The Guide ~ R.K Narayan
Chapter ~ 1
The novel with Raju begging to be released from jail. He takes refuge in an old, deserted temple. The temple is situated on the bank of River Saryu.
Coming out of the jail, Raju takes a shave. The barber tells him that he looked like a maharaja, Raju was sitting alone at the temple. He was bored and he needed company.
Velan Comes he lived on the opposite side of the river in the village of Mangala.
Raju's appearance gave Velan s saintly look. Velan shared his problems with him. He tells Raju that he has arranged with his sister's marriage but she ran away on the wedding day but somehow she was brought back but now she would not talk to anyone Velan didn't know how to solve this problem.
About himself, Raju tells that he grew up in the midst of the railway engines coolies guards etc. Raju tells Velan that his house was opposite Malgudi station. It was a small hut. His father had built it with his own hands. He had a small shop also. It was known as a 'hut shop' on the 'trunk road'.
Raju tells Velan that when his father went for lunch, he called Raju to sit in the shop. His father instructed him, "Raju takes my seat, be sure to receive the money, for whatever you give. Don't eat off all the eating stuff, it's kept for sale, call me if you have doubts".
Further, he says about his days as a boy that he used to call out loud to his father asking about the cost of the green peppermint. He tells how when he could not understand the instructions of his father, ye used to swallow peppermint to lessen the complications.
Raju narrated how as a boy, he used to climb the tamarind trees and play with marble. That's how he hated when his father woke him up early in the morning. His father taught him.
Sometimes his father took him to town to do the shopping for the shop. Raju used to be excited about going to the town. He enjoyed seeing the humbug of the town.
Velan was worried about his sister. Before leaving Velan touched Raju's feet. To this entitled to such prostration. He will destroy us if we attempt to usurp his rights "Raju felt as if he was a saint while speaking in such a way".
Velan climbed down the stairs, crossed the river, went to the other side of the bank and he was out of sight.
Raju was left alone counting the stairs, he fell asleep. In the morning Velan had come with his sister. She was a beautiful girl of fourteen years.
Raju asked Velan to go to the hall of the temple. He also went to the temple hall. Velan gave fruits and milk to Raju… Raju was hungry. So he offered it to the shrine and kept some for himself.
Raju narrated the story of 'Devaka' to Velan. He said offering to the Shrine doubles our belongings. The offering does not divide it.
Raju narrated the story, that his mother used to tell every night. His mother used to wait for his father to return from the shop. His father returned late from the shop. So his mother told him stories till late at night.
Raju could not complete the 'Devaka' story. He could not remember. So he changed the topic. He told Velan that at that time he would not solve his sister's problem. He tells him "Every question must bide its time"
Raju continues by saying, "that to arrive at a proper understanding, time is needed.
It seemed, "shortly he (Raju) might float in the air and peach himself in the lower of the ancient temple"
Further, Raju said looking at the girl, "What must happen, must happen, no power in earth or in heaven can change the course of the river".
The girl felt ashamed. She left as a changed girl.
Chapter ~ 2
The story again goes to the past. A railway station was to be built at Malgudi.
Material needed for the construction was being piled up. People were excited that a railway station was to be built at Malgudi.
As a child, Raju played on the mounds. He could see the Mempi hills from the height of the mounds.
One day Raju was playing on the mounds. He had a quarrel with a cowboy. He abused him. Raju's father came to know about their behaviour.
The very next day, his father sent Raju to school he said he needed to be removed saying, "To be removed from a place he loved to a place he loathed".
He was sent to 'Pyol school' an old man who lived at Kabil Lane. He taught the boy there.
His father didn't admit him to the 'Albert Mission school' at this school children were converted to Christianity.
At school, they had a lot of fun. One day they entered the house of their master. They found him cooking. The boys laughed at him. The old man got angry. He warned the children not to enter his house.
Raju says how they floated paper boats in the drain below the Pyol. The old man warned them to be careful, or else they would fall and be carried to river Saryu.
The boys paid just one rupee every month but they used to bring eatables for him. Raju did very well. Very soon he was admitted to 'Board High School' the old master, himself went to admit Raju to school.
The narration returns to the present Valan tells Raju that his 'difficult sister' was ready to marry the groom of his choice. He wanted to get her married at the earliest.
Raju tells him That, "for fear that she may change her mind once again" Velan was shocked. He asked Raju, "How did you know what I had in mind, sir?"
Raju told him that it was nothing extraordinary, it was just his guess. There the irony was that Raju was beginning a saint.
Velan invited him to the marriage but Raju refused. Velan brought to him fruits and gifts. The bride told the people, "He doesn't speak to anyone, but if he looks at you, you are changed".
Raju was becoming popular. People came to visit him. Raju was not very comfortable when people were taking him to be a saint. He could not go back to his village. He feared people would mock him. Moreover, he had mortgaged his house. He wanted to leave the place. He wanted to do something and earn a living.
