Summary of Chapter 3

Nataraj invites a waste paper buyer into his attic in order to sell the old papers that are stored there. After examining the paper, the old Moslem paper buyer states, "most of the paper is too old and is completely brown." Nataraj and the paper buyer are in the midst of their business transaction when Vasu pulls up to the front of the store in his jeep.

The Moslem purchases the papers for twenty-five rupees. Vasu is interested in the attic and asks, in a demanding way, if he might stay there for a while until he finds a place of his own. Nataraj agrees, and Vasu begins moving in immediately, returning the following day with assistants, who sweep and clean the floors.

Sen, the journalist, and the poet avoid the press for a while after Vasu's move, but they return, only to be confronted by Vasu's pugilistic personality. Nataraj is at first frightened that the arguments between Sen and Vasu will result in violence, but later he realizes that this is unlikely. The poet avoids Vasu all together and shifts from the Queen Anne chair, Vasu's favorite, to a lesser one each time the taxidermist approaches.

One day, Vasu brings a friend, whom he introduces as a forestry officer, to the press. He explains that the forestry officer is interested in publishing a book of "Golden Thoughts," which is a hodgepodge of philosophic ideas collected by the officer. Nataraj, who does not want to take on the project, instructs the forestry officer to make final revisions on "Golden Thoughts" and return when he is finished. A week later, Vasu receives a license in the mail that permits him to shoot duck and deer. "The swine," Vasu responds, "they think I want to go sightseeing in the forests and permit me to shoot duck and deer - as if I cared!"