Chapter One
I – Gustad Noble, a man with a history of accidents, was admired by friends and relatives. Dilnavaz, disliked this talk and would touch wood to make contact with her fingers. Miss Kutpitia threatened Gustad with being put in the hands of the police and questioned his milk production. The women anxiously purchased the sickly, watered-down white fluid. Dilnavaz, a woman with dark brown hair, waited for a milk ration card from the government office while Gustad praised their sacrifices.
Dilnavaz accepted Miss Kutpitia’s idiosyncrasies and offered advice. Gustad Noble, a young man, enjoyed the clatter and chatter around the Parsi Saint George milkman. One day, Gustad heard news on government-controlled All-India Radio, but it didn’t tempt him into irreverence. Unable to sleep, Gustad woke early and woke up in the morning, but Dilnavaz, expecting Gustad to be up first, slept peacefully until the clock closed.
II – Gustad recalls his childhood home and his furniture, recalling the store sign. He hesitates to write a letter to Major Bilimoria but waits until his dying day. Gustad finds Sohrab’s roll number on the entrance exam results and encourages him to pursue his passion in college and research. Dilnavaz fills water drums with water and air bubbles, but Gustad lets him sleep. In the back room, he finds a bed-with-the-door, which Sohrab named “bed-with-the-door” and now belongs to Roshan.
Gustad was deeply affected by the 1962 war with China. His father’s bookstore was destroyed, and his mother died. Gustad hoped for peace for his sons and daughter. Despite riots, curfews, and burning buses, both sides claimed peace and brotherhood. The Chinese invasion confirmed the treacherous nature of the yellow race. Nehru’s heart was broken by the war, and he resigned to political intrigues. Gustad left his blackout paper undisturbed, believing it helped his children sleep better.
Dilnavaz and her family used blackout paper to control pests and light, but faced frustration when Pakistanis attacked three years later, emphasizing the importance of effective solutions.
III – Gustad Noble reads about the Republic of Bangladesh being proclaimed by the Awami League, which would allow Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to form the government. He wonders what Major Jimmy Bilimoria would have thought about the trouble in Pakistan, as people predicting war would have inside information. Last year, Major Bilimoria vanished from Khodadad Building without a word, leaving behind a message in his handwriting: Trust In God—Horn Please To Pass. Gustad’s heart is broken by his sudden departure, as Dilnavaz believes he would not have left without a good reason.
IV – The Hindi broadcast ended, and the radio began advertising Amul Butter, Hamam Soap, and Cherry Blossom Shoe Polish. Gustad, a man living in a dusty patch, recited the Sarosh Baaj silently while ignoring the roar of a diesel engine. He tended to his bushes, except for the vinca, which had medicinal uses. The smell of diesel fumes returned, and Gustad realized his compound would shrink to less than half its width. The landlord refused to give away half his compound, and Gustad would likely go to court.
Chapter Two
I – Gustad plans to bring a live chicken to his house to celebrate Roshan’s birthday and Sohrab’s admission to IIT. He is curious about the origin of the basket used to cover the chicken, which was used to make a chicken dish. Gustad’s grandmother, Dilnavaz, is skeptical but Gustad’s peace-making voice convinces her to give him rice. Gustad feels anxious and guilty, as he believes he is carrying something more dangerous than a bomb, potentially causing Hindu-Muslim riots.
Gustad was afraid of butchers and the shopkeeper’s practices. He struggled to choose a chicken for Roshan’s birthday due to the shopkeeper’s gruesome practices. His college friend Malcolm Saldanha taught him about cows and buffaloes and helped him hide furniture from bankruptcy bailiffs. Gustad’s father was broken and dispirited, and he admired Malcolm’s playing skills. Malcolm taught Gustad to eat beef to mitigate his pocket-book strain and learned the law of supply and demand.
Gustad and Malcolm visited Crawford Market on Sunday mornings, often attending the church where Malcolm attended Mass. Gustad initially was intrigued by the church’s rituals but preferred the peace in the fire-temple. Malcolm introduced Christianity to India over nineteen hundred years ago, and explained that the neck portion, called neckie, was tender, fat-free, and sweet. Gustad learned to appreciate neckie and never returned to mutton. Years later, Gustad shared his knowledge with friends but no one was as receptive to it.