One evening, when his visitors were about to come, he hid himself. The people were surprised not to find him there. He heard them saying, " he is a big man, he may go anywhere that "... He does nothing, but meditation".
They were speaking about the miracles Raju has done. They were waiting for Raju. But Raju kept hiding. They left the gifts that they had bought for Raju. Raju waited for them to go. Raju was now confirmed that they had taken him for a saint.
Now Raju decided to stay back. That evening he waited for his visitors but they didn't come. Then he saw a boy grazing his sheep on the other side of the bank Raju called the boy. Raju asked him why he was there. The boy told him that his uncle had told, him that if he saw an old man, then to inform the villagers.
Raju told the boy to tell his uncle that the old man had returned.
Chapter-3
The story again moves back. The Malgudi Railway station was ready. It was inaugurated. All in the village were happy.
The railway station was a turning point in the life of Raju. His father's sales increased. He bought a horse and Jutka.
Raju's mother didn't like this idea so his father gave it to the caretaker on two rupees per month. But the caretaker was a cheater. He didn't take care of the horse. In the end, his father sold it to him. This was his intrigue that is why, after he owned it, he made a lot of profit.
Very soon his father got a space at the railway station. There he made a cemented shop. Here he fulfilled all the demands of his customers fruits cigarette etc.
Raju stayed at the Hut shop but he did not do well there. So his father moved to the Hut shop and Raju to the railway shop. Gradually Raju came to be known as, 'Raju the Guide'.
Chapter ~ 4
The story now moved to the present.
Raju had asked the shepherd boy to tell his uncle that the old man had returned. People started coming for his darshan. Raju advised the people, that boys should go to school, either in the morning or in the evening.
Further proposed that a teacher could come and teach the boys in the temple hall. And when the teacher came, Raju's childhood fear returned came, Raju's childhood fear returned. "He could hardly control himself and prevent an exposure. "The schoolmaster was a timid man.
Initially, very few children turned up. They were afraid of the crocodiles in the river. He told the children not to be afraid of the crocodile, "if your mind is clear and your conscience is untroubled"
Then he told the teacher not to be disheartened by the coming of the few children and that if he worked by a dozen, it would be equivalent to 'a hundred times that number.
Raju was surprised at the wisdom coming up in him.
The teacher requested Raju to talk to the students Raju spoke to them about Ramayana characters in the epic etc. Raju himself was impressed by his speeches. Here the novelist says, "It is in this way that saints are made and Raju was fast moving on the road to sainthood" (here is the satire)
Going back to his past, Raju recalls that he had read a good lot during his railway shopkeeping days. He remembered how he read the newspaper that he has bought to wrap The loaves etc. He purchased old books, magazines whenever he could get time. His shop was full of reading materials. He read art culture, philosophy and religion.
Soon after the railway shop had been set up his father died. His father had left sufficient money.
The old hut shop was closed down. He started selling magazines and books. Students of Albert mission college Malgudi. Purchased a book from him.
People come to sell old books to him. Raju says "I bargained hard, showed indifferent when buying and solicitude while selling".
All this made him to talk in a grand manner. This impressed the children and grown up as well.
Coming back to the present, we find that the children were enchanted by Raju. The novelist says, "a circle formed around him. They sat looking on" villagers brought lanterns. It looked like a great assembly. Raju felt like an actor on the stage.
Velan then asked him to say something that would enhance their wisdom. Raju didn't know what to say. But he has to say something he thought about what he should say, then he said "All things have to wait for their hour, here he took a brief silence then he said, I will speak to you when another day comes".
And then Raju asked them to recollect what they had said the whole day. To this, they said they could not recollect. In an amusing way Raju said, 'if they could not remember what they themself had said, how could they remember what others have said'.
One among them asked, 'why did he want them to recall what they had said? Raju himself did not know what to answer but then he asked them to try what they will be able to remember and then they will know the value of it.
They said they could not recall but Raju said he could. Raju knew he could not. Luckily the children said they wanted to go. This gave relief to Raju then Raju dispersed the crowd.
The next day when his visitors come he chanted a song. The crowd repeated it. Now women had also started to visit him. All offered various foods and fruits to him.
To give himself a spiritual look, he grew his beard.
His visitors increased. The hall corridor used to be crowded with his visitors.
Now Raju had become like a 'real Sadhu' He chanted verses and spoke on philosophy, religion and many topics. Raju prescribed medicines also and if children didn't sleep he gave them herbs and told them that if the children would not get relief he asked them to come again.
He stroked the belly of the children. They believed that the disputes of ancestral property were solved by his blessings and this made 'Railway Raju' to a saint.
Chapter ~ 5
Again the story moves backwards. Raju had become famous as 'railway Raju'. Tourists asked for him. Raju was intelligent. He convinced the tourist.
Ghaffur, the taxi driver become his friend he was at the market square. Ghaffur's taxi was old but Raju praised it. He told them that this taxi was most Suitable for sightseeing.
Raju came to know about Malgudi. He took the tourists to different spots. The tourists were impressed by Raju. Raju was well paid.
