An Astrologer's Day
The first story follows an unqualified astrologer. The reader learns he was forced to do the job in order to escape poverty and the consequences of an unknown event. People in the town believe his predictions and view him as very scholarly. One day, the astrologer meets a man he thought he had killed many years ago, as he had stabbed him and left him to die. The man does not recognize him. He returns home to his wife and recounts the miraculous event to her.
The Missing Man
This story describes Thannappa the mail carrier. He is well-liked by the people whose mail he delivers. He is particularly good friends with Ramaujam, an employee of the Revenue Department office. Ramaujam's daughter is about to be married and the details of the wedding have proven challenging to nail down. In an effort not to distract him from the wedding plans, Thannappa does not deliver a postcard informing Ramaujam of his father's death.
The Doctor's Word
This story is about Dr. Raman, a physician with a very blunt bedside manner. He discovers his friend is very sick and is put in the difficult position of either telling the truth about his dire condition or lying. He tells his friend he will be fine and, shockingly, the next day he recovers miraculously.
Gateman's Gift
This story depicts Govind Singh, a gatekeeper and security guard. Following his retirement, he takes up the hobby of making miniature clay models and gives them to the office accountant each time he picks up his pension. Eventually he receives a letter, which he is too nervous to open. After acting increasingly erratically, he discovers, from the accountant himself, that it was just payment, and compliments, for the figurines. He foresakes his hobby, saying it is not the work of a sane man.
The Blind Dog
This is the story of a blind beggar who catches a dog. He uses the dog as a guide through the streets and is often mean to it. Still, the dog proves to be extremely loyal and always returns, even after running away.
Fellow Feeling
This story is about a Tamil Brahmin named Rajam Iyer. He is traveling by train and intervenes when he sees a passenger abusing another passenger. He threatens the bullying man and the man flees.
The Tiger's Claw
The Talkative Man, a character who appears throughout the book, spins an elaborate tale about his fight with a tiger in which he emerges victorious.
Iswaran
Iswaran is a boy who has failed his intermediate exams multiple times. He takes it again and feels full of despair that he has failed, considering suicide. He is elated to discover he has passed. Sadly, he accidentally drowns in a nearby river that same night.
Such Perfection
In this story, a sculptor named Soma labors over a sculpture of the god Nataraja. It is so perfect that he is told to break off a toe, as it is too overwhelming otherwise. He refuses and disaster strikes. A falling tree crushes his home and breaks off a toe from the statue. He never picks up his tools again.
Father's Help
This is the story of a young man named Swami who tries to get out of going to school by saying his teacher is very cruel. His father writes an angry letter to the school that will likely get Samuel fired. Swami tries to provoke him into beating him, but he only gets lightly caned. Unable to deliver the letter, Swami is told by his father that he deserves a mean teacher.
The Snake Song
The Talkative Man recounts the story of why he stopped playing music.
Engine Trouble
The Talkative Man describes an instance in which he won a road engine (steam-powered tractor) and the significant inconvenience it caused him. The story ends with the tractor being stuck in a well of dirty water, which he says was the most positive outcome of the story.
Forty-Five A Month
This story recounts how a young girl named Shanta waits for her father to return home. At the same time, it describes him waiting in his office, frustrated by the fact that he is unable to leave for home. He almost quits but then discovers he is receiving a small raise. When he gets home, Shanta is fast asleep.
Out of Business
This story depicts the struggle of a man named Rama Rao to financially recover from the closure of his gramophone business. He begins to play a local crossword game in the hope of winning money, but discovers his answers were very wrong. He attempts to kill himself by laying his head down on train tracks but is spared by a massive train delay. He returns home, newly grateful for his life.
In this story, a family gets a dog to frighten burglars, but the dog is too friendly. They name him Attila, after the famous warlord, Atilla the Hun. The dog inadvertently foils a burglary by cheerfully following a thief around until he trips over him.
