Chapter 3 Summary

In this chapter, the railway finally comes to Malgudi. In celebration, everyone in town is given the day off. A band played and many important men gave speeches lauding the arrival of progress. Raju's father's business continues to do well and his father invests in a "jutka" (a kind of taxi) and a horse to pull it. Raju's mother complains about her husband's expenditure, telling him that the animals they own are "sufficient bother" (page 28). Nevertheless, Raju's father ignores his wife's protestations and a groom is hired to care for the horse. The groom subsequently convinces Raju's father to be allowed to hire out the jutka and horse since the family does not use it very often. The groom agrees to pay for the horse's grain and promises Raju's father two rupees a day as a return on his investment. Raju's father consents...