Engine Trouble by R. K. Narayan

 

Engine Trouble is a funny short story written by R. K. Narayan published in the collection ‘An Astrologer’s Day and Other Stories’. The story revolves around the troubles and the resulting relief of a common man after winning a road engine as a lottery prize.

When the story begins a  Talkative Man buys a lottery ticket numbered 1005 and he was declared the winner that day and became the owner of the road engine.

.His friends congratulated him for the accomplishment, as it was indeed a great boon for him when it comes to his poor financial state. The showman agreed to keep the engine on the Gymkhana grounds till the end of their season. The man met the municipal authorities and the secretary of the club to sell it out but no one showed any interest. The municipality strictly ordered him to remove it from the ground otherwise they would charge him rent. His current financial position does not allow him to pay the rent. If it is necessary he needs to pledge his wife’s ornaments.

 

At last, the Talkative Man decided to shift it from its place with the assistance of the local Hindu priest of the temple. The priest offered him services of his temple elephant. He engaged fifty coolies to push if from behind and a dismissed bus driver to steer it. He decided to put it in the field of his friend. A huge crowd were gathered to watch the scene. The road engine came out of the Gymkhana ground, but they could not control it properly and moved straight into the opposite compound wall, ended in total destruction. It had completely destroyed a major portion of the wall. The owner of the compound wall slapped him in the face and the police came and arrested him.

When he was released from the lock up, he found several consequences awaiting him. He had to build up the compound wall, to pay wages of fifty coolies, medical treatment of the knee of the temple elephant and above all to move the engine out of its present place. The man was in great trouble. Moreover, his wife threatened him to leave his house.

At this point, an unexpected relief came from a Swamiji. He wished to perform an unimaginable or magical act. He plans to move the road engine by their own physical effort. As they practice Yoga which enables them to fulfil anything. His assistant was rigorously trained to move any kind of heavy materials. The Talkative Man was pleased and decided to lend him the engine. People again gathered to watch the Yogic feats of Swamiji. But the magistrate issued an order prohibiting Swamiji to do it inside their jurisdiction. The Swamiji got angry and went away in great rage.

Finally nature came to rescue him in a quite unpredictable manner.

An earthquake burst out and moved the engine from its place and fitted in a disused well like a cork. The owner of the well agreed to pay expenses of the engine. He agreed to withdraw all complaints and charges against him. Thus, the Talkative Man finally got rid of it.

The story is highly engaging with its humorous outlook. And it also inspired many movies in different languages. Narayan is blessed with the ability to great humours from the tiny incidents of real life.