One day a man came he wanted to visit Malgudi. He went to the Sarayu River and Mephi Hills. He returned late, so the man halted at the platform. Raju had a sharp perception. He knew he could not recognise a tourist or a normal visitor.
Raju himself said, 'I have viewed myself as amateur guide… Raju told Velan how he became a full-time tourist and a part-time shopkeeper.
Even when there were no tourists, he went to Ghaffur. He listened to Ghaffur's talk about derelict and automobiles.
Some tourists were photographers. Some were view seekers. All were varied. One among them was a photographer. He asked if there was "a place where they develop films?"
Raju took him to the Malgudi photo bureau. Raju says all had typed questions and he satisfied them with perfect answers.
Sometimes the tourist would offer a cheque but Ghaffur, Joseph the bungalow keeper would refuse to take the cheque. They would trust a stranger.
Then Raju had to put off the offer of the cheque saying that the banks of the town didn't work properly.
Raju related how he observed the tourists, how they carried their luggage or hired a taxi or Jutka. He knew who would take a hotel or a simple dormitory.
Those who took the dormitory would say, “Why waste money when they went just to sleep”.
And then one day when a tourist came, he asked about ‘railway Raju’. Now it had the responsibility of Raju to see the needs of the man.
As a guide, Raju had learned that no two tourists were the same. Some came for historical relics, some for the beauty of nature, and some just to pass the time peacefully in the bungalow or the Mephi hills.
Some asked awkward questions Raju said, “I learned while I taught and earned while I learned, and the whole thing was most enjoyable”.
Raju had good coordination with the forest officers. Raju did small services for the officers. In return, they gave seats to his clients when they came to visit him.
Raju knew very well how he could arrange the wants of the clients.
So if they wanted to see a tiger or shoot. He arranged a lamb but he never wanted the lamb or tiger to be shot dead.
He also arranged their wishes to see King Cobra spreading its hood. Thus, his knowledge grew as a guide.
And Raju narrates further how he came in contact with Rosie. He called her husband ‘Merco’ Raju arranged an Anand Bhawan hotel for him. Rosie came later.
Marco told him that another person would come later. He went to the station in his khaki dress. He was surprised to see Rosie. He wanted to hide himself. Somehow, he sent them to the hotel. Raju went back home to tidy himself.
About Rosie, Raju says that she was not very glamorous but she had a slender figure Rosie asked if he could show him the dancing cobra. Raju said, he would certainly show her but before that, he took them to the Ishwar temple in North Extension. Here on the wall were carved the verses of Ramayana.
He left them there he went off to find out how and where the king cobra would be found. He returned and found Rosie bored. Her husband was busy with the verse on the wall.
Rosie went with Raju to see the cobra she suggested to the cobra man to play the flute and make the snake swirl. Raju says that he did not like the swaying of the snake, but Roasie was fascinated. She stretched out her arms and imitated the rhythm, just for a second.
But Raju perceived that “it was sufficient to tell me what she was, the greatest dancer of the century.
They returned by seven in the evening. Marco was waiting for them in the porch. He asked Raju to bring the taxi the next day at ten.
Raju didn’t like the curt behaviours of Marco. Back home, he told his mother about his visit to the snake charmer and the dance of Rosie.
His mother told him to be far from these dancing girls but Raju didn’t heed to the warning of his mother. The next day he was on time. He had dressed himself in the best way.
At the hotel, only Marco came out. Raju became uncomfortable but he could not ask directly. He wanted to see the cave paintings.
Raju told him, that for this that he would have to go to Peake house forest bungalow and that they would not return before nightfall.
Marco went back to his room. He returned with a sullen face. He said it was difficult to deal with women. He added that “if a man needs to have peace of mind, he should be away from the fair sex.
Raju asked rashly if he could go and pursue Rosie to accompany them. Marco agreed Raju went to the hotel. He asked Rosie to accompany them.
Initially, she refused. Raju insisted he told her that it was he who had taken her to the cobra man. He also told her, “The way danced your form and figure haunted me all night”.
She looked as if she was crying all along her eyes were red. She had no pain, no perfume. Raju said there was no need to change or get decked up. She could come as she was, he added, “Who could decorate a rainbow?”
Rosie said she didn’t want to go she also asked why he wanted her to go with him. To this Raju said, “Because life is so blank without your presence”.
Raju said, she could have refused but she agreed to come just then Marco came. He was impatient. He knew she would never come. He was a bit surprised. He told Raju, ‘You are a wizard.’
Rosie told Raju that she was planning to go back.
They went down. Rosie sat beside her husband. Raju didn’t sit beside Gaffur. He sat at the back seat. Beside her husband
Gaffur suggested that they should take some clothing. They may have to stay back. So Raju rushed home and brought his clothes.
They reached the Peak house at four. The caretaker, Joseph took great care of them. Marco gave enough money to Joseph to provide all comforts.
Raju says about Marco, that he seemed to be eccentric sometimes he showed no concern for money and the very minute he behave like a miser. He needed a voucher for every payment but then Raju said that he knew how he had to handle Marco, without making him irritated and angry.