II -Roshan, hesitant to feed a live chicken, is encouraged by her father to imagine it as a pet. Dilnavaz, frustrated by the mess, promises Roshan to clean the chicken and support his son’s future at IIT. When Roshan hears the chicken clucking softly, she forgets her stance against live chickens. Gustad, Roshan’s father, explains the chicken’s happiness and gives her food.
III– Roshan is kept by Gustad and his family for a day, but they decide to keep a chicken for Roshan’s feast. Sohrab agrees, but Gustad refuses. A butcher arrives and gives him a twenty-five paisa coin instead. The chicken runs into the compound, where Lame Tehmul is found. Tehmul-Lungraa, a hip-fracture victim, prefers children over adults and is known for his swaying gait and ability to catch demons.
Tehmul, known as the Scrambled Egg, was a man with a trailing and scratching habit. He was offered a job as the chicken-catcher of Khodadad Building by Miss Kutpitia. Tehmul collected and delivered rats trapped in his neighbors’ wood-and-wire cages, earning money for the Pest Control Department. He entertained the rats by teaching them to swim and dive. One day, his secret was discovered, and the neighbors agreed not to hand over a live rat to him. Gustad followed Tehmul to the flat, where the butcher untied the string from the chicken’s leg.
Chapter 3
I -Miss Kutpitia attends a dinner party with Dilnavaz, who invites her. Gustad helps with preparations but is interrupted by Dinshawji, who has a chronically carious mouth. Gustad convinces Dinshawji to consult Madhiwalla Bonesetter for his bone problems. Madhiwalla prescribes a resinous secretion of a tree, which Dinshawji chews three times a day. After a week, the results are evident, but Dinshawji sprained a jaw muscle while masticating the resin, and he refuses to return. Gustad assures Dinshawji of his time.
Dinshawji, a bank teller in Parsis, shares his memories of his past and the changes since Indira nationalized banks. They discuss the rioting caused by Madhiwalla’s sandbags and the war with China. They also discuss the black paper covering windows and the celebration of Sohrab’s birthday by two boys and Roshan. Dinshawji compliments Sohrab on his IIT genius and Roshan sings a song about the donkey. The conversation continues, discussing past events and the impact of nationalization on the banking industry.
Gustad’s grandfather and grandmother are both involved in his personal growth and fitness. Gustad’s grandfather, a furniture-maker, encourages him to do push-ups and squats daily until he reaches 100. His grandmother, an expert in wrestling, attends wrestling matches. Gustad’s friend, Dilnavaz, becomes intrigued by body-building after his friends die. Dilnavaz starts exercising after suffering from pneumonia, and his grandmother instructs him on appeasing animals. Both Gustad’s grandfather and grandmother are dedicated to their own fitness and mental development.
Darius, a sedentary man, gains muscle mass after resuming his exercise routine. His fathers, Dinshawji and Roshan, encourage him to participate in a donkey song, which Dilnavaz enjoys. Roshan imitates Darius’s movements, but Dilnavaz disapproves.
II – A group of friends enjoy a vegetable stew with chicken, spiced with various herbs. They sing “Happy Birthday” for Roshan, and she smiles. Gustad leads the singing, and everyone sings. The flat is plunged into darkness, and the lights dim. Tehmul, a figure in the compound, walks unmistakably, and the neighborhood is blacked out. Dinshawji warns them not to be late and to fill their plate. Kavi Kamaal, an Indian Tennyson, recites poems and an unearthly voice from a death mask.
At a festive gathering, everyone except Dilnavaz is frantic about cold food. Dinshawji invites everyone to eat by candlelight, hoping for good luck, health, and a brilliant performance at IIT. Sohrab is upset and scolds Dinshawji for his talk. Dinshawji reassures Roshan about Jimmy Bilimoria’s disappearance and introduces stew and chicken, but no one laughs.
