Question

Prepare a summary of the extract given. Give it a suitable title. You may use the following points:

"This is my birthday, sir," explained Gopal timidly. "Wish you many happy returns," said the director promptly and added, "What if it is your birthday?" "Rather a peculiar birthday," explained Gopal. "This is my forty-ninth birthday. Astrologers have often told me that I might not see this birthday, and if I lived to see this day I should have nothing more to worry about... I have lived in secret terror of this ‘day all my life. Whenever I saw my wife and children I used to be racked with the thought that I should probably be leaving them orphans. I came late today because we held some propitiatory rites at home for the planets, and we celebrated my survival this day with a feast. My astrologer has suggested that I do nothing unpleasant today, sir. I wish to treat it as a very auspicious day, sir." The director was impressed. He turned to his assistant, who always shadowed him, carrying a portfolio under his arm and commanded, ‘fetch the story-writer’. Presently he arrived, his lips red with the chewing of betel leaves. He was a successful story-writer who made a lot of money by dashing off plots for film people. He laughed aloud on hearing of the problem created by the actor. He was not the angry type to feel upset at contrary suggestions. He declared, 'Impossible to change the story. How can he refuse to die? I am busy. He turned on his heel and started out. At the door he stopped to add, "Anyway, send for our boss and tell him about it." The boss came running into the scene. He asked anxiously, "What is all this trouble about? What is it all about?" Gopal sat in his chair unmoving : he was not allowed to shift his position even slightly: continuity would be spoilt otherwise. He felt stuffy. The big lamp scorched his face. They all stood around and looked at him as if he were a freak. Their faces were blurred beyond the shadows. 'All of them are my Yamas,' Gopal thought. 'They are bent upon seeing me dead.'

(Points: Gopal's birthday – Astrologers' prediction – The director's impression – The boss – Gopal's thought.)

Answer 1

The Prediction

Gopal's 49th birthday was unusual as, according to his astrologer, everything would be appropriate if he lived through it. For him, it would be his last day in jeopardy. He, therefore, wished to avoid doing anything unpleasant on that day and treat it as an auspicious day. To his horror, though, he was supposed to die in the movie he was playing on that same day. This irony impressed the director, but he sought the boss's view. The superstitious Gopal was already dazed when the boss arrived and saw Yamas standing in front of him.