class-11th
chapter no-1
Section-C (lesson
for extensive study)
an astrologer’s day
(r.k.narayan)
DETAILED SUMMARY
OF THE STORY
An
astrologer carried on his job under a tree on a busy public road. He would
start his work at midday and continue till there was enough light from the
adjoining shops or vendors.
He
counselled people about their day-to-day problems. The astrologer knew nothing
of astrology or stars because he had never intended to be an astrologer in
life. He had to leave his village without telling anyone and could not rest
till the village had been left behind a few hundred miles.
Though knew
nothing of astrology, yet he was quite successful with his customers. He wore
such a dress that he at once attracted the eyes of others. His forehead was
marked with sacred ash and vermilion. He wore a saffron-coloured turban round
his head. This colour never failed to attract the people. The astrologer was
very tactful also. He always said things which pleased and astonished everyone.
He did his job through guesswork and through common understanding of human
psychology.
One day it had become quite dark and
the astrologer was preparing to bundle up. Her vendors had already left. Just then the
astrologer saw a man standing near him. He took him for a customer and invited
him to sit down. The astrologer started telling his usual Stuff but the man
stopped him at once. “Tell me something worthwhile ........," he said. The
astrologer felt offended, “I charge only three pies per question,” he said in a
rough voice. The man threw one anna before the astrologer and said that he
wanted to ask some questions. "If I prove you are bluffing, you must
return that anna to me with interest, he said. At this, the astrologer said to
him, “If you find my answers satisfactory, will you give me five rupees?"
After a long argument, it was decided that the man would give the astrologer
eight annas if his answers were satisfactory. And if the answers were
wrong, the astrologer would have to return twice as much.
Then the astrologer sent up a prayer to heaven as usual. In the meanwhile, the man lit a cheroot for himself. The astrologer had
a glimpse of his face by the match light. He began to feel very uncomfortable.
“Here take your anna back. I am not used to such challenges," said the
astrologer. But the man held on the astrologer's wrist and said that he could
not go back on the pact that had been made.
The astrologer shivered in his grip and said, “Leave me today. I will
speak to you tomorrow." But the
man didn't let him go and asked him to answer his question. He asked the
astrologer if he would succeed in his present search or not. “Answer this and
go. Otherwise I will not let you go till you disgorge all your coins,"
said the man. At this the astrologer said that if what he said was
satisfactory, he would charge one rupee. “Otherwise I will not open my mouth
and you may do what you like,” he said. The man agreed after a lot of haggling.
Then the astrologer said, "You were left for dead. Am I right?”
"Ah, tell me more."
A knife has passed through you once?” said the astrologer. "Good
fellow!” He bared his chest to show the scar. "What else?”
And then you were pushed into a well nearby in the field. You were left
for dead."
I should have been dead if some passer-by had not chanced to peep into
the well,” exclaimed the other. “When shall I get at him?" he asked,
clenching his fist.
The astrologer told him that the man, who had stabbed him, had been
under a lorry. Then he addressed the man by his name, Guru Nayak. He told him
that he knew everything about him. He added that
there was once again a grave danger to his life. So he must go back to his
village at once and never travel southward. The astrologer took out a pinch of
sacred ash and gave it to the man, “Rub it on your forehead and go home.” The
man gave the astrologer a handful of coins and went away satisfied.
It was nearly midnight when the
astrologer reached home. He told his wife how he had been relieved of a
great burden. He said to her, “I thought I had the blood of a man on my hands
all these years. That was the reason why I ran away from home, settled here and
married you. He is alive!”
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