They may dispel fears of the star-crossed patrons, but it has been long since fortune smiled on the soothsayers lining the Sayajigunj pavement outside the M S University. Reading palms and offering instant remedies by way of `gems' for over a decade or longer, their knowledge of the stars and plays of the heavenly bodies remain their only asset. Surprisingly, there are no complaints.

``Life's course is determined by the planets. They shift, they direct and time moves accordingly. Man cannot change anything. It all depends on the stars above,'' claims Hudasingh Khajansingh. Originally from Sialkot, Pakistan, the ageing Sikh recollects being an astrologist since his childhood. ``It ran in the family. We have been in Vadodara for over 40 years and I have been pursuing astrology on this pavement since then,'' he says.

A matriculate, Khajansingh trained under his guru Kalikamliwala at Haridwar for five years and supplementing his knowledge through books, jumped into the profession soon after. His gemstone and rudraksha laden mat displays a signboard quoting two prices: Rs 11 and Rs 25. ``That's my charge -- Rs 11 for asking questions and Rs 25 for reading between the lines. I also give a gemstone ring as the cure in the latter deal,'' he says.

Claiming that his advertisements appear regularly in the local newspapers, Khajansingh proudly says,``People from all walks of life come to me. Some believe some don't. But they listen, nevertheless.''

Walking two steps further, one is struck by the brilliance of another gemstone-laden mattress. Some piled in tin trays, others neatly divided in little aluminium containers, the gems appear convincing. ``No, they are not real. I can't afford real gems always, not at the price I have fixed. But it doesn't matter diamond or American diamond, the effect is almost the same,'' says `Guruji', not willing to disclose his real name.

Having spent 10 years as a taxi driver in Mathura, Guruji was `beckoned' by the stars. ``I joined the Gayatri mission at Haridwar and the knowledge of gemology and astrology ensued. I came here in 1988 and have been at this work since then,'' he says.

Tantriks and astrologers figure prominently among Guruji's clientele.``They come here to buy the stones, beads, granth and patri. Traders from Jaipur supply us with the material. We sell it within a price range of Rs 20 to 50 and the tantriks in turn sell the same to their rich followers for thousands of rupees. The stone is the same,'' he says, adding that he would willingly provide a unfortunate customer with gems free of cost. ``His life should improve. That's what matters,'' he says.

Raghunath, also a gemstone dealer, has been on the pavement from 1968. His wares also include old coins, which he claims to have collected out of interest. But what if some turn out to be rare pieces pegged at a high price in the antique market? ``I don't care. More money means more trouble. I grew up as an orphan and have no family to support even now. What I have fills my stomach so it is okay to earn less,'' he says casually and gets back to business.