a. Nathu:
Nathu was a sweeper working with the Pipalnagar Bank, owned by Seth Govind Ram. He was annoyed because the Bank had not paid his salary though they were the last days of the month. He was sweeping hurriedly and carelessly because he was not happy with the owner. He was thinking of leaving that job.
b. Mrs Srivastava was Sitaram’s customer and was the lady of the house he visited. She gave some instructions to the ayah and the cook and then went the Pipalnagar market place, to make her usual tour of the cloth market. At one end of the bazaar she met her friend Mrs Bhushan. They both complained of the hot summer and they talked about a sample of cloth. Then Mrs Srivastava told Mrs Bhushan that Seth Govind Ram’s bank could not pay their sweeper for over a month. She seems to be very talkative lady and was the root cause of the rumour about Pipalnagar Bank.
c. Seth Govind Ram was the owner of the Pipalnagar Bank. A rumour was spread that the bank was about to go bankrupt. There was chaos among the people of Pipalnagar. Seth was holidaying in Kashmir and the manager of the Bank was in dilemma as he was unable to contact Seth Govind Ram who was on his houseboat in Kashmir. There were rumours about Seth’s absence in Pipalnagar.
d. Sitaram: Sitaram was a washerman’s son. He used to deliver freshly pressed clothes to every home. He plodded barefoot along the road to deliver a big bundle of clothes on his head. He was a helpful person. He was glad that he would be of service to both, a customer and his friend, Nathu.