Chapter Four
I – Gustad is accused of causing trouble at his sister’s birthday party by killing a live chicken and making guests sick.Sohrab blames him, but Dilnavaz warns him that quarrels aren’t allowed. Gustad threatens to cut off Roshan’s skin with a belt, causing Roshan to cry. Dilnavaz comforts Gustad, but she doesn’t understand herself. She suggests patience and respect, and if Gustad doesn’t show respect, he can be kicked out of his house.
II – Gustad, feeling angry, mixed up various drinks and went to his grandfather’s desk to find old books and bindings. He opened Brewer’s Dictionary, Bertrand Russell’s Mathematics for the Millions, and Adam Smith’s An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations on the shelf. On the front shelf, he found an abridged Webster and a pocket edition of Roget. He took a letter to the lamplight, which contained a single, thick, and fibred sheet of paper. Gustad read the letter and thought about Jimmy Gustad, who was always well-off but generous. He lowered the wick of the kerosene lamp and leaned back in the armchair, wondering what Dada Ormuzd was telling him. He wondered if he had become too deaf to hear Dada Ormuzd’s words, as he had once been a source of motivation and success for his family.
Gustad, a father who has been watching over his son Sohrab for years, wishes he was back at the beginning of his life. Sohrab’s future is uncertain, with no hope for minorities and fascist Shiv Sena politics. Gustad wonders how he can make Sohrab understand this and realize what he is doing to his father, who had made the success of his son’s life the purpose of his own.
One day, Gustad gets on the wrong bus with Sohrab while heading for lunch. They take a special half-day leave from Mr. Madon the bank manager to celebrate Sohrab’s first day at St Xavier’s High School. They misread the bus number and find out it was in the midst of traffic. The conductor, Dilnavaz, misread the bus number and muttered disinterestedly, “Not going to Churchgate.” Gustad snaps away with his empty ticket punch, making his speech seem hostile.
As they wait first in line, Gustad wished it would let up for a while. Rain began in the early morning, and Gustad remembered Dilnavaz saying, “It’s good luck if it rains when something new is beginning.” Sohrab was pleased, as it meant he could wear his new Duckback raincoat and gumboots.
Dilnavaz did the overnaa, sprinkled rice, presented him with a coconut, betel leaves, a dry date, one areca nut, and seven rupees, all for good luck. They hugged him and murmured blessings in his ear, emphasizing school and studies.
Gustad is with his son Sohrab, worried about the potential physical confrontation that could occur. The conductor of the bus scolds him for not stopping, causing a standstill in the middle lane. Sohrab steps off, losing his balance and falling. Gustad yells, “Stop!” and kicks him out of the path of an oncoming taxi, causing him to fall. A crowd gathers around him, asking for water and a drink. The taxi-driver asks his passengers to leave, but they eventually leave. A water-seller offers to pay the man twenty naye paise for two glasses of water.
Sohrab pulls a rupee out of the seven he received that morning and Gustad decides to take him to Khodadad Building. The taxi-driver offers to take him to a doctor or hospital, but Gustad whispers about Khodadad Building before almost passing out again. Major Bilimoria tells Dilnavaz about Madhiwalla Bonesetter, who offers regular treatment at a regular hospital like Parsi General. Gustad is relieved by Bonesetter’s methods, as he has seen him help with difficult cases in the army.
Jimmy, Gustad’s equal in strength, brings him inside the large hall where Bonesetter is in attendance. Jimmy waits by Gustad’s side until Bonesetter attends to him. Gustad wonders what would have happened without Jimmy, but is amazed by his constant presence when needed. This friendship between Gustad and Jimmy is a testament to the power of coincidence and friendship in the face of adversity.
III – Gustad, a weakened man, seeks help from Jimmy Bilimoria and Madhiwalla Bonesetter to suppress his limp. Despite his spirit and the miracle cure, he struggles with modern education, which prioritizes progress over tradition. Gustad uses an uncrumpled sheet and a ballpoint pen, but eventually chooses a holder-steel pen. Modern education often discards seemingly unimportant aspects, leading to a loss of respect for those who respect and love tradition. Despite his limp, Gustad continues to write, reminiscing about the old days. The light returns, and he switches off the light and resumes writing by the kerosene lamp. His spirit strength has tamed his limp, but he still struggles to accept that it was his spirit that tamed his limp. The holder-steel pen emphasizes the importance of respecting tradition in modern education.