The Axe
The story is about Velan, a man who works as a gardener for many years and develops an attachment to the trees on his employer's estate. Many years go by and the estate is sold. Much to his dismay, the trees are cut down.
Lawley Road
After a surge of nationalism, multiple streets are renamed after Indian historical figures and places, replacing the imperialist legacy of the British names they had before. This inspires the townspeople to seek the removal of a statue of a man named Sir Frederick Lawley, as they believe he was likely a tyrant. The Talkative Man removes the statue after no one else offers, and takes it to his home. A historical society then determines that the Lawley to whom the statue was dedicated was actually a very just and kind man who fought for better living conditions for the community. The public then demands that the Talkative Man return the statue. The Chairman requires him to do so, but pays him for the statue and designates his house as a museum.
The Trail of the Green Blazer
In this story, a pickpocket is hit with terrible remorse when he steals a man's purse and discovers a balloon for a child in it. He attempts to put it back but is caught and punished, as the crowd thinks he is trying to steal the purse.
The Martyr's Corner
This story describes the life of a vendor who sells food on a particular street corner. A riot breaks out one day and the man is forced to move his operation over, as the spot he used to sell at becomes the designated site of martyrdom for a fallen man.
Wife's Holiday
A desperate man, Kannan, tries to steal money from his wife and child. They arrive home and he feels ashamed of his behavior.
A Shadow
A young boy wants his mother to see a film his deceased father starred in. He finds it enthralling, but she refuses to go, as she knows she will find it too upsetting. Eventually, she goes with him, but, feeling overwhelmed, faints in the theater.
A Willing Slave
A child-like servant named Ayah takes care of a girl named Radha. One day he husband comes to her employer's home and takes her away.
Leela's Friend
In this story, Sidda, a servant, spends a great deal of time with Leela, the daughter of the family she works for. She is accused of stealing Leela's gold chain and is arrested. However, Leela's mother later finds the chain in a pot on the stove in the kitchen.
A Mother and Son
This story describes a mother and son bickering about marriage. The son goes out for a walk and the mother grows increasingly concerned about his absence. In a panic, she goes out and discovers he is just sleeping on a park bench.
Naga
A snake charmer, Rama, remembers how his father abandoned him. He and his father used to do street performances. They then obtained and trained a monkey, but then later his father left him, and moved in with a woman. Lonely and impoverished, Rama tries to release his snake, Naga, but it refuses to abandon him.
Selvi
A musician named Selvi has her entire personal life managed by her arrogant husband Mohan. This situation occurs for years, until Selvi's mother dies and she separates from him, regaining control of her life.
Second Opinion
In this lengthier story, the narrator recounts how his mother tried to convince him to marry the daughter of an influential friend of their family. He finds her request irritating and rejects her efforts. He is primarily focused on his studies. However, he discovers that his mother has actually been very ill for a long time and reassesses the reason for her wanting him to get married. Feeling guilty, he tells her he will consider her request. However, after getting a second opinion, he learns that she is not dying. He grows distraught about his hasty decision.
The Cat Within
A shopkeeper tries to get rid of a demonic cat in his store. He calls on the help of an exorcist, who ends up making him confess to the ways he has wronged others. After the man admits his wrongdoing, the cat leaves.
The Edge
A knife sharpener named Ranga lives a frustrating life in which he quarrels with his wife, who is constantly picking at their daughters. One day, he gets a ride with a couple who tells him about an opportunity to win money. He ends up sleeping in a field and then being arrested. He realizes he is going to be sterilized and flees.
God and the Cobbler
A hippie and a cobbler have a philosophical conversation about life.
Hungry Child
A man named Raman takes care of a lost child at a fair, while reflecting on his unhappiness at not being married or having a child. The boy's parents reunite with him and scold him.
Emden
An elderly man recalls his fearsome past as a corrupt government official. While trying to destroy some old papers, he ends up being compelled to revisit an old street. A dog takes his cane, and he is left in that area, realizing that everyone from his past is gone.
