Summary
Starting off the third section, "Naga" is a story about a young boy who works as a snake charmer. He learns his trade from his father and they work together on the street. One day, they encounter a monkey. His father helps him train it and incorporate it into their act. Then, in a surprising turn of events, his father disappears, taking the monkey with him. The boy is left with only the snake. He tracks down his father and discovers that he is living with a woman and that he has chosen to abandon him. His father is unapologetic for his actions and will not return. The son goes back to snake-charming for money. Eventually, he decides to let the snake go, but after seeing it almost get eaten by a bird, he decides to keep it.
The story "Selvi" describes the marriage between a musician named Selvi and her husband Mohan. Selvi is extremely famous and celebrated, performing at prestigious concert venues all over the world. Mohan is very controlling and oversees every aspect of her life, from her schedule to her finances. He has been her manager for many years and eventually marries her. He frequently takes credit for her accomplishments and does not consider what she wants or feels. He uses her money to purchase a large home and various other luxuries. Selvi is largely uninterested in these things. People frequently try to flatter Mohan in an effort to get closer to Selvi.
One day, Mohan decides Selvi shouldn't see her mother so much, even though they are close. She curtails her visits and focuses on her performances. He feels satisfied with his ability to handle her business. Time passes and Selvi's mother dies. She is extremely upset and decides to return home. Mohan objects, but she stands up to him. He is taken aback by her refusal to listen to him. She remains firm in her decision and decides to extend her stay indefinitely. At the end of the story, he stands outside her window, alone, shouting at her.
The story "Second Opinion" depicts the relationship between a mother and son, Sambu, who narrates the story. The son is primarily focused on his studies and spends most of his day reading. At the beginning of the story he goes to visit a doctor and then returns home. At home, he finds his mother to be deeply irritating. She spends most of her time criticizing the narrator for sitting up in his room, or yelling at their servant, whom the narrator sympathizes with. She has recently suffered the loss of her husband.
He learns one day that she is trying to betroth him to the daughter of an influential friend. The narrator is angry that she did not consult him on the matter, and that he is not interested at all. He finds this out when the girl's father comes over for dinner and his mother is discussing the matter with him. They have an argument the next morning. He is upset with her lack of consideration, while she says all of his reading has not helped him pass any school examinations.
As the narrator is walking past the doctor's office, the doctor motions him inside. They talk, and the doctor reveals that the narrator's mother is gravely ill. This news causes the narrator to entirely reevaluate his mother's actions, as he now believes that she has only been trying to get him settled before she dies. He feels a tremendous sense of guilt. He returns home and tells her he would be happy to meet with the girl's father and that she should arrange for another visit.
Later, the narrator decides to get a second opinion about his mother's condition. They visit another doctor who says she will likely be fine. Distraught, the narrator wonders if he acted too hastily and is now filled with dread at the prospect of marrying the man's daughter. He talks dismissively about the marriage proposal with his mother. She begs him to still meet the man, bursting into tears.
Analysis
The stories in this part of the book revisit many of the earlier themes established earlier. In "Selvi," the theme of wealth features very prominently. Selvi's husband Mohan is very interested in spending lavishly, displaying the money earned by his wife as a means of asserting his influence and power. This theme is particularly highlighted when he purchases a large home. He expects everyone to be excited and impressed, but Selvi shows no response to the place, frustrating him. His actions demonstrate the way in which money functions as a means of emphasizing control, but rings hollow by the story's conclusion.
"Selvi" also addresses the theme of control. Mohan has control over every aspect of Selvi's life, going so far as to say she should not visit her mother so much. He views her success as a reflection on himself and enjoys people trying to gain his favor as a way to get closer to her. By involving himself in all of her choices, he feels that he deserves credit for her renown. This attitude crumbles entirely when she refuses to go along with him after her mother's death, choosing to stay in Malgudi instead of returning to a life of touring. Her final rejection of him and his manipulation reveals how empty these gestures were to begin with, as his power only extended as far as she allowed it to.
"Naga" explores the theme of loss. The boy at the center of the story is abandoned by his father, who takes the monkey they've been performing with and moves in with a woman. This cruel decision leaves the boy to fend for himself, relying solely on his street performance as a snake charmer. As his need for money grows more severe and his snake becomes sicker, he considers releasing the snake. He attempts to do so, but sees the snake nearly get eaten by a bird. He decides ultimately to keep it, and continue his work. This story highlights the emotional and financial impact of abandonment, showing the boy's terrible plight as he is left to fend for himself. While his father is still alive, his absence is almost made more painful by the fact that he chooses to leave his son behind.
"Second Opinion" offers a poignant look at familial obligation. The narrator, Sambu, initially resents his mother's insistence that he get married, but he quickly changes his mind when he discovers that she is very ill. He then feels as though he owes it to her to at least consider the offer of the man she has been speaking to about marrying his daughter. Where he first views her involvement in the matter as meddlesome and irritating, he then takes a softer view and sees it as her trying to make sure he is set in the world before she passes away.
The story also deals with perception and circumstance, in that the narrator changes his opinion multiple times. When he is unaware that his mother might be sick, he is irritated by her constant badgering. This shifts when he learns about her deteriorating condition from their doctor. He views her actions in an entirely new light, and feels embarrassed for being so harsh with her. However, his opinion shifts back slightly when he learns, from another doctor, that she is likely going to be just fine and that all of her test results appear normal. What these reversals reveal is the role of circumstance in the narrator's view of events. His mother's health entirely shapes how willing he is to marry the man's daughter and how sympathetically he feels about her involvement in his life. In this way, his point of view appears changeable to the point of being somewhat unfounded.
