Telegram on the Table
-Parashu Pradhan
Literal Comprehension
Krishna had come to the city from the village. He worked as a guide for tourists. All the day, all the days he was busy explaining the entire history of the country to the tourist and answering their question, He had a dream of going to America following a tourist girl. He always used to come late at night in his room from hotel being tired. A telegram had been lying on the table for weeks. There was a message that his wife had died previous day. But the message of his wife’s death did not touch him at all. The telegram should have made him weep. He should have felt regret. He should have fasted for some days. But he didn’t do any anything. The telegram should have affected him. But he was not sad and nothing touches him. He was happy dreaming of America.
His living room was bad. He paid high rent but there was no facility. If he could not get up early in the morning, he would not get water. He wanted to move somewhere else. And he could invite Miss pandey from travel service for dinner. His best friend from his village, who was also in the city, knew about the tragic event and gave him sympathy. But the words of sympathy did not touch him at all. But one night, he could not sleep. He switched the light on and went to the table and read the telegram again. The message touched him. He regretted because he had become heartless like a stone. He got angry with himself, tore the telegram into pieces and cried for a long time. Krishna was an ambitious boy.
He came to Kathmandu leaving his parents wife and village. He had a colorful dream about learning English. Of course, he learnt English and worked as tourist guide. He spent 10 years without going home. He wanted to forget his village and family. He only lost himself in the thought of going to a foreign land. He dreamed of following an American girl who would take him to her country and he would enjoy with her there. He totally left the real track of his life. He did not care about his beautiful village and dear parents and wife. Probably, he remembered the good deeds of his wife and his stone heart melted and flood of tears came from his eyes because of his wife's memory. Suddenly, he became angry with the death and began to cry. At last he returned to the real life and the separation of his wife gave him great grief.
Interpretation
The story may be trying to say that a person can’t be happy forgetting his village and dearest relatives. He has to regret in the future like Krishna. This story tried to show the picture of the present Nepalese society. How the young generation is being attracted by America. They are ready to abandon anything for America. Nepalese people are made senseless and heartless by the so-called modern thinking and way of living.
This story may be trying to tell us that people who have come to the town from the village want to forget their beautiful village, loving family and home. They dream of going to a foreign country to earn more money, marry a foreigner and live happily. They never want to return home. If they are married in the village, they feel their wives burden on their shoulders. The death of their wives gives them pleasure. Life in the city is very artificial. People easily leave the way of reality and sink into the beautiful dream of a comfortable life.
Critical Thinking
The story is realistic, heart touching, beautiful and interesting. This does not mean that it is flawless. There are many things to be understood, realized, analyzed and applied in our everyday life. How can a husband totally be untouched by his wife’s deaths? The writer had not given any clue that they had a bad conjugal life. So, why Krishna did not think about his wife and family? These all questions are looking for right answers.
Needless to, people become selfish after they come to the town. But can a husband forget his wife because of his colourful dream? Isn't a husband touched by the death of his wife? Should a man forget his past completely? Isn't worldly life momentary? Are migrated people to the town really stone hearted? Does a married man really gain natural love and respect from his second wife? So, I don't totally agree with the writer. The story does not apply to everyone's life. This is the case of particular people.
Assimilation
I got cursory reading first and second I gave a depth reading it. I found many things in this story to be applied, realized in our everyday life. I came to realize how people vanish in the city. They leave their village and family for a better future. But when they reach to city, they are enchanted by modernity and slowly they start forgetting their family. They don’t come to meet their family in the village for a long time.
This story took me back to a selfish boy who lives in Kathmandu at this time. Actually, he is from a remote village of Nepal. Some years ago, he lived with his family happily. He was well to do in the village but he left his home and family to earn more money in Kathmandu. Kathmandu attracted him badly and he could not leave it.
He even forgot his family, village, friend s and culture. One day, he got a letter about his wife's serious illness. He was requested to bring her to Kathmandu for treatment. But he didn't care. After some weeks he got telegram about her death. That day some changes could be seen on his face. Tears were running down on his face continuously probably he remembered his happy past life with his wife.