At the dinner table, Raju initiated to serve them, but Rosie took the bowl from Raju. She wanted to be a good hostess. Their hands touched each other the effect of touch was electrical. The touch made his head reel. Raju says he didn’t know himself.
After dinner, Marco sat with his paper but Rosie wanted to see the wild beasts, she was afraid that animals would attack her, but Raju assured her that nothing as such would happen. Later Marco came and sat with them.
The next morning things were normal. Marco came out in a vexed mood. He didn’t want to waste time. He hurried to the caves. He said he didn’t want to waste time with the ladies.
Raju felt like crying he felt maybe Rosie was just pretending. Perhaps she wanted Raju to come and ask her to come but he could not get any chance to go to Rosie. They left for the caves. Raju had no interest to relate anything, but he had to.
On the other hand, Marco was busy taking photographs of the relics. Raju says, “I was bored with his ruin collection activities…” that “… I had no taste for them, just as he had no taste for other images…”
Suddenly an idea came to his mind. He told Marco that he heard Gaffur’s taxi, so he wanted to go to the bungalow. Marco allowed him but they asked him not to let Gaffur go away.
When he reached the bungalow, he found her sitting on the verandah. He asked her if they quarrelled each night. He told her how could one behave in such a way. That ‘being with her was a bliss’
Raju further tells that he spoke to her as an artist. That she was a snake dancer. She is the best dancer in the world.
He dared to ask why she married him was it because of his wealth? Rosie confides to him that she belonged to the dancer’s class. That her mother, grandmother and all her ancestors were ‘temple dancers’.
She tells him that as a young girl, she also used to dance and that, ‘you know how our caste is viewed?’
Raju tells her that her caste was the noblest caste, but Rosie tells him that they were not considered civilized noble and responsible.
Then Raju consoles her saying all this was in the old days. That, “things have changed there is no class and caste today.”
Rosie tells him that her mother had planned a different life for her. She was educated. After college she didn’t know what to do- be a dancer or do something else?
Then she saw an ad. It said it wanted an educated girl. There were no caste restrictions Marco examined her certificates and they were married. They went to the registrar.
Rosie told him that he was rich. He had a big house. They lived alone. Very sadly she says, “he is interested in painting and old art and things like that.”
Gaffur sent a message because his car had a breakdown, and he could not come. All were happy. Marco had enough time at the caves. Rosie and Raju spent their time watching for the beasts.
Marco needed more time at the caves. So he asked Raju to bring some papers that were in the back box from the hotel. Rosie also accompanied him. She said she also wanted something.
Raju left her at the hotel. He went home to have a bath and change. He came back to the hotel. He took Rosie out and asked her to buy anything that she wanted. Rosie was very pleased on being treated in such a considerate way.
Raju asked Gaffur to go away. He wanted to enjoy her company. They went to the cinema show Rosie was very happy and gradually became lovers.
Unfortunately, his affair with Rosie becomes the misfortune of his future life.
Chapters ~ 6 - 7
The narration comes back to the present. It had been a long time now since Raju had been in Mangala. His beard and hair had grown quite long. People brought gifts in abundance, but Raju distributed them among his devotees. People now addressed him as ‘swami’.
Raju was a changed man now, but luck took a change. His trouble began. Rainy season came but there were no rains the condition of the village deteriorated. People were in a pathetic state.
The shopman demanded a higher price for the grocery. People got angry. There was a serious quarrel between the shopkeeper and the people.
The village people didn’t want this quarrel to reach the swami, but Velan’s brother informed Raju. He also said that Velan was badly hurt. The brother said that the swami needed to visit the people and stop the quarrel. Raju didn’t want the villagers to quarrel. He feared that the police may come, and he will be recolonized.
So he told the boy to go and tell them that he would take no food, no water unless they behaved properly.
Now the boy got nervous. He thought how could he tell the people that he had visited the swami? He knew that the village people didn’t want the swami to know about the quarrel. Then he made a story that the swami didn’t want any food. He would fast. His fasting will give the rain.
People now took Raju to be a Mahatma. They said Mangala was blessed to have swami here they were in full praise of Raju. They were confirmed that fasting of Swami would surely bring rain. All forget the quarrels.
People came to visit their swami, but they didn’t bring any gifts. They were under the belief that their swami was on fast. Raju was surprised. He could not understand. They were comparing him to the Mahatma, worshipping him as a saviour.
Then he called Velan aside. Velan told him everything Raju was surprised, he was helpless. Now he had to stand knee-deep in the water looking up at the sky, he chanted mantras and this he did for a fortnight. He had to continue his fast.
Raju was expecting ‘Bonda’ a South Indian dish and the irony was that he was being expected to fast. Raju thought of several ways to escape fasting. He cursed himself he himself was to be blamed for all that. He regretted why he gave them his idea. He never thought the idea would be applied to him. He asked the people to go away.
