Akkare

Gopi is a respected tahasildar living a modest life with his wife and children. His wife Padmavathi is unhappy and greedy, dreaming of a luxurious lifestyle in the Persian Gulf. She pressures him to consider relocating to the Gulf to fulfill those wishes.

A stranger named Johnny arrives from the Gulf and hints at life there, convincing Gopi that a move could be possible. He discusses practical steps toward relocating, planting the initial seed of the plan. Gopi and his wife begin to entertain the idea more seriously.

Following Johnny's guidance, Gopi starts learning typing to prepare for Gulf employment. The skill is presented as a practical route for foreigners who might find work there. This marks the first concrete step toward fulfilling his wife’s plan.

Another Gulf visitor, Ismail, arrives and reveals that typing isn’t a reliable path because many companies hire Arabs rather than foreigners. He suggests that the Gulf job market is more competitive than expected. Ismail's father, a tailor, hints that skilled tailoring may be a better opportunity.

Padmavathi compels Gopi to learn sewing so Ismail can help secure a visa. The notion of leveraging skilled trades is introduced, and the tailor’s influence becomes part of the strategy. Gopi weighs which path might better lead to overseas employment.

One night, with the tailor absent, Gopi visits the house and becomes entangled in the daughter’s advances. He tries to leave, but the situation leads to a tense moment that unsettles him. The night ends with questions about his integrity looming over him.

Gopi is mistaken for a thief by locals as he flees the scene. He is taken to the police station and later to the hospital for examination, where his identity as a tahasildar is confirmed and he is released. The incident severely damages his prestige and reputation in the community.

Sudhan, Padmavathi's brother, arrives from the Gulf and bluntly explains that the gulf economy demands taking any kind of job, including hard labor. Gopi is left disappointed by this frank assessment, recognizing that his dream of an easy path abroad is fragile. The revelation challenges his earlier plans.

The day after Sudhan's visit, Gopi receives a letter suspending him from his job because of the incident. The suspension compounds his loss of status and casts a shadow over his future career. He begins to confront the consequences of the public embarrassment.

In a moment of despair, Gopi imagines himself as a coolie carrying Johnny's luggage, a stark image of the life he fears. The daydream underscores his fall from grace and his willingness to endure harsh work to escape his current predicament.

The climax portrays Gopi as a wind-up toy, moving only in response to his wife's commands. She asserts that Sudhan will arrange a visa next year and hints that he should be prepared for manual labor if needed. The moment crystallizes his loss of independence and autonomy.

The story ends with Gopi trapped in a life ruled by others' plans, with his prestige eroded and an uncertain future ahead. The Gulf dream remains possible only as long as his wife maintains influence, leaving him to face a restrained and precarious path forward.