Second Night pg. 37-65

The second night 37- 65

Part1

The second later to the premier minister of china is about how Balram get’s his job as chauffeur.

It starts of with how much Balram could talk about himself and that he feels sentimental when he thinks of Mr. Ashok the man he killed. Mr. Ashok was a really kind and gentle to the people around him. Balram got to his house after a long trip.

I’ll start back in Laxmangarh when Balrams’ father was really sick. He split blood out of his mouth, that’s when Kishan and Balram took him across the river. Another rickshaw-puller on the other side who took us to a free government hospital, but no doctor was there. Balrams’ father died at six o’clock that day. Kishan’s marrige took place a month after the funeral.

It was one of the good marriages because they were able to screw the girl’s family. Balrams’ family got five thousand rupees cash, a Hero bicycle and a thick gold necklace for Kishan. Two weeks after the marriage Balram, Dilip and Kishan packed of to leave for Dhanbad. On the way to bigger cities they go throw half-baked cities for half-baked people. They started of working in a tea shop but Balram overheared conversations and figured out he could earn way more money as a driver. That’s when he started to try learning how to drive.

With his grandmothers permission he spent three hundred rupees on an old driver to teach him. For each lesson driving he had to work under the car. In the end the old driver taught him how to be a driver and not how to drive a car. They went to a brothel were he was able to choose between an American, western or Nepali woman. His first time.

Now he was trying to find a job by walking from house to house and house to house, two weeks until he finally came to Mr. Ashok’s house. At first it looked bad but he talked as long as someone, he figured out it was the stork, open the door. He talked about Laxmangarh and flattered him. Balram passed the driving test, when he got asked which caste he is in. They didn’t know because people in cities don’t really care so much. He wasn’t sure what to say but decided to tell the truth. His name is Halwai which means “sweet-maker” and those are in the bottom caste. They had only employees from the top caste so he got the job. Later Balram figured out that he was really lucky to get the job because Mr. Ashok just came back from America. Mukesh Sir made Balram a hard start and asked in Laxmangarh for information. That’s when he had the job save.

Finally he had a home, regular food and a uniform. He got 90 rupees a month the rest was for his family, like he promised. He told everyone he was a driver but actually he had to work in the house too. Cooking, cleaning, buying ‘English’ whiskey and he had to give the Stork a feet message. Normally the Storks’ sons are sitting down with whisky while Balram has to give the massage. The sons are completely different. Muskesh Sir was small, dark and ugly and married a homely wife which gained weight after having to children. He has his father’s mind which means the people around him have to work every minute.

Mr. Ashok had his father’s body, tall, handsome like a landlord’s son should be. He got married to a Christian woman in

America

which his father did not like at all.

Part2

Pg.53 “ “Halwai…” He turned to the small dark man. “What caste is that, top or bottom?” And I knew that my future depended on the answer to this question.

Pg. 54 “Now, the dark men – Mukesh Sir, brother of Mr. Ashok – did not know the answer – I told you that people in the cities know nothing much about the caste system, so the Stork turned to me and asked me directly. “Are you from a top caste or bottom caste, boy?””

I think it is really important to know that the cast system is no longer that influential in Indian’s cities. Every caste can work were he or she want to. I would say it is still really hard but it is possible and that’s what we have to see. It’s a good thing that the Untouchable cast is forbidden because it’s discrimination in my point of view. Just a few years ago it looked different. The cast system was really influential and every Hindu lived for the release of his soul. In the novel Balram takes the right turn by telling the truth about being in the bottom cast. I actually think the Stork and his son’s wouldn’t even care if he is in the bottom or top caste as long as he tells the truth. Mukesh Sir must call workers or friends in Laxmangarh for information about him because he just didn’t trust him. In the end everything is fine and Balram earns enough money to take care of himself and for giving it to his family like he promised.

Part 3