Gatesman's Gift

 Gatesman’s gift

             This short story was written by the great writer R.K.Narayanan. In this story, he clearly explains how fear made the normal man mad. Govindh sign was the main character in this story. The story starts with one question by Govindh sigh “Please tell me what there is inside?””But without open it”

            The whole story was about why Govindh was asking such questions to others.  After the war between 1914-1918, he becomes a gatekeeper in England. He was more respectable with his job. Every day his duty was to sit on the stool at the entrance of the office, put salute in front of his boss, watch every people who entered the office and at the end of the day after all staffs went out he should close the main door. His duty was regularly going on. After 25 years of his service, it's hard for him to recognize the people who were near to him. So they said to ask him not to continue his job. Due to his humble behaviour, they approved his pension letter. Because in the private company they didn’t give pension to their staff. During his experience in that office, only two times he spoke with his boss. The first time when he was joined in that office, the second time it was talking about his pension plan. Finally, he too agreed to his pension. It was so happy for him. After his retirement, his life moves smoothly. Every month he went to the office and get a pension from them. His wife earned by doing households in a couple of houses. So this both money was so sufficient for them to lead their life peacefully.  During that time, one day the neighbour girl came to him with a little doll for repair. Not only he repair it but made new things off it. Frequently he makes more fascinating models out of clay and wood dust. Soon he was absorbed by everyone. Whatever he saw in the streets he had that ability to reflect into the model. That was a wonderful miniature that reflects the world. On his next pension, he carried the street scene miniature and handed it to the accountant. He asks him to hand over his model to the “sahib”.

            On the next pension date, he was very curious about the answer from his boss. It was regular for him to do this repeatedly. Every time he carried come miniature for his boss. At this time he carried the miniature of his office. It was so realistic. As usual, he hand over it to the accountant. Two days after, he got a registered letter from the postman. Govindh was so shocked because he thought that lawyers only sent the registered letter. At first, he refuses to buy the letter, but due to the postman compulsion, he buys it. And he was so sad about that letter. His wife asks the reason for his sadness. He said that his boss stopped his pension due to his inconvenience on the pension day, because when he entered the office the staff used to speak with him, so this may be the reason for this. And sometimes left, he said that the model of office may be disappointed the boss, so he may cancel his pension. His wife asks him to open the letter first. But due to his fear, he refused to do this. His wife said him to meet the office about the problem, that idea also refused by him. Every day he asks somebody to tell him “what is inside the registered letter?” everyone suggested opening it. But he didn’t have that courage to open it. This overthinking made him like a mad person. That fear makes him forget about his passion also. He doesn’t have the interest to make the clay miniature. He spoke with himself. frequently he said that “I’m mad, mad.” he was mentally so much upset.  Due to his outburst, one day he was caught by the police for his behaviour in the public. One day he was in the marketplace and have that unopened registered letter. The office accountant saw his behaviour and shocked. He asked Govindh what he was doing with the registered letter. He said that everyone treated him as mad due to this letter. The accountant said that it was a reward for his office miniature for him. The boss of the office gave a hundred rupees cheque for his miniature. And the accountant opened the letter. It was a great relief for the Gatesman. On the next pension day, the account asks for his next clay model. He replied, ”Nothing sir. Never again. It is no occupation for a sane man…”. So with this, he stopped his clay work.   

Moral of the story:

Overthinking leads to madness