Deceit
In "An Astrologer's Day" deceit is an important theme to remember. The main character of the story, the astrologer, only became one because he was poor and had nothing better to do. Although it is sad that he is short on cash, this does not mean that he can lie about his findings for the benefit of himself. Simply to please the public, he emitted false verdicts about the stars so that he could gain popularity. When you are doing something, you must do it in an honest way, even if it may dishonor yourself.
Making the Best Choice
In the story "The Missing Mail", Thannappa contemplates whether or not to give a sad letter to his friend. Eventually, he decides not to give it to him, even though he is tied to law by his position as a postal assistant. Was this the right thing to do? Should knowledge be withheld from someone if it may hurt them? This choice is very hard to make, but coming to a definitive conclusion is important, and you should not linger on the "if's" and "maybe's". Sometimes the law isn't the best thing to follow, and that is why each person has a conscience to guide him or her in the right way to a final decision.
Emotional Therapy
In the story "The Doctor's Word", Doctor Raman does not believe that words can help in healing a patient. Evidently, by the end of the story, they can, but Raman does not want to believe that. He has believed his whole life that medical treatment is the only way to cure a patient. However, as highly emotional beings, people can sometimes be helped mentally through the reassuring words of others. Another theme of this story is accepting new things, as Dr. Raman does not want to admit that words actually helped to heal his patient.
