Father’s Help: Unit 1

About the Author

R. K. Narayan (1906-2001) is one of the leading figures of early Indian literature in English. His notable works include Malgudi Days and The Guide, for which he received the Sahitya Academy award in 1958.

Unit 1

Lying in bed, Swami realized with a shudder that it was Monday morning. It looked as though only a moment ago it was Friday. Already, Monday was here. He hoped he didn’t have to go to school.

At nine o’clock, Swaminathan wailed, “I have a headache.”

Mother generously suggested that Swami might stay at home. At 9:30, when he ought to have been in the school prayer hall, Swami was lying on the bench in Mother’s room.

Father asked him, “Have you no school today?”

“Headache,” Swami replied.

“Nonsense! Dress up and go.”

“Headache!”

“Loaf about less on Sundays and you will be without a headache on Monday.”

Swami knew how strict his father could be. So, he changed his tactics. “I can’t go so late to class.”

“You’ll have to. It is your own fault.”

“What will the teacher think if I go so late?”

“Tell him you had a headache and so are late.”

“He will scold me if I say so.”

“Will he? Let us see. What is his name?”

“Samuel.”

“Does he always scold the students?”

“He is a very angry man. He is especially angry with boys who come in late. I wouldn’t like to go late to Samuel’s class.”

“If he is so angry, why not tell your headmaster about it?”

“They say that even the headmaster is afraid of him.”

Word Nest

• shudder : shaking of body caused by fear

• loaf : move around in an idle manner