The missing mail is an interesting story written by famous Indian author and short story writer. R.K Narayan. The story was originally published in 1947. The novel explore the theme of humankind, culture and integrity.
The Missing Mail By R.K Narayan Summary
Summary of The Missing Mail By R.K Narayan
R.K Narayan’s “The Missing Mail” story begins with protagonist, Thanappa, a honest postman from Malgudi who is devoted to his work. He lives in Malgudi town with his villagers.
Thanappa understand the value of human relationship and wherever he goes to give letter to people, he spend time with them. If there is bad news in letter for his post receiver, he help them and encourage them and if there is good news, he join them in happiness. In simple words, he support people in their hard time and join them in their happiness.
He talks with his post receiver about their children, mother and father. In summer, he goes to his villagers house and spend time with them. Thanppa has become a part of his villager’s life.
The story now features new character, Ramanujam, a clerk and best friend of Thanappa who lives in Vinayak Mudali Street. Ramanujam’s wife lives in village far away from him, where she has given a birth to beautiful daughter. One day, a postcard comes for Ramanujam, Thanappa reads his best friend’s postcard, and goes directly to Ramanujam.
He gives postcard to Ramanujam and ask for sweets from him. Thanappa congratulated Ramanujam for his new born daughter whose name is Kamakshi. Thanappa tells Ramanujam that his new born daughter name is Kamakshi who is very beautiful. As the year passes, Kamakshi grown up, become tall and beautiful. Ramanujam is worrying about Kamakshi’s marriage now.
One day, Thanappa brings Ramanujam’s father in law’s postcard to him. After reading postcard, Thanappa learn about the problem of his best friend, Ramanujam. According to Thanappa, problem wasn’t that big, he share his thoughts with him and gives him lots of suggestion about marriage.
Ramanujam’s father-in-law is asking for Kamakshi’s photos, maybe they want to find a suitable match for her. Ramanujam tells Thanappa that his father in laws wants to do a marriage of Kamakshi as early as possible and has saved a five thousand rupees for her marriage.
He thinks that I’m not worrying about my daughter’s marriage and that is why he has saved five thousand rupees for her. He want Kamakshi to marry as early as possible as according to them she is growing old day after day. Thanappa tells Ramanujam not to worry about old people as they worry for no reason. Ramanujam tells Thanappa that money is not enough to find a good match.
Kamakshi birthday is coming, she will be 17 years old and her grandfather worry is increasing day after day. Ramanujan is also worrying about his daughter, he has lost the hope of finding suitable match for her. He believes there is no good son-in-law left for his daughter. Thanappa tells Ramanujam not to worry as he would find good son-in-law for sure.
Thereafter, Thanappa tries to connect with boy in Delhi to whom he knows for many years. Thanappa suggest Ramanujam to connect with parents of boy who lives in Delhi. Ramanujam is very happy with the suggestion of Thanappa. Ramanujam write a letter to young man’s parents and gives him a proposal of marriage for his daughter. The Delhi’s boy parents replied back immediately and ask for the photos of Kamakshi.
Ramanujam is very happy with the interest of Delhi’s boy’s parents. He immediately send photographs of his daughter to Delhi’s boy’s parents. After seeing the photographs of Kamakshi, Delhi’s boy’s parents accepted the proposal of marriage and set marriage date in 3 months.
One week before the wedding, Thanappa received a letter for Ramanujam from his Uncle. He read Ramanujam’s letter and learns that his Uncle is no more. Thanappa decides to hide Ramanujam’s Uncle’s death from him as he knew if Ramanujam learns about it he would postponed his daughter’s wedding.
Thanappa don’t want Kamakshi’s marriage to be postponed as its is a happy time for their family. Thanappa don’t want Ramanujuma and Kamakshi to be sad. So he hides the news from Ramanujam but also knows can’t hide it forever.
The wedding of Kamakshi goes as planned, marriage was very joyful and everyone in their family enjoyed it to the fullest. Ramanujam and his family are very happy as Kamashi’s wedding went very well with the blessings of god.
After the wedding, Thanappa decides to tell Ramanujam about his Uncle death. As Thanappa tells Ramanujam about his Uncle death who died a week before the wedding of Kamakshi, he gets angry on him.
After some time, Ramanujam forgives him as he knows Thanappa did it for the welfare of his family. Ramanujam forgive Thanappa for hiding the news of his Uncle death from him. Ramanujam is happy for his daughter’s marriage and Kamakshi is living happily with her husband. The story ends with Thanappa, who continue to do his job with honesty and integrity.
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