An Astrologer's Day

He never opened his mouth until the client had spoken for at least ten minutes

Step 1: The story reveals his clever technique: 'He charged three pies per question and never opened his mouth till the other had spoken for at least ten minutes.' Step 2: This gave him 'enough stuff for a dozen answers and advices.' Step 3: This technique shows his shrewd understanding of human psychology – people unknowingly reveal their own problems. Step 4: Option A is incorrect; he was a stranger to astrology and never genuinely read palms. Step 5: Options C and D are distractors based on assumptions. His real tool was careful listening and observation, not any mystical skill.

He was escaping guilt after believing he had killed a man

Step 1: At the end of the story, the astrologer reveals to his wife: 'I thought I had the blood of a man on my hands all these years. That was the reason why I ran away from home.' Step 2: As a young man, he had stabbed Guru Nayak during a drunken quarrel and believed he had killed him. Step 3: The guilt of this believed murder drove him to flee and start a new life. Step 4: Option A about career is plausible on the surface but not the actual reason given in the text. Step 5: Options C and D are entirely fabricated. The real motivation was guilt and fear of punishment, which is central to the

The nuts-vendor blowing out his flare and rising to go home

Step 1: The story clearly states: 'The nuts-vendor blew out his flare and rose to go home. This was a signal for the astrologer to bundle up too.' Step 2: This is because the astrologer transacted his business by the light of the flare from the groundnut heap nearby. Step 3: When that flare was gone, only a faint green shaft of light remained, making it impossible to continue. Step 4: Options A and C mention municipal lights, but the story specifically says the area did NOT have the benefit of municipal lighting. Step 5: This detail shows how interdependent the vendors in the market were.

The stranger would give eight annas if satisfied and the astrologer would pay double if wrong

Step 1: The astrologer first asked for five rupees, then reduced to eight annas. Step 2: The stranger agreed on the condition: 'provided you give me twice as much if you are wrong.' Step 3: This pact was accepted after further argument. Step 4: Option A (five rupees) was the astrologer's initial demand that the stranger rejected. Option C (one rupee) was later demanded separately for revealing a specific answer. Step 5: The pact raises the stakes of their encounter and adds tension to the story.