R. K. Narayan (10 October 1906 – 13 May 2001), (shortened from Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayanaswami) was an Indian author, whose works of fiction include a series of books about people and their interactions in an imagined town in India called Malgudi. He is credited with bringing Indian literature in English to the rest of the world. Swami and Friends, The Bachelor of Arts, The English Teacher and The Financial Expert are his popular works. The present extract is from Swami and Friends. His narratives highlight social context and provide a feel for his characters through everyday life. In a writing career that spanned over sixty years, Narayan received many awards and honours. These include the AC Benson Medal from the Royal Society of Literature and the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian award. He was also nominated to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian parliament.