The English Teacher by Narayan R. K

Author:Narayan, R. K. [Narayan, R. K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Classics, Historical
ISBN: 9780345803825
Goodreads: 15797504
Publisher: Vintage
Published: 1945-10-01T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOUR

The days had acquired a peculiar blankness and emptiness. The only relief was my child, spick and span and fresh, and mocking by her very carriage the world of elders. I dared not contemplate where I should have been but for her. So much so that I refused to allow her to be taken away by her grandparents and decided to keep her with me. It was a wonder to them how I was going to look after the girl – but our nature adapts itself to circumstances with wonderful speed. In three or four months I could give her a bath with expert hands, braid her hair passably, and wash and look after her clothes, and keep correct count of her jackets and skirts. I slipped into my double role with great expertness. It kept me very much alive to play both father and mother to her at the same time. My one aim in life now was to see that she did not feel the absence of her mother. To this end I concentrated my whole being. From morning till night this kept me busy. I had to keep her cheerful and keep myself cheerful too lest she should feel unhappy.

My mother could come and stay with me only for a couple of weeks occasionally, and whenever she was here, I could well imagine what it meant to my father, who could not get on for a day without her help. Of late he had become utterly helpless, nearly starved, and could not look after himself even for an hour if she was away. He did not know where his clothes were, when to go in for dinner, or what to ask for at dinner. When she came and stayed with me for a week or two at a time, it took months to bring him and his health under control again. My mother was very good and helped me ungrudgingly. But I could not accept her service indefinitely. ‘God has given me some novel situations in life. I shall live it out alone, face the problems alone, never drag in another to do the job for me …’ I found a peculiar satisfaction in making this resolve. And next time when my mother had to leave, I did not remonstrate with her as I used to do. She suggested: ‘Kittu, send the child with me. Why are you so stubborn?’ I was. She grew angry with me when I went to see her off. She sat in the bus. I and the little child stood by waiting for the bus to start. I made it a point to take the child wherever I went, except the college. ‘You are unpractical and stubborn,’ my mother persisted. ‘How are you going to look after her?’ ‘As if it were a big feat!’ I replied with bravado. ‘God intends me to learn these things and do them efficiently. I can’t shirk it …’ Tears gathered in my mother’s eyes.

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