A Tiger for Malgudi Read Online Free PDF Page B

letters loomed the sign GRAND MALGUDI CIRCUS. He had originally intended to name it after the Irishman or Dadhaji, but the municipal chairman and members showed some reluctance in their attitude until he assured them that he was putting Malgudi on the world map by naming it Grand Malgudi Circus. ‘Just to show my roots are here, although I must confess that I had thought of perpetuating my benefactors’ names originally. Hereafter Malgudi will be the home for hundreds of animals and scores of acrobats and performers of all kinds. You will be proud of it ...’His talk was captivating. He liberally dispensed money to smooth out the passage of all kinds of transactions and favours, and in a short while Malgudi became more famous for its circus than for its mountains and river, and Captain was viewed as the wonder man who had transformed the town.
    It was the result of hard work. Captain rose at five in the morning and went on a tour of inspection. Elephants and camels and giraffes were at the eastern end of the camp. He went up there first with his chief executive Anand, who had been with him since his Poona days. He started with the camels at one end, keeping in mind Dadhaji’s injunction, ‘You must watch the condition of every animal and anticipate how long it will last, and get an immediate replacement if one dies. Keep an eye on the sources, if you are not to face embarrassment in public. The show never halts because of one animal.’He could judge their health and welfare by observing their stance and attitude at five in the morning. Animals, in his view, looked their brightest at that hour if they were in good health. The animals stirred and gave some indication of recognizing his presence when he approached, and that pleased him. He passed on from animal to animal, checking their welfare; if they were sick, he sent Anand to wake up the veterinarian immediately. Starting with camels, he passed on to elephants, horses and lastly to the minor performing creatures, and by the time he reached his office he would have understood the condition of every creature under his control. He sat at his desk and noted down his observations and suggestions or criticized the state of cleanliness of cages or surroundings and indicated punishments for erring assistants. When he finished his job at the table, his wife would ring the bell for breakfast.
    ‘All our animals from the performing mongoose to the tusker are in excellent condition,’he boasted at breakfast.
    ‘Yes,’said his wife,‘they are tended better than your family.’
    ‘You must say something unpleasant - otherwise you are never happy.’
    ‘Your beloved animals may also have something to say if they could speak...’
    ‘What really is your grouse? I never understand. You demanded that the boys should be sent to Lovedale School; that I have done, swallowing my own ideas at such a cost!’
    ‘Good thing too - otherwise you would have made lion-tamers of them as well.’
    ‘I don’t know why you say such things, knowing full well where the money comes from, so much needed for you and your damned family at Madras - all hangers-on, none of them will do anything except sit back and wait for my cheque every month ... If you wish to see them get on, why don’t you ask one of your brothers to come and type my correspondence at least?’
    ‘Isn’t enough that I slave for you? You want the entire “damned” family at your beck and call? I am tired of everything, my boy. As soon as you get someone to lead your trapeze team, I’ll retire and go back to Madras. I’m tired of jumping and swinging and the perpetual tent-living.’When she became too trying, Captain would abruptly leave the table. When she saw him rise, she felt uneasy and said as if nothing had happened, ‘Your coffee. Want more milk, sugar?’He never answered, but just emptied the cup at one gulp and walked out of the tent. She kept looking after him and muttered, ‘He has lost all sense of humour,