He decided to run away but a second thought he realized, it would not work. If anyone recognized him, he would be insulted. So he decided to confide to Velan his reality.
He told Velan, “I am not a saint, pay attention to what I am going to say I am not saint Velan,” he said. That he was an ordinary human being like anyone else. He asked him to listen to his story and that Velan would understand everything, after hearing his story.
Velan listened to him without uttering a word.
Again, the narration goes back. For Marco Raju was indispensable. Marco could not do anything even the smallest thing by himself. He spent his time studying the carvings of the caves.
Marco stayed at Peak house for more than a month. Raju looked after his affairs. Rosia moved between the hotel and the peak house. Whenever she wanted in between Marco allowed Raju to go when he was not needed.
In fact, he spent most of his time with Rosie. Gaffur warned him, saying to be careful with these modern educated girls. That their relationship was also not fair.
On the other hand, Rosie’s behaviour with Marco had changed. Now she looked after Marco she used to arrange his papers and clothes. Perhaps it was her guilt and fidelity towards her husband.
Raju sometimes realized that what he was doing wasn’t correct. His self-psychological analysis seemed to say that he was losing mental relaxation. That he was obsessed with the thoughts of Rosie. He was becoming fear-ridden. He was in a jumble. He could not sort out his problems sometimes he felt he didn’t look well enough. Rosie would not like the lock well enough, Rosie would not like this appearance. She would shun him away.
He felt his jibba and dhoti needed a change. His expenses had increased. He was not giving ties to the shop. He had left it to a small boy to manage the shop.
His mother often asked him to look after the shop and the accounts, but he took no notice. He said he was ‘A devil for accounts.’ The boy at the shop told Raju that the tourists kept asking about him. Raju’s obsession was Rosie. All other works, whether his mother asked him for municipal tax or kitchen tiles were not significant.
Then the boy suggested that he would keep his cousin at the shop and he himself would take the tourist as a guide. Raju didn’t like the idea but then he had no other option but to agree with the boy for him his world was Rosie. Despite all the warnings, he left no stone unturned to keep her happy and thus make himself be impressed.
He wanted to change the hotel. He wanted to be alone with Rosie all the time but neither Rosie nor Marco agreed moreover Raju was afraid of the comments of the manager and the hotel boy.
Raju tells about Rosie that sometimes she was difficult to handle at times she used to cry out, that her illicit affairs with Raju was not fair. She sympathizes with her husband she realized that her husband had given her freedom and comfort. At times she used to be like a child. She craved to go to her husband at the peak house.
Raju had no knowledge of the female mind. He sometimes got confused as to how to deal with her then he used to advise her to go to Marco.
Once Rosie asked him if he was interested in her dances or if he didn’t like it, like Marco. Marco & Raju could do anything for her. He said he liked her dances. Rosie was very happy to hear it now Raju knew how to tackle her. He at once knew that ‘her art and husband’ could not go together one draw the other out.
Now Rosie was full of plans. She started her practice. Raju arranged a separate hall. At the corner of the hall, she kept a bronze figure ‘Natraj’ the god of dance set the world in motion. She burnt incense sticks.
Raju went daydreaming and then one day she asked for a chauffeur she needed to move about. That it was indispensable for her. She spends hours on the study of ‘Nrity sastra’ of ‘Bharat Muni. She read many ancient books of Nrity Sastra. She said unless you know ancient methods you would justify dancing. Her uncle had all the books. He used to parcel her to the hotel’s address.
She asked Raju if he could arrange a Sanskrit pandit. Raju could do anything for her. She wanted to know the story of Ramayana and Mahabharata. She said that ‘the epics were a treasure house’. We can pick up many ideas from it.
In the afternoon, she took a rest or enjoyed a movie. Her evenings, she spent at home, unless there was any performance. She used to reach her performance hall, just half an hour before it was started.
Raju listened to her tongue tired. Though at present it was daydreaming, most of it was realized in actual life Rosie gave performances. Raju became her guide and stage manager.
Raju pretended that he too had a passion for her art. They came closer. Seeing her practices and movements, Raju says, he watched her with real pleasure, tongue tied further he says that, “when she indicated the lotus with her fingers, you could almost hear. The ripple of the water around it. He watched her performance free from all carnal thoughts.
Then Rosie said, she would have to take the consent of her husband for making public performances. She leaves for the peak house. Their Marco praised. Joseph for his services. Marco was happy, as he had found the cave, that was full of musical notations. He told Raju that when his book would be published, he would mention in it the debt of Raju. It was Raju who had brought him here. Raju left Rosie there.
Raju returned after two days. Here things were different. Joseph told them that, they had gone to the caves. He also added that Marco was a good man. His wife seemed “to be a horrible nagger” Raju left for the caves. Neither Rosie nor Marco agreed with him. He was calm and both went to their rooms. Raju didn’t know what to do.
Gaffur came. He advised him to leave them they will make up after all they were husband and wife. He told Raju to go back to his old world. That there he had a happy life, but Raju took no heed. He asked warned him but for Raju destiny had written a different plan.
