Re: Leela's Friend By Rk Narayan Pdf Download
Latia Shiels
Leela's Friend by R.K. Narayan: A Review
Leela's Friend is a short story by the renowned Indian writer R.K. Narayan, who is best known for his novels set in the fictional town of Malgudi. The story is part of the collection Malgudi Days, which was first published in 1943 and later adapted into a television series by the same name. Leela's Friend is a simple yet touching tale of friendship, trust, and innocence between a young girl and her servant.
Summary
The story revolves around Leela, a five-year-old girl who lives with her parents in a big house. Leela is lonely and bored, as her parents are busy with their work and social life. One day, a young man named Sidda comes to their house looking for work. He is hired as a gardener and a servant, and soon becomes Leela's friend and playmate. He entertains her with stories, songs, and games, and also helps her with her homework. Leela adores Sidda and treats him like an elder brother.
However, Sidda has a dark past that he hides from everyone. He is an ex-convict who has escaped from prison after serving time for theft. He is also illiterate and ignorant of many things. He is afraid of being caught by the police, but he also enjoys his new life with Leela and her family. He hopes to save enough money to buy a pair of silver anklets for Leela, as she has always wanted them.
One day, Leela's mother buys her a pair of gold anklets as a gift. She makes Sidda put them on Leela's feet, and warns him not to lose them. Leela is overjoyed with her new anklets, and shows them off to Sidda. She also asks him to teach her how to write her name in English. Sidda tries his best to write Leela on a slate, but he fails miserably. He tells Leela that he will learn it from the doctor who lives near the market, and then teach her.
The next day, Leela's mother notices that one of the anklets is missing from Leela's feet. She accuses Sidda of stealing it, and searches his belongings. She does not find the anklet, but she finds the slate with Leela's name written on it. She thinks that Sidda has written it as a proof of his theft, and calls the police. The police arrest Sidda and torture him to confess his crime. Sidda denies stealing the anklet, but he admits that he is an escaped prisoner.
Meanwhile, Leela is heartbroken by Sidda's arrest. She misses him terribly, and refuses to eat or sleep. She also remembers that she had taken off the anklet herself and thrown it into a pot of water lilies in the garden. She tells this to her parents, but they do not believe her. They think that she is lying to protect Sidda.
The story ends with a sad irony. The police find out that Sidda is innocent of stealing the anklet, but they do not release him because he is a fugitive. Leela's parents find the anklet in the pot of water lilies, but they do not apologize to Sidda or try to help him. They are relieved that their precious jewel is safe, but they do not care about their daughter's happiness or their servant's fate.
Themes
The story explores several themes such as friendship, innocence, class difference, prejudice, and justice. The friendship between Leela and Sidda is pure and genuine, as they share a bond of affection and trust that transcends their age and social status. They are both innocent and naive in their own ways, as they do not understand the harsh realities of the world around them. They are also both victims of injustice and cruelty, as they are mistreated by the society that judges them by their appearance and background.
The story also exposes the hypocrisy and selfishness of the upper-class people who exploit and oppress the lower-class people. Leela's parents are wealthy and educated, but they are also cold and indifferent to their daughter's needs and feelings. They hire Sidda as a cheap laborer and a babysitter, but they do not respect him as a human being. They are quick to accuse him of theft without any evidence or investigation, and they do not care about his suffering or innocence. They are more concerned about their reputation and property than their morality and humanity.
Conclusion
Leela's Friend is a classic example of R.K. Narayan's skill and style as a storyteller. He uses simple language and realistic characters to create a vivid and engaging story that captures the essence of Indian culture and society. He also uses humor and irony to highlight the contrast and conflict between the innocent and the corrupt, the rich and the poor, and the powerful and the powerless. The story is a poignant and powerful commentary on the social issues and problems that still plague India today.
If you are interested in reading Leela's Friend by R.K. Narayan, you can find it online in PDF format [here]. You can also watch the television adaptation of the story [here].
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