An Astrologer's Day

R. K. Narayan's short tale 'An Astrologer's Day' is a thriller and suspense story about a single day in the life of an ordinary astrologer who cleverly tries to fool people to escape his guilt. The story not only exposes the fraudulent astrologer but also the foolish and superstitious individuals who contact him. His day begins normally but finishes unexpectedly. When he is preparing to close his business, he meets a rogue character named Guru Nayak, who is from the astrologer's past. As readers, we are surprised to learn near the conclusion that Guru Nayak and the astrologer both come from the same towns. They were formerly close friends, but they disagreed one day. As a result, both were in terrible company and engaged in a fight. The astrologer attempted to kill Guru Nayak by assaulting him with a knife, and after Guru Nayak fainted, he threw him into a nearby well.

Fortunately, a passerby rescued Guru Nayak. The astrologer abandoned his native village and became an astrologer. As a result, he unexpectedly confronts his history while handling the circumstances wisely.

The astrologer appears to find comfort in the surrounding gloom. The arrival of Guru Nayak on the scene brings an unexpected twist to the tale. His queries gradually reveal the enigma lurking in the shadows. Guru Nayak tests the astrologer's knowledge. He refuses to go without receiving a satisfactory answer to his questions.

However, the astrologer, who is at his wit's end, decides to confront the situation. He demonstrates precise knowledge of Guru Nayak's past and successfully convinces him. In answering Guru Nayak's query, the astrologer not only fooled him but also protected himself from his fate. The author skillfully creates a sense of suspense and irony in the plot. The anecdote demonstrates how appearances are frequently deceptive. It depicts the humorous astrologer's confrontation and escapes from his erstwhile adversary.

Some Important Questions

1. Analyze the conflicts in “An Astrologer’s Day.” Explain how the conflicts are resolved and what they reveal about the characters involved in the story.

ans: Conflicts emerge in the plot when a stranger comes on the site as an astrologer's client seeking consultation. The astrologer is gathering his belongings and prepares to call him one day. The visitor challenges the astrologer to give detailed answers to his inquiries. As the stranger lights his cheroot, he notices a look on his face and decides to tell him something that will please him. The stranger is astonished to learn about his prior life from the astrologer and agrees to abandon his search for his opponent, who was declared to have been crushed under a truck. The astrologer protects his safety and security in the future.

2. Suspense is the feeling of anticipation you may have as you read. In this story, what details contributed to your feelings of suspense and surprise? Explain.

ans: This narrative offers a good balance of suspense and surprise. Here, suspense is built about the astrologer's personal and former lives. The reader is informed that he was not meant to be an astrologer. He left his village without any prior plans. Readers are also informed that astrology is not his family business. This piques the reader's interest in understanding why he violated the ancestral cycle and was compelled to leave his home abruptly. The suspense continues with the astrologer's encounter with the stranger. The astrologer notices the stranger's face in the flash of light caused by the matchstick and promptly declines to accept the stranger's challenge. At the end of the story, viewers are astonished to learn that the astrologer was the one who stabbed the stranger and left him for dead when inebriated during one of his younger years.

3. Description helps readers visualize what is happening in a story. What details and techniques does the author use to describe the astrologer?

ans: The astrologer is an outstanding figure. He uses his intelligence to create a new personality and live in a densely packed urban setting. The astrologer lives on his wits. Despite his lack of mystical knowledge, he knows how to put on a show for passersby. He must sit for long hours to earn enough money to support himself and his family daily. He is not only intelligent but also courageous and dedicated. When he is dealing with Guru Nayak and his life is in peril, he continues to bargain for money. He brings every single Anna home to his wife so she can buy groceries for the family. He’s a devoted husband and father.

The story is told in the third person omniscient. The usage of dialogue throughout the story serves to provide numerous points of view while maintaining the narrator's overall authority. The story takes place in Town Hall Park in the late evening.