Chapter 2: A Pair of Mustachios

‘Mustachios’, the theme of the story, is introduced here in a scientific manner. At the beginning of the story, it might look like an easy essay about how Indians take pride in the style of moustaches. Only at the end will the reader understand the importance of the introduction. The reader is served with a clear description of the concept around which the entire story will revolve – the rise and fall of men by sticking and altering to their status symbols like mustachios.

In the story, the insertion of dialogue enables the writer to convey things from their actual perspective. Several words and expressions can be included in the story, which a writer would not be able to write on his own. For instance, when Azam Khan gets angry, he says this to Ramanand: “You know what I mean, the seed of a donkey!” and “I tell you, turn that tip down, or I shall wring your neck”.