The Gateman’s Gift

• Writer: R.K. Narayan, an Indian writer

• Characters:
1. Govind Singh, ex-gateman
2. Accountant of the company ‘Engladia’
3. The General Manager of the company
4. Govind Singh’s wife
5. Ex-compounder
6. An assistant at the City X-ray Institute
7. A postman
8. A policeman

• A Short Plot summary: The ex-gateman Govind Singh makes clay models and gifts them to his former General Manager every month when he goes to receive his pension. The General Manager sends Govind Singh a registered letter one day appreciating his art work and gifting him Rs 100 as an encouragement to continue the work. But Govind Singh unnecessarily doubts that there might be some bad message for him from the General Manager, and in his fear doesn’t open the letter, but keeps worrying about the content of the letter, which ultimately drives him crazy, until, at last, the accountant finds him, opens the letter and reveals the content of it.

 • (I haven’t provided a detailed summary due to lack of time.)

• Theme: unfounded/unreasonable fear and doubt