On hearing Gaffur’s car horn, Marco came back. He was going to the hotel to close the account Raju tried to solve the matter, but Marco was very angry. He asked him not to interfere and somehow Raju managed to take Raju back to the Bungalow. Marco went to his room and Raju went to the next room.
For half an hour Raju waited for Marco to come out but there was no noise, no quarrel. Raju saw in the kitchen that they didn’t have any food. He served the food and took it to them. He knew Rosie had the habit of eating every half an hour.
He saw the swollen eyes of Rosie. She looked miserable. Rosie repeatedly told him to go away that, “I mean it. Leave us now. “Raju persisted to make the scene peaceful but Rosie in an indifferent and strict tone asked him to leave Raju left.
Gaffur told him, “Raju, I’m a senior in years. I think this is the best thing you’ve done. You’ll be happier thereafter but Gaffur’s prophecy was not to be fulfilled. The time to come for Raju was going to be miserable.
He returned to his normal life but he had no interest in it. He used to be absent-minded. All the time he thought about Rosie. He felt desperate that how Marco must be treating her.
Thus, one month passed and one day after the Madras train left at four thirty, he found Rosie standing at his door, he was surprised. He felt the moments to be the happiest one and himself to be the happiest man on earth. She said she would stay with Raju. He asked his mother to make arrangements for her. His mother was amazed. She put some awkward questions before her but then Raju handled the situation. Raju himself was surprised.
Rosie told him that Marco didn’t give his consent. That dancing for him was street acrobatics. Marco angrily asked her, ‘do you want to rival me is that it? This is a learning not street-acrobatics.’.
Marco told her dancing gave no knowledge it was not intelligible, not creative. It performed the same things all long life. He also said that they watch monkey dancing not because they are artistic.
Further Rosie tells Raju that Marco was kind to her. He tried to console her. He reminded me that earlier she had promised that she would never mention the subject.
Rosie told Raju that the tone of Marco was so kind that she was encouraged to request him once again she requested him to see her performances. He agreed he sat watching her but before she could complete, he said, “stop, I have seen enough”.
He said, “Rosie, you must understand this is not art. You have not sufficient training”.
Here Rosie says that she made a blunder. She took Raju’s name she said that Raju appreciated her dance. Marco was a bit shocked, he put many questions before her, as to where she danced by Rosie’s uneasiness, he was clever enough to get their illicit relationship. He could not forgive her. He said, “I was a fool to have too much decency for granted”. Here we see that Marco was not wrong in being stern to Rosie.
Rosie also realized her sin. She had been indiscreet. She had a hope that Marco would forgive her. She insisted that Marco should forgive her, but Marco told her to go wherever she pleased. She said that she was his wife. To this Marco said, she was no more his wife. She was just a woman who would go with any man who flatters her.
Here Rosie compares herself with Desdemona. Othello was kindlier to Desdemona. She still had a hope that Marco would forgive her.
After Marco’s work was over, he was packing to leave the hotel. Rosie also packed her things. Reaching the station, Marco entered the compartment. Rosie was not allowed to enter. She was told her tickets was not done so she came to Raju for shelter.
Here at the Raju’s place nothing was well people started telling tales. His shop was not giving sufficient income. No one was ready to help him.
Raju blamed the boy for the loss. He started beating him. The boy’s father was a porter. He requested Raju not to beat his son, rather he should beat Rosie. The scene became furious. At the last, his mother came. Raju’s railway contract was terminated. It was given to another person. In this way, Raju’s tie-up with the railway ended.
Chapter – 8
Raju’s trouble continued. A wholesale cloth merchant in the market road was a creditor of Raju’s. He came to Raju to ask for money Raju asked for time. Seth gave him one week time. At the Raju laughed at him. Seth was angry going back, and he filed a criminal case against Raju, saying he was beaten by Raju.
Gaffur arranged a lawyer for Raju but things didn’t work. All this would need excess expenses. Gaffur advised him to start a proper life, and also to control his anger. An idea clicked to Raju, that he could earn through Rosie. “she is a gold mine” says Raju so he asked Gaffur to lend him some money that Bharat Natyam was really the greatest art business and that without money nothing could be done. Gaffur couldn’t believe him. Raju got angry Gaffur left saying that if he needed his taxi, he could give him a call. Raju realized that he had lost another friend.
Raju’s troubles increased Rosie was now more devoted to her art. She didn’t have much time for Raju.
On the other hand Raju’s mother was worried she knew Raju would not listen to anyone she wanted Raju to leave Rosie. So, she asked her brother was her only hope. Raju was surprised by his uncle. He told his mother, “You never told him, you wrote to uncle”.
His uncle intervened, “Why should she tell you” He reprimanded Raju as to why his behaviour was so abrupt. He asked what is all that one hears about you?”
Raju was afraid of his uncle, but he tried to show that he was not afraid. His uncle used abusive language against Rosie. He said, “You should not be seducing young fools deserting your husband”. On hearing this Rosie sank down weeping bitterly. Raju’s uncle asked her to leave and go back to her husband. That they would arrange the ticket.
