“An Astrologers’s Day” is an appropriate title for R. K.
Narayan’s short story, especially because this is a man who lives from day to day. He
never knows what is going to happen to him tomorrow, and he never knows how much money
he will be able to earn. It seems like a precarious existence, but he may be better off
than many of the people who live in India’s big cities. At least he has found a little
niche in an incredibly poor environment. Though he sees throngs of people passing by on
the path running through the Town Hall Park, and though curious spectators gather around
to watch his performance, the people have few coins to
spare.
…his
eyes sparkled with a sharp abnormal gleam which was really an outcome of a continual
searching look for customers, but which his simple clients took to be a prophetic light
and felt comforted.
On this
particular day he starts work “punctually at midday” and doesn’t get home until nearly
midnight. He has earned, at considerable risk, a little more than usual. His wife will
be able to buy just a little more than the bare necessities to keep the family alive for
another day. She tells him:
“I can buy some jiggery and coconut tomorrow. The
child has been asking for sweets for so many days now. I will prepare some nice stuff
for her.”
The astrologer is
philosophical. He doesn’t concern himself with what he might earn tomorrow. Tomorrow is
another day.
"…why think of it now? Time to sleep,” he said,
yawning, and stretched himself on the
pyol.
The title is also a
good one because the word "Astrologer's" piques our curiosity. People who represents
themselves as "psychics," "fortune tellers," "palm readers," and such, are always a
little intriguing, even though we are skeptical about them. We have lots of questions we
would like to have answered.
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