Value points
Lakshmi Holmstrom in “The Novels of R. K. Narayan” Calcutta: Writers Workshop Publication, 1973, comments “Different abilities and values are opposed and matched until Pal becomes a “nightmare to Margayya”. Pal truly becomes a nightmare for Margayya as he accelerates his downfall. His book’s purpose as he stated was to create happiness in the world and to prevent tragedies relating to illmatched couples. Though he was crucial in lifting Margayya’s economic status but also took him away from Saraswati’s way. He became Balu’s constant companion and initiated him into immoral activities of playing cards, drinking alcohol and womanizing Margayya's spar with Pal ended with disastrous implications for Margayya and he lost all his wealth and became poor. He is the cause for the ruin of Margayya’s son, spreads rumours about him and brings about his decline.
