An Astrologer’s Day Summary
An Astrologer’s Day Summary – R. K. Narayan’s short story “An Astrologer’s Day” follows a man posing as an astrologer who meets the man he once tried to kill. The omniscient third-person narrator begins by describing a typical day in the life of an astrologer. The astrologer displays his professional tools, which include Ancient Syrian writing and enigmatic cloth charts. In a crowded market with low-quality facilities, the astrologer sells prophecies. The dingy lights, which were frequently powered by gas, gave the astrologer a mysterious aura.
The narrator observes that the astrologer cannot predict the future, but he is skilled at reading people and telling them whatever they want to hear; in fact, it only takes him five minutes to determine whether the individual is dealing with love or money problems. He is aware that certain vague statements will tickle the ego of any individual: “Is there a female who dislikes you?” “You are not being justly rewarded for your work.” “People find you intimidating, though you are kind on the inside.” Because this is a service, the narrator passes no judgment on the astrologer’s profession. The narrator describes the young astrologer’s background.
One day, at the end of the day, the astrologer begins to pack up because the neighboring nuts stand has turned off the green light for the day; the green light was an important part of his act. A stranger approaches him and claims that he is not a true astrologer. The astrologer claims to charge only pennies per question. The astrologer negotiates a higher price, and the battle begins. While the astrologer begins his process, the stranger smokes. The astrologer concludes that it has been a long day and that the challenge is not worthwhile.
He invites the stranger to return, but the stranger physically restrains him and instructs the astrologer to answer yes or no: should the stranger continue with his current quest? The astrologer insists on a few incantations and muses on the man’s predicament. The astrologer then claims that the man was pushed into a well and left for dead. The astrologer then introduces himself as Guru Nayak and informs him that the man he seeks vengeance against died four months ago. Nayak is astounded; the astrologer could not have known his name. The astrologer simply responds, “I know a lot of things.” The astrologer advises Nayak not to travel south of this village.
According to the astrologer, he was crushed under a bus and died in a terrifying accident. After a nice dinner, the astrologer confesses to his wife that he was the one who pushed Nayak down the well and left him to die when he was a teenager. The two had been gambling and drinking; at the end, they got into a huge fight, and in a fit of rage, the astrologer stabbed Nayak with a knife and threw him down a well.