On seeing Rosie in that miserable stale Raju attacked his uncle his mother came running. She blamed Rosie for all this trouble.
Raju consoled Rosie saying not to hear what others were saying. He was not going to leave her on any condition. He added that “others who don’t like the arrangement are welcome to leave”.
His mother decided to leave the house. She asked Raju to choose his mother or Rosie. Raju chose Rosie. Before leaving his mother told him, “Don’t fail to light the lambs in god’s niche” She also added, “to be careful with your health”.
Raju narrated to Velan saying that he stood the step, seeing his mother go. He stood crying. He could not turn. He could not face Rosie. He was crying.
After his mother, Rosie and Raju lived as a married couple. Then they planned for their livelihood. The name Rosie seemed foreign her name was changed to Nalini.
They got an opportunity. The Albrt Mission boys were to organize their annual function Raju knew the clerk of the student’s union. Raju suggested that the students should include Bharat Natyam. They came to see her dance. They were astonished they included in their function.
Here Raju asked them to provide the drummers and the accompanists, and in this way, Raju once again fulfilled Rosie’s desire to have the accompanists and drummer was an intense desire of Rosie.
Chapter – 9 – 10
Rosie's performance at Albert Mission made her popular. Raju thought Rosie’s fame was because of him but later he realized that it was her talent, no one could suppress her.
He tells Velan, “Her name became public property,” he tells him that he become popular because of Rosie. Raju told Velam that he was sober now. Earlier he had given the credit to himself. He told Velan “Don’t be misled by my present show of humility at the time there was no limit to my self- congratulations”.
Further Raju says that he felt that Nalini needed him when she performed that “she needed my inspiring presence”.
Raju said that when people spoke to Raju, they felt as if they were talking to Nalini herself. The hall used to be filled when she performed.
Raju told Velan that while talking to the president of the occasion, people liked seeing both talk to each other but, they didn’t talk much, except that, the “president only said, the hall seems to have filled”.
Her performance become very popular. Their income increased. They went to every corner of South India. Raju managed her affairs. They shifted to a bigger house their expenses increased but in spite of their income, there was not much savings”.
Raju says “The stylish house at new extension needed more keeping with status.
Rosie lived in the dream world of art; she knew nothing about the practical side of her affairs.
Raju arranged a ‘dance master’ for her he was from Kopper. He was devoted to traditional dance. Raju brought him to Malgudi. They had many other expenses as cooks, and Gorkha sentry a secretary.
And then Rosie becomes bored with her performance and then they started having a quarrel. Rosie's circle was widening people kept coming to meet Nalini. Raju didn’t like the boys and girls who come to meet Nalini.
He wanted to keep Nalini as if she were a ‘citadel’ moreover he wanted Nalini to be dependent on him. Now they lived like a kind of mechanical life. Rosie had detached herself. Earlier she was interested in her garlands and not in the cheque that she was given.
Earlier they enjoyed but now there was no inner comfort. It seems that novelists point out the hollowness of wealth.
And then one day a book entitled ‘cultural history of India’ has arrived by post. Marco had written this book. The book came on Raju’s name, but the book was for Rosie. Mani had brought the book.
The book was about the Memphis Caves. It was focused on the cultural history of India. Marco had acknowledged his debt to Raju, as he had earlier promised.
Raju made a mistake. He didn’t show the book to Rosie. He was afraid the book would remind Rosie of Marco. Later Raju realized his mistake. He tells Velan, “But it was like hiding a corpse I’ve came to the conclusion that nothing in this world can be hidden or suppressed”.
Raju says to hide such things was like an umbrella concealing the sun and on the illustrated weekly of Bombay.
Rosie was very excited. She showed it to Raju, and she asked him if he saw it. She wanted to see the book, but Raju told her, that it was nothing of her interest. It was all about academics.
Rosie called Mani and asked him to bring the book. Rosie came to know about the book that Raju had already received the book Mani had told her. She was angry as to why Raju had hidden the book. She said if Marco was rude to her, it was her fault any other person would have throttled her.
Raju tells Velan that he was unhappy with Rosie’s changed behaviour. He suggested to go on a holiday. At this Rosie giggled she said her life was like the bulls yoked together to an oil crusher. They go round and round without a beginning or an end.
She told Raju that now dancing made her feel like a monkey. ‘dancing’ made her sick. A letter came from Marco addressed to Rosie. The letter directed that the signature of Rosie was needed for the release of a box of jewellery in the safe custody of the bank.
Raju made another mistake. He built another misery for himself.
Raju was more than happy. His dream knew no bounds that the parcel would make them richer. He hid the letter in his drink casket. On the other hand, Raju was thinking about why Marco had sent the letter. Was Marco making a trap? Or was it Marco’s generosity?
Raju feared that she would again start saying “Marco was a noble man a loving husband” To avoid all this, he practised Rosie's signature. He signed the form and posted it then he waited for the parcel but the parcel didn’t come. What came was the police, in search of him.
