Summary
The sixth chapter begins with Jagan talking to his cousin. They discuss various minor subjects and then his cousin asks about Jagan's opinion of Mali's business plans. Jagan doesn't have much to say and his cousin concludes that he does not actually know what Mali is planning. The cousin gets satisfaction from Jagan's lack of information and draws out his explanation. He eventually recounts to Jagan a conversation that he had with Mali during a walk a week prior.
He tells Jagan that Mali intends to make story-writing machines. The cousin once again seems to unkindly enjoy Jagan's bewildered response to these events. When asked to elaborate what the machine actually is, Jagan's cousin simply tells him to talk to Mali. Jagan goes home and asks Grace if he can talk to Mali. Grace says Mali can talk in fifteen minutes, which offends Jagan as he is being treated like an employee in his own home. He thinks about leaving but then decides not to. Mali rings a bell, indicating that he is ready to talk.
Mali discusses his story-writing machine with Jagan. He says it will work based on four inputs: character, plot, climax, and the combination of the preceding three elements. He adds that this will allow India to rapidly produce many "modern" stories and catch up with the rapidly growing publishing industry in America. Mali talks more about publishing in America and Grace comes in to support him in the conversation. Mali says he requires a startup investment of fifteen thousand dollars. He says to his cousin that this is an unthinkably large amount of money.
Jagan puts off giving Mali a firm answer. Mali and Grace begin relentlessly pursuing Jagan during the day, asking him repeatedly if he has thought over Mali's proposal. He begins hiding from both of them, to avoid confrontation. He goes to the print shop and discovers that Mali has been making promotional materials for his business and has been putting Jagan's name on it as an investor, alongside Grace's and some of his friends'. People begin talking a great deal about Mali's business plans all over town.
Mali continues to press Jagan and Jagan says he simply does not have the money. Mali disputes this claim and Jagan says he is welcome to take over the sweetmeats business. Mali sharply rejects this offer, saying he has better things to do with his time. Insulted, Jagan gets up and quietly leaves. He tries to read Grace's unsmiling expression but cannot. He passes by a beggar in the street and tells him he cannot afford to give him money today, saying he is also poor. The beggar tells Jagan he should not say that. Later he talks with his cousin. He also gives some local boys sweetmeats for free. He tells his cousin he is welcome to talk to Mali, but not "on [his] behalf."
In the seventh chapter, Jagan reduces the price of the sweetmeats, resulting in the store becoming crowded. Jagan's cousin and the cooks are concerned by this sudden display of generosity and worry about how this business will continue and survive with lower prices. One day some men come to the shop and talk about Jagan's decision to reduce the prices. He talks about how he wants everyone to be able to enjoy his food.
A bearded man takes an interest in his comments and they talk at length. Eventually, he offers to take Jagan to a secluded temple in the forest where he once worked under a religious artist he refers to as "the master." Jagan is initially hesistant but decides to take him up on his offer. They agree to go the following day.
Summary
These two chapters are pivotal, as they bring the tension between Mali and Jagan to an apex in the form of Mali's demand for a business investment from Jagan. This moment marks the first instance in which Jagan does not go along with one of Mali's requests. He lacks the money to give him and is hurt by Mali's insulting comments about his work. Then, Jagan lowers the prices of his sweetmeats so that some local children can afford it. This section of the book therefore showcases Jagan's changing attitude towards money, as he questions its value and impact on the people around him.
This section also introduces Mali's story-writing machine and shows his absurd introduction of its capabilities. It becomes quickly apparent that he has no concrete idea of how it will work or be constructed, as his description is extremely vague. Here, the novel emphasizes Mali's lack of care and passion for the thing he allegedly wanted to turn into his career. Instead, it becomes clear that his only goal is to get rich quick, and that he has no real understanding or interest in writing professionally. Thus, the novel suggests through Mali's story-writing machine that Western capitalistic interests have reduced the relationship between reading and writing to a simple exchange of money, much like the relationship between Mali and Jagan. Narayan also seems to express hope here about the inability of a machine to replace real writers, as stories (like this novel) are much more complex than a collection of presets.
Mali's fixation on the idea of the machine is primarily driven by his desire for "progress" in India. He spends much of his time complaining about how slow he thinks things are in India and how much time he sees as wasted. He says that he believes his idea will allow India to catch up with the rapid output of the American publishing industry. The accuracy of his comments is somewhat suspect, as he never actually publishes anything in either country and seems to have little basis for what he thinks. The progress that he envisions this machine contributing to India, is actually just a contrived plot to get rich on a poorly formed idea. It is also, the novel makes clear, a way for Mali to reject his upbringing and his father in favor of another life and culture.
When Jagan makes a counteroffer and says that Mali can take over the shop to raise the money, for example, Mali scoffs at him. Mali simultaneously expects his father to provide him with the capital he needs to start his business, but has no interest in actually laboring for the money. Furthermore, Mali is not interested in working outside a Western cultural dynamic – that is, the novel suggests that Mali's rejection of Jagan's offer is as much connected to his rejection of Indian culture as it is to his inherent laziness and selfishness. Rather than earning an honest living or working a simple but lucrative job, Mali prefers the Western concept of mass production, as it relies on the work of others while those at the top benefit with little exertion.
When Jagan lowers the price of his goods, this choice signifies his changing attitude toward money and his desire to see money differently than his son. Jagan's decision to make his sweetmeats more affordable for all to enjoy serves as a foil to Mali's absurd and detached story-writing machine. This contrast suggests that Jagan has begun to let go of the notion that he must support his son at all costs, as he instead turns to helping those in the community who could benefit from his generosity.
