This time, along with the salary, the company also gave an annual bonus. Bhatnagar Ji’s pocket got heavy.
As per Swamiji's advice, Bhatnagar Ji wasn’t supposed to buy anything. He just had to visit an expensive showroom and haggle over the price of some precious item, be it a diamond necklace or a studded emerald bangle.
Even during the bargaining, he had to make sure not to quote a price so low that the shopkeeper would agree to sell it at that price. Otherwise, he’d be forced to buy the item. Bhatnagar Ji just had to haggle and walk out. The plan was for him to feel so disheartened that, in his dreams, he’d return to the jewelry shop, buy the item, and then present it to his wife.
Swamiji had said that if his wife was truly under the influence of some spirit, she would sense that her husband had gone to buy a precious gift for her. Just this thought would make her happy, giving her the satisfaction as if she had received the gift. No expense, yet full effect, and the spirit would be scared away.
Swamiji even provided the address of such a jewelry shop where Bhatnagar Ji could spot a great deal.
When Bhatnagar Ji chose a beautiful bangle and began bargaining, to his surprise, the shopkeeper agreed to sell it at his quoted price, which was about a quarter of the actual price. If a shopkeeper is ready to sell something worth fifty thousand for fifteen thousand, something was fishy. Either the bangles were fake, or the shopkeeper was cleverly selling them in installments. He’d take fifteen thousand now and request Bhatnagar Ji to pay the rest in installments.
In any case, the bangles were gorgeous. Since Bhatnagar Ji had already quoted fifteen thousand, and the shopkeeper agreed, he had to buy them now.
Bhatnagar Ji thought, “Let’s try Swamiji’s ghost-busting method next time. This time, let me make my wife truly happy with these bangles.”
He returned home, delighted with the gift for his wife.
When he arrived, his wife looked furious. “What have you brought? Do you think money is to be wasted like this?”
All of Bhatnagar Ji’s joy vanished. He tried one more time to persuade her, saying, “I thought these bangles would look beautiful on your wrists, so I bought them. Money comes and goes, what’s the big deal?”
His wife responded, “Some money was recently withdrawn from your bank account, do you remember?”
Bhatnagar Ji replied, “Of course I remember! It was twenty-five thousand rupees, not some small amount.”
His wife asked, “Did you try to find out where all that money went?”
Bhatnagar Ji eagerly looked at her and said, “So, did you figure it out?”
His wife stormed off into the room, returned with a small, beautiful box from the cupboard, opened it, and placed it in front of him, saying, “Look at this! I ordered these online.”
Bhatnagar Ji, as if struck by lightning, said, “Oh, they’re exactly the same as the ones I bought. How much did they cost?”
“Nine thousand, total!” his wife said with a triumphant smile.
As Bhatnagar Ji quietly ate his meal, he wondered what dream awaited him that night!
(To be continued…)