One evening, when the function for the maternity home was going on, the police superintendent came. They had come to arrest Raju. Marco had charged him with forgery. He was asked, “Did you sign any recent document for a lady?” Raju asked how that could be a forgery. The policemen said for the time being he had to go. Raju realized the seriousness of the situation. He asked the policeman to wait till the function was over.
After the function back home, Raju related everything to Rosie. She listened like a stone pillar. “Raju thought she would break down but no she merely said, “This is karma. What can we do?”
Rosie asked the officer if anything could be done. He said, nothing could be done Raju had to go. Here the novelist seems to signify that the misdeeds of Raju was the cause of her downfall. Here we find the elements of the picaresque.
Raju was in the lockup for three days. They had no money. Somehow ten thousand was arranged. Raju got his bail coming back up from the lockup, their lifestyle changed no visitors came. They didn’t want to be in touch with the criminals.
Now Rosie managed her own affairs. She curtailed her expenses. Raju did not like all was he who got her the name and fame. It was he who had relieved her from Marco.
Rosie said, she would stop dancing and go back to her husband. To this, Marco laughed and was sure that Marco would not accept her. Rosie was if she stopped dancing.
Their conversations continued. Raju was saying bitter things. She said, it would be with their milk both together would take sips as if they were on holiday trips.
Raju realized that he should not have such bitter things. He tried to console her and persuade her for dancing.
But Rosie was determined. She said she will help Raju but then after everything was settled, they would be separated. She asked him to forget her. That, “leaves me to live or die as I choose, that’s all”.
Rosie kept her word. She sold her jewellery & hired a lawyer from Madras and when there was a shortage of money, she had to perform to this Raju said, “You see, this is what I wanted you to do”.
All along Rosie took the help of Mani. Raju warned Mani, “Beware of snake woman” Raju accepted, that whatever Rosie was doing, it was for his sake. Moreover, she proved that she could do excellently well. She didn’t need the support of Marco or Raju.
Regards the lawyer Raju told Velan, “he had good command on law and justice.
So, we see instead of Justice, there is injustice. Raju continues by saying that the prosecution questioned Mani. Mani blurred out everything. He told them Raju was anxiously waiting for a parcel. In this way, the case continued for months. Rosie worked harder to earn but destiny had some other plans for him. He was sentenced for two years in jail.
His mother was at the court then. She cursed her son saying, he had brought shame to his family. That it would have been better if he has not survived that pneumonia. She blamed Rosie, she had ruined her son.
In jail Raju says he got well with the wardens. He saw the weaving sections. The prisoners listened to him. He gave inspiring speeches. They addressed him as ‘Vidhyadhar’ a teacher. He had developed a strong relationship with all the prison.
He worked in the Vegetable Garden behind the suprindent’s house. The superintendent was pleased with him. He transferred Raju to his office being in the office, he could read the papers. He came to know that Rosie was doing well. She was still in demand. Mani told him that Rosie had left Malgudi. She had gone to Madras.
Mani told him that Rosie had taken the book that Marco wrote. She had left all other things behind. Raju felt relieved that Rosie had not gone to Marco.
Raju was very happy in jail. Two years passed. Raju didn’t want to leave the jail. The jail was the happiest place in the world for Raju. He felt like crying while leaving the jail. In jail, he had become an ideal prisoner.
In this way the story of his past continued the whole night. Velan heard his narration, without saying a word. Raju thought Velan will react with disgust but surprisingly Velan still addressed him as ‘Swami’
And from here, the story comes to the present. The news of Raju’s fast spread all around the small town of Mangla came to fame. People came pouring for his ‘darshan’ of Raju. Each day the crowd increased. The place looked like a fair.
Raju had managed to save food. For the first two days of his, he had little food. After that, he went on full fast. Food haunted him but very soon he compromised. He made himself understand that there was no way out. He had to face reality, boldly with genuine efforts he tried to drive away the thought of food.
The novelist says that “for the first time he was making an earnest effort. “He realized that for the first time, this earnest effort was selfless. There was no personal interest. Now with this feeling in his heart and mind, he got a new strength. His prayers were earnest.
Being in the water his knees become numb. The crowd kept on coming. A special train was arranged for the ‘Bhakts’ to come to Mangla. But as the fast continued, Raju become weaker.
On the tenth day of the fast, doctors came to check on Raju. They helped him to stretch Raju on the mat. The doctors found Raju’s condition not very satisfactory. They were concerned. Swami’s life had to be saved. His life was valuable for the country.
On the eleventh day, the condition of Raju worsened. The doctors advised that his fasting needed to be stopped.
So, they sent a telegram saying “should break the fast immediately” The reply came fast saying, “to persuade Swami to resume fast later” Raju’s life had become important for the nation. It was to be saved at all costs.
But Raju insisted that he would carry his fasting forward. He said the prayers. He looked up at the mountains and said, “Velan it’s raining at the hills. I can feel it coming up under my feet, up my legs…”
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