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R.K. Narayan
The story revolves around Mahendra, a young junior supervisor working for a firm that provides supervisors for construction sites such as factories, bridges, and dams. Mahendra's job involves constant relocation to various job sites as per the orders from his head office. He is a bachelor with simple needs, making him adaptable to different and often challenging conditions at these sites. However, Mahendra has one valuable asset - his cook and companion, Iswaran. Iswaran is devoted to Mahendra, accompanying him on every job assignment.
He not only cooks for Mahendra but also takes care of household chores, including washing clothes and engaging in late-night chats. Iswaran is a gifted storyteller, who can spin tales and anecdotes on various subjects. His narratives often incorporate elements of suspense and surprise, making him a source of entertainment for Mahendra, who enjoys listening to his stories.
What sets Iswaran apart is his extraordinary ability to procure fresh vegetables and ingredients in remote, desolate landscapes with no nearby shops. He consistently manages to prepare delicious dishes for Mahendra, which leaves his employer both impressed and satisfied. One day, Iswaran expresses a desire to cook something special for dinner on an auspicious day when tradition dictates preparing various delicacies for the spirits of ancestors.
Mahendra enjoys the special dinner, but Iswaran takes the opportunity to introduce a supernatural element to the story. He reveals that the area where their factory is located was once a burial ground, and human skulls and bones can still be found there. Iswaran goes on to claim that he has encountered ghosts, including a particularly horrifying one - a female ghost with a shrivelled face, matted hair, and a foetus in its arms. Skeptical, Mahendra dismisses these tales as mere products of Iswaran's imagination, advising him to seek medical attention. However, these stories leave a lingering unease in Mahendra, and he begins to avoid looking out of his window during full-moon nights, fearing he might see the ghost. One fateful night, Mahendra is awakened by a strange moan near his window.
He initially assumes it's a cat but soon realizes the sound is more unsettling. He musters the courage to look out and sees a dark, cloudy figure holding a bundle in the moonlight. Overwhelmed by fear, Mahendra retreats to his bed, convinced it's a trick of his imagination. The following morning, Iswaran greets Mahendra with his lunch and bag, casually mentioning that he heard the moaning from Mahendra's room. Iswaran gleefully reveals that Mahendra had seen the female ghost with a foetus the previous night. Terrified and shaken, Mahendra decides to quit his job and leave the haunted place without delay, no longer able to tolerate the eerie presence that had now become a reality to him.
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Message
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1. What is the main theme of the story "Iswaran the Storyteller"? |
2. Who is the protagonist of the story "Iswaran the Storyteller"? |
3. How does Iswaran entertain the narrator in the story? |
4. What is the significance of Iswaran's storytelling in the story? |
5. How does the character of Iswaran contribute to the overall message of the story? |
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