Father’s Help Full Story by R.K. Narayan

‘Swaminathan, where is your homework?’

‘I have not done any homework, sir,’ he said blandly.

There was a pause.

‘Why—headache?’ asked Samuel.

‘Yes, sir.’

‘All right, sit down.’ Swami sat down, wondering what had come over Samuel. The period came to an end, and Swami felt desolate. The last period for the day was again taken by Samuel. He came this time to teach them Indian History. The period began at 3.45 and ended at 4.30.

Swaminathan had sat through the previous periods thinking acutely. He could not devise any means of provoking Samuel. When the clock struck four, Swami felt desperate. Half an hour more. Samuel was reading the text, the portion describing Vasco da Gama’s arrival in India. The boys listened in half- languor. Swami suddenly asked at the top of his voice, ‘Why did not Columbus come to India, sir?’

‘He lost his way.’

‘I can’t believe it, it is unbelievable, sir.’

‘Why?’

‘Such a great man. Would he have not known the way?’

‘Don’t shout. I can hear you quite well.’

‘I am not shouting, sir, this is my ordinary voice, which God has given me. How can I help it?’

‘Shut up and sit down.’

Swaminathan sat down, feeling slightly happy at his success. The teacher threw a puzzled, suspicious glance at him and resumed his lessons.

His next chance occurred when Sankar of the first bench got up and asked, ‘Sir, was Vasco da Gama the very first person to come to India?’

Before the teacher could answer, Swami shouted from the back bench, ‘That’s what they say.’

The teacher and all the boys looked at Swami. The teacher was puzzled by Swami’s obtrusive behaviour today. ‘Swaminathan, you are shouting again.’

‘I am not shouting, sir. How can I help my voice, given by God?’ The school clock struck a quarter-hour.