Chapter Five
I – Dilnavaz wakes up at water-tap time, worried about Gustad and Sohrab, who have been having terrible conversations. Her eldest son, Miss Kutpitia, is worried about her son’s behavior, which reminds her of her brother Farad. When Farad was fifteen, an accident occurred on their return journey, leaving the lone survivor as the only survivor. Dilnavaz is puzzled by this incident and wonders if fate’s cruel inflicted gashes are still raw or have scarred over.
She calls for help understanding Sohrab’s behavior and believes it could be due to something bad in his food or drink, which she believes is jaadu-mantar. She is skeptical but thinks magic might be a possible solution. Miss Kutpitia suggests using a lime to cleanse Sohrab’s mind for a few days before the sun sets and then come back to her again.
Dilnavaz also mentions the power outage caused by quarrelling and the unlucky chicken slaughtered in her house, believing it was Gustad’s idea. On her way home, she sees a parallel between the chicken and Darius’s revenant, pneumonia-inflicting fishes and birds. In her eagerness to get back to bed, the letters on Gustad’s desk go unnoticed.
II – Sohrab, a genius in school and arts, was initially destined to become an aeronautical engineer. However, his fascination with insects led to his paralysis. Sohrab focused on mechanical things and imagination, creating a still-projector and writing an abridged version of King Lear. His father, Gustad, wanted him to be a doctor, engineer, or research scientist. As the age of ink grew, plans for the future took shape, and the Indian Institute of Technology became the promised land. Sohrab’s mother, Dilnavaz, read Major Uncle’s letter.
Gustad is accused of sleeping late and hiding mail by his mother, Dilnavaz. She suggests he help Jimmy Uncle, a friend with 21 years of political experience, and divides news into two parts to get the truth. Gustad’s mother warns him against wasting time on irrelevant topics and advises him to focus on his future. Gustad sends an envelope to Major Bilimoria, and Dilnavaz gives him a lime to close his eyes and make his brain healthy.
III-Gustad and Dinshawji had a close bond during lunchtime, enjoying leftovers without talking to their companions. They would often joke about various topics in the canteen, including Sikh, Madrasi, Guju, and Pathani jokes. Gustad was popular during singing sessions, singing along with Dinshawji. They would sometimes argue about community matters, but Dinshawji would end things light. On their way out, they passed typist Laurie Coutino, who was impeccably ordered. Dinshawji played the role of the active candidate or Casanova of Flora Fountain. They jogged together, with Dinshawji shielding his lunch-boxes.
Dinshawji and Gustad encounter a Shiv Sena leader who worships Hitler and Mussolini and plans to complete Maratha Raj. They discuss the lack of water in the Flora Fountain and Dinshawji’s suggestion to rename roads to keep them occupied. Gustad realizes he has been treating him unfairly, but a man dies, causing Gustad to feel pale and sick. Dinshawji takes Gustad to a cooler restaurant, where he drinks mutton samosas without drinking.
Gustad and Dinshawji discuss their recent experiences, including a taxi-driver who helped Gustad and Sohrab, and the possibility of war with Pakistan. Gustad believes Pakistan is important to America due to Russia’s access to the Indian Ocean. Dinshawji argues that America’s two golaas are in Russian hands, and they don’t care about Pakistan’s happiness.
IV– Gustad returns home from work, feeling the stench of flies and mosquitoes along the black wall. He confronts Dilnavaz, who accuses him of his son Darius being after his daughter and the building’s appearance. Gustad and Mr. Rabadi have a feud, with Tiger, a menacing dog, dying before being found. Dustoorji Baria provides advice and orders a new dog, Dimple. Gustad buys a half-used tube of Odomos to combat mosquitoes and shares it with Dilnavaz.
Rohinton Mistry Such a Long Journey Chapter 6-10
Rohinton Mistry Such a Long Journey Chapter 11-15
Rohinton Mistry Such a Long Journey Chapter 16-20
Rohinton Mistry Such a Long Journey Chapter 21-22
