Swami and Friends is an everyday story set in the last century South India. These stories almost feels like my fathers narration of his childhood events.
Swami is a young boy of around 10. He and his friends - Mani and Rajam spend their days together in school and loaf around after school. Swami lives with his parents and grandmother. Through the story he gets an addition to the family in the form of his younger brother.
Each little story is funny and brings a smile - 'Monday Morning' is about the struggle of a little boy to complete his homework and confront the Monday Morning Blues. 'Rajam and Mani' is about a new boy Rajam joining the school, Swami begins to like Rajam but does not want to hurt his old friend Mani. Later Rajam, Mani and Swami become inseparable. 'Swamis Grandmother' adores Swami in spite of him ignoring her. 'What is a Tail?' The Boys in the class begin calling Swami as Rajam's Tail. 'Fathers Room' - When Rajam comes home Swami wants to present himself well, so he makes all the necessary arrangements and also presents his fathers room as his room. Needless to say Rajam understands that it is Swamis Fathers room.'A Friend in Need' - Rajam makes peace by bribing the boys who were teasing Swami into becoming friends again. 'A New Arrival' - Swami's brother is born. 'Before the Examinations' - Preparations and the Examinations. 'School Breaks Up' - Vacation time fun of the 3 friends by the river banks. 'The Coachman's Son' - Swami is cheated by a Coachman who promises to multiply Swamis money. The Coachman's son is vicious and frightens and drives Swami and his Friends away. 'In Fathers Presence' - Swamis Father insists on him studying a little even during the vacations. He makes into his fathers good books and so gets to watch his father play tennis at his club. 'Broken Panes' The Freedom movement gets the grip over India, Swami also participates and end up breaking the panes in his school. He stops going to Alberts after that and moves to another school. 'The MCC' Rajam is a big fan of cricket and starts a club. Swami is the best Bowler of the team. 'Granny shows her ignorance' - Granny is ignorant of cricket but Swami tries to teach her the same so that he can boast. 'Before the Match' - Swami has more hours in his new school and so cannot participate in most of the practices. He tries to ask permission of his principal to leave early, asks his teacher and meets his family doctor for a letter, all in vain. He is finally caught and punished by his principal and he runs out of the school. 'Swami Disappears' - Swami concludes he cannot go back to School or Home so he runs away.But on his way he stops at Alberts to inform Rajam. But Rajams talks only of the MCC match, so Swami does not say his actual intentions. 'The Day of the Match' - Swami loses his way and cannot come back for the match. His family is searching for him all over the town. Finally he is rescued by a stranger and delivered to the forest bungalow. 'The Return' - Swami is found and he picked by his family who forgives him. Rajam however cannot forgive him as Swami misses his match and MCC lose. 'Parting Present' - Rajams father is moving to Trichy, by Swami is not informed about it as Rajam hates him now. Swami goes to the Railway station to bade him goodbye with a heavy heart. Swami finds that at parting that Rajam still hates him and may not keep in touch with him.
Swami is a young boy of around 10. He and his friends - Mani and Rajam spend their days together in school and loaf around after school. Swami lives with his parents and grandmother. Through the story he gets an addition to the family in the form of his younger brother.
Each little story is funny and brings a smile - 'Monday Morning' is about the struggle of a little boy to complete his homework and confront the Monday Morning Blues. 'Rajam and Mani' is about a new boy Rajam joining the school, Swami begins to like Rajam but does not want to hurt his old friend Mani. Later Rajam, Mani and Swami become inseparable. 'Swamis Grandmother' adores Swami in spite of him ignoring her. 'What is a Tail?' The Boys in the class begin calling Swami as Rajam's Tail. 'Fathers Room' - When Rajam comes home Swami wants to present himself well, so he makes all the necessary arrangements and also presents his fathers room as his room. Needless to say Rajam understands that it is Swamis Fathers room.'A Friend in Need' - Rajam makes peace by bribing the boys who were teasing Swami into becoming friends again. 'A New Arrival' - Swami's brother is born. 'Before the Examinations' - Preparations and the Examinations. 'School Breaks Up' - Vacation time fun of the 3 friends by the river banks. 'The Coachman's Son' - Swami is cheated by a Coachman who promises to multiply Swamis money. The Coachman's son is vicious and frightens and drives Swami and his Friends away. 'In Fathers Presence' - Swamis Father insists on him studying a little even during the vacations. He makes into his fathers good books and so gets to watch his father play tennis at his club. 'Broken Panes' The Freedom movement gets the grip over India, Swami also participates and end up breaking the panes in his school. He stops going to Alberts after that and moves to another school. 'The MCC' Rajam is a big fan of cricket and starts a club. Swami is the best Bowler of the team. 'Granny shows her ignorance' - Granny is ignorant of cricket but Swami tries to teach her the same so that he can boast. 'Before the Match' - Swami has more hours in his new school and so cannot participate in most of the practices. He tries to ask permission of his principal to leave early, asks his teacher and meets his family doctor for a letter, all in vain. He is finally caught and punished by his principal and he runs out of the school. 'Swami Disappears' - Swami concludes he cannot go back to School or Home so he runs away.But on his way he stops at Alberts to inform Rajam. But Rajams talks only of the MCC match, so Swami does not say his actual intentions. 'The Day of the Match' - Swami loses his way and cannot come back for the match. His family is searching for him all over the town. Finally he is rescued by a stranger and delivered to the forest bungalow. 'The Return' - Swami is found and he picked by his family who forgives him. Rajam however cannot forgive him as Swami misses his match and MCC lose. 'Parting Present' - Rajams father is moving to Trichy, by Swami is not informed about it as Rajam hates him now. Swami goes to the Railway station to bade him goodbye with a heavy heart. Swami finds that at parting that Rajam still hates him and may not keep in touch with him.
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