A Pinch of Snuff

Manohar Malgonkar (b. 1913) is a well-known Indian novelist and short story writer celebrated for his fast-paced narratives, rich detail and sharp humor. This story is narrated by an Under-Secretary on probation in a Delhi ministry whose quiet routine is shattered when his mother excitedly announces that her brother, Nanukaka, is coming to visit them in Delhi. The narrator is dismayed, for Nanukaka's visits to see government ministers mean constant driving, running around and endless trouble.

Nanukaka arrives with a kitten

Nanukaka arrives at the Delhi railway station, a striking, impressive figure with pure white hair, an elegant mustache and a dignified posture. He wears a traditional black coat, a Deccani Brahmin's bright orange turban and a white angocha over his shoulders. The moment he meets the narrator on the platform he hands him a small wicker basket containing an outraged, tiny kitten that makes loud, panicked noises ('Spitts... strupst... meow... meooow!').

Nanukaka explains that he had to travel in a second-class compartment on a third-class ticket because the third class was completely packed, but he had sorted the matter out amicably with the ticket collector. His immediate mission in Delhi is to meet the Welfare Minister.

Defeated by bureaucratic delay

The narrator drives Nanukaka to North Block in the family car, but they are met with cold bureaucratic delay. Nanukaka is transferred from one chaprasi to another, tramping through endless corridors, only to be told to come back three days later for an appointment. Furious and muttering colorful Marathi swearwords, Nanukaka takes a pinch of snuff from his silver snuffbox, brushes his fingers on his angocha, and decides they need a new strategy.

On their drive back, a yellow sports car flashes past and its driver waves at the narrator. The young driver is Ratiram, a colleague of the narrator and the son of Lala Sohanlal Ratiram, the highly influential Party Boss in Delhi. Nanukaka immediately decides to exploit this connection, instructing the narrator to dress in a Jodhpur coat and turban to act as his Aide-de-Camp (A.D.C.).

Fishing out a valuable secret

They visit Lala Sohanlal's house. To build a grand impression, Nanukaka speaks loudly and arrogantly in the outer room, boasting of imaginary travels to Beirut and Geneva and casually dropping the name of 'Old H.B.' (Hazrat Barkat Ali, the Indian Ambassador), claiming they are as close as brothers. Hearing these high-level connections, Lala Sohanlal comes waddling out, offering sweetmeats, pan and coffee with extreme political courtesy.

During the conversation Sohanlal reveals that the Welfare Minister is being very difficult, refusing to help his son with a diplomatic assignment because they are 'at daggers drawn'. He discloses that the Minister is eager to marry his daughter to the Prince of Ninnore, though they have not even exchanged horoscopes yet. Nanukaka seizes this invaluable piece of gossip and hatches a plan to pose as the Hereditary Astrologer to the Maharaja of Ninnore to gain direct entry into the Minister's house.

The astrologer trick and its success

To carry out the trick Nanukaka needs a grand, luxurious car. He visits Sikka Auto Dealers to test-drive a massive, stately car, and to prove his immense wealth writes a fake cheque for one thousand rupees and leaves it in the pocket of his old coat. He instructs the family dhobi (washerman) to 'find' the cheque and run after their car at the dealership to return it dramatically. The trick works perfectly: the manager, deeply impressed by Nanukaka's casual wealth and honesty, lends him the grand car with a liveried chauffeur (the narrator).

They drive straight to the Welfare Minister's house. Nanukaka enters with absolute confidence, refuses to explain his business to the secretary, and merely calls for the visitors' book, in which he writes his name and adds 'Hereditary Astrologer to the Maharaja of Ninnore', leaving his Delhi address. He then drives away without waiting. The trick succeeds beyond expectation: the very next morning the Welfare Minister himself drives to the narrator's humble home to consult the 'Astrologer'. Nanukaka leaves Delhi the next day with his mission completely accomplished, leaving the narrator to wonder what will happen when the Minister discovers the truth.