I just could not believe my ears or the sight of the poor fellow standing dejected there. My western logical mind said that the mantrams were all nonsense and mumbo jumbo, and whatever had happened here was a golden opportunity to be seized by a young very ambitious and keen man.
“ I understand your feelings and your concern but all the same I think you should go this afternoon and see Mr Fincher and discuss the job with him. That I do insist especially after I had praised you to him the day before”.
So he went off for his interview with a heavy heart. He accepted the job with a great sadness, and Nadaraj came back as first assistant clerk. Hallaldeen never threw himself wholeheartedly into his new post, and never performed well, and nine months later he lost his job. He came back to see me , and sorrowfully said “ Well it never was a real job.....I was forced by the mantram to take it, and in the end the mantram broke me”. It was sad story of how the charm had worked on his mind, and how dejected it had made him, but yet there was a question. Had Pat sacked his tea maker at just that very moment because the ‘mantram’ was working, or were the conditions at Welimada Estate just pure co-incidence? One could argue it either way! “there are more things in heaven and earth Horatio than were ever dreamed of in thy philosophy”