that way. It isn't my intention. I respect what he says. You're right. Many people go through things that we can never imagine.

[Great Aunt Astri]

Oh good! It is so easy to misunderstand on the internet! The phrase 'Trust God. He has abandoned you' is a sort of joke. Humour is often not recognised, especially British humour! I wish you every best wish, and look forward to reading more of yours.

[Ghania]

Yeah. Thank you. I'd feel lucky to read yours! You're great.
Thanks again. *Blessings*

[Avia]

The end is funny. I enjoyed reading this sort of comical story. Captivating and nicely written. Well done Zoe.

[Zoya]

Thank you, Avia! :)

[Abhishek Asthana]

Good to see that this sweet little package of talent brings several mature ideas and this piece is an example of that... you always try to share some noteworthy stuff... keep writing :) !!

[Zoya]

Thank you, Abhishek! Good to hear from you after a long time.

[Abhishek Asthana]

Yeah, it's been a long time and that too i have shared in my blog entry...good to see you too and i am pleased to read your remarkable pieces

[Zoya]

Yup, I read your blog. Welcome back. Glad you like my pieces

[wordman]

i say you write some great stories,loved it !

[Zoya]

Thank you, wordman!

[Bear]

Critique: (Perhaps if you could just forsee my) foresee
("Calm down, madam. Calm down" he sweat nervously.) sweats
(he was thrown back on to the ground) onto the ground

Review: There is a science to palmistry unfortunately there are thousands of charlatans out that looking to make fast money. You story is a great example of this and entertaining as well. Nicely done my friend Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!

[Zoya]

Uh-huh, I agree. Thank you for your review! I appreciate it!

[Najam Us Saher]

I liked the twist in the end and the line 'true power of palms' the idea behind this very thoughtful and witty. You managed to portray reality very well.

[Zoya]

Thank you, Najam. I appreciate your feedback!

[Najam Us Saher]

You're welcome.

[pia]

I dont believe in all those superstitious palm readings and stuff kinda like scams!!!
I love how you portrayed the way these people scam others into paying them for such nonsense!!
You wrote this very well. I do feel you've used the words 'lines' too many times in the start. But it was a nice introduction to this man. Also haha i like hoe he was probably just looking at the lines in her hand and picturing all the money hes made from fooling people

[Zoya]

Yup. I used the words 'lines' too many times in the beginning deliberately. Does that sound weird? While reading? And yeah, I don't believe in those either. Tricksters are what they are...usually. lol. Thank you much for reading and reviewing. I appreciate your time

[pia]

No no it doesnt sound weird at all.
Maybe its just me!!
If i do read it again id probably get used to it lol

[Zoya]

Okie dokie