Barrister Parvateesam

He said, “I’ll write down the address and all the details about how to get there for you. Wait for me until half-past three. If I still haven’t arrived by then, just follow the instructions I’ve written. Don’t worry, you won’t get lost anywhere,” and with that, he wrote everything down on a piece of paper, even drawing a little map for me. Poor fellow. As I was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something important.

“Oh, by the way, I almost forgot to tell you one more thing. As soon as we arrive there, either the servant or the lady of the house, or after the usual greetings, they’ll ask, ‘Would you like to have a wash and brush up?’ That means, if you feel the need to wash your face and hands, comb your hair, or freshen up, you can say yes. If not, just say ‘No, thank you,’ and that’s enough. Don’t forget this—keep it in mind,” he said.

I agreed, set off for home, had dinner, chatted a bit with our landlady about this and that, studied for a while, and then went to bed.

The next day, I finished my meal, studies, and everything else by three o’clock, washed my face and so on, and sat waiting for Raju to arrive. But he didn’t show up. Even half-past three passed. Fearing that if I delayed any longer I might not reach there on time, I put the note Raju had written into my pocket and set out. I took the tram for part of the way, and for the last stretch, I had to walk through a lane as described in the directions.

Without any trouble, and without having to ask anyone, I managed to find the lane. When I was about a furlong from their house, I remembered how, after arriving, they would ask me something, and I would have to go to their bathroom. Thinking there was no need for all that, and since the lane was deserted and dusk was already falling, I relieved myself by the roadside and then proceeded to their house.

I was sure it was the right house, so I pulled the chain. The servant came and opened the door.

After greeting me, he took my coat and hat and hung them on the stand in the hall. As he was leading me inside, Raju hurried in, almost running. The two of us went into the hall together.

The lady of the house, her face beaming with joy, was talking to someone but came over to us, greeted Raju, inquired about his well-being, and then, pointing at me, asked, “Is this gentleman your new friend?” Raju replied yes, introduced me by name.

She looked at me with a gentle smile, a hint of mischief in her eyes, shook my hand, and said, “Very pleased to meet you, Mr. Par... Ba... tisan. How do you do?”

The grandeur of the house, the people there, the beauty and