Bonku Babu's Friend by Satyajit Ray

'Friends! I have great pleasure in telling you that this is the last time you will see me at your meeting. The only reason I am here today is simply that I would like to tell you a few things before I go. Number one - this is for all of you - you speak a great deal of rubbish. Only fools talk of things they don't know anything about.

Number two - this is for Chandi Babu - at your age, hiding other people's shoes and umbrellas is not just childish, but totally wrong. Kindly bring my umbrella and brown canvas shoes to my house tomorrow.... And Sripati Babu, you are an important man, of course you must have hangers-on. But let me tell you, from today, you can count me out. If you like, I can send my cat, it's quite good at licking feet....

...Bonku Babu finished his speech and slapped Bhairav Chakravarty's back so hard that he choked. Then he made his exit, walking swiftly, his head held high. In the same instant, the cup fell from Ramkanai's hand, shattering to pieces, and splattering hot tea on most of the others.


(Translated from Bengali by Gopa Majumdar)