Page 41 - Mindmail _June_2019

SHORT STORY

had given him a sense of advice in the matter. He envelope and took out of
limitless freedom, strength stopped in the middle of it a letter and read aloud:
and buoyancy. The the road, stretched out ‘The General Manager
remarks and jeers of the his arms and shouted, greatly appreciates the
crowds gaping at him did ‘Halt!’ The carriages very artistic models you
not in the least touch him. stopped, the cyclists have sent, and he is
jumped off and Singh pleased to sanction a
While he walked thus, his began a lecture: ‘When I reward of one hundred
eye fell on the bulb of a tall was in Mesopotamia—I rupees and hopes it will be
street lamp. ‘Bulb of the will tell you fellows who an encouragement for you
size of a papaya fruit!’ he don’t know anything about to keep up this interesting
muttered and chuckled. It anything.’ The policeman hobby.’
had been a long cherished dragged him away to the
desire in him to fling a side and waved to the It was translated to him
stone at it; now he felt, traffic to resume. One of word for word, and the
in his joyous and free the cyclists who resumed enclosure, a cheque for
condition, that he was jumped off the saddle one hundred rupees, was
free from the trammels of again and came towards handed to him. A big crowd
convention and need not him with, ‘Why! It is Singh, gathered to watch this
push back any inclination. Singh, what fancy dress is scene. Singh pressed the
He picked up a pebble and this? What is the matter?’ letter to his eyes. He beat
threw it with good aim. The Even through the haze of his brow and wailed, ‘Tell
shattering noise of glass his insane vision Singh me, sir, am I mad or not?’
was as music to his ears. could recognize the voice
A policeman put his hand and the person—the ‘You look quite well, you
on his shoulder. ‘Why did accountant at the office. aren’t mad,’ said the
you do it?’ Singh looked Singh clicked his heels accountant. Singh fell at
indignant. ‘I like to crack and gave a salute. ‘Excuse his feet and said with tears
glass papaya fruit, that me, sir, didn’t intend to choking his voice, ‘You are
is all,’ was the reply. The stop you. You may pass a god, sir, to say that I am
constable said, ‘Come to . . .’ He pointed the way not mad. I am so happy to
the station.’ generously, and the hear it.’
accountant saw the letter
‘Oh, yes, when I was in in his hand. He recognized On the next pension day
Mesopotamia they put it although it was mud- he turned up spruce as
me on half-ration once,’ stained and crumpled. ever at the office counter.
he said, and walked on to As they handed him the
the station. He paused, ‘Singh, you got our letter?’ envelope they asked, ‘What
tilted his head to the side toys are you making now?’ R. K. Narayan
and remarked, ‘This road ‘Yes, sir—Pass. Do not
is not straight . . .’ A few speak of it . . .’ ‘Nothing, sir. Never again.
carriages and cycles were It is no occupation for a
coming up to him. He ‘What is the matter?’ He sane man . . .’ he said,
found that everything was snatched it from his hand. received his pension and
wrong about them. They ‘Why haven’t you opened walked stiffly out of
seemed to need some it!’ He tore open the the office.

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