Out of Business Questions and Answers
Question | Answer |
1. Who is the author of “Out of Business”? | R.K. Narayan |
2. Who is the central character of the story? | Rama Rao |
3. In which town is the story set? | Malgudi |
4. What was Rama Rao’s profession? | Agent of a gramophone company |
5. How long had Rama Rao’s business run successfully? | Five years |
6. Where did Rama Rao build his bungalow? | In the Extension area of Malgudi |
7. Why did Rama Rao lose his business? | His gramophone company collapsed. |
8. Which company collapsed in the story? | The gramophone company |
9. Why did the gramophone company collapse? | A Lahore bank crash caused it. |
10. What caused the Lahore bank to crash? | It collapsed after a Bombay financier’s death. |
11. What happened to the Bombay financier? | He died in a car accident. |
12. What was suspected about the financier’s death? | It was suspected to be suicide. |
13. What happened to Rama Rao’s investment? | It was lost completely. |
14. Did Rama Rao get back his security deposit? | No, he did not get it back. |
15. What was Rama Rao’s only source of income after losing his business? | Rent from his bungalow |
16. Why were they afraid of the tenant leaving? | Because it was their only income |
17. What happened to the family’s savings? | They were gradually exhausted |
18. Where did Rama Rao’s family move after renting out their bungalow? | To a small house behind the Market |
19. What changes did his wife make to reduce expenses? | She sent away servants and changed the children’s school |
20. Where were the children sent after leaving the nursery school? | To a free primary school |
21. How did Rama Rao’s wife feel after moving from the Extension? | She became dull and unhappy |
22. How did the children’s lifestyle change? | They lost friends and proper space to play |
23. Why did Rama Rao feel heartbroken every evening? | He saw disappointment on his family’s faces |
24. How did his wife react when he returned home without success? | She silently understood and went inside |
25. What physical signs showed the family’s poverty? | Torn and worn-out clothes |
26. How did Rama Rao try to find employment? | By sending job applications and visiting offices |
27. Why was it difficult for him to get a job at his age? | He was nearly forty and previously independent |
28. What was the usual response he received from employers? | Polite refusal |
29. How did repeated rejection affect Rama Rao mentally? | It made him depressed and hopeless |
30. What was the name of the crossword magazine? | The Captain |
31. How many pages did the magazine contain? | Four pages |
32. What was the weekly first prize amount? | ₹4,000 |
33. What was the special prize amount announced later? | ₹8,000 |
34. Why did crossword puzzles attract Rama Rao? | It gave him hope of easy money |
35. How often did he send entries? | Every week |
36. Where did he check the results? | At the newsagent’s shop |
37. Did he ever win any prize? | No |
38. How did he behave when waiting for results? | Nervous and impatient |
39. What promise did he make to the newsagent? | He would pay three years’ subscription if he won |
40. How did repeated failure affect his nerves? | It disturbed his mental balance |
41. Why did Rama Rao quarrel with his wife? | For money to send crossword entries |
42. How much money did he demand for the special prize entry? | Five rupees |
43. Why was five rupees a big amount for the family? | It was nearly a week’s food expense |
44. How did his wife respond to his demands? | She gave the money silently |
45. What kind of personality does his wife show in the story? | She is patient, calm, and sacrificing |
46. What dreams did Rama Rao build after sending the special entry? | Returning to the bungalow and becoming successful |
47. What city did he plan to go to for work? | Madras |
48. What did he plan to do with the prize money? | Restart life and seek new work |
49. What does the crossword puzzle symbolize in the story? | False hope and escapism |
50. What happened on the final result day? | He realized he had many wrong answers |
51. How did Rama Rao feel after seeing his mistakes? | Completely hopeless and broken |
52. Where did he go instead of going home? | To the railway track |
53. What did he plan to do on the railway track? | Commit suicide under a train |
54. How did he feel while lying on the track? | Calm and detached |
55. What train was expected to arrive? | The train from Trichinopoly |
56. Why did the train not arrive on time? | A goods train had derailed |
57. What had happened to the goods train? | It went off the track |
58. How long were the trains delayed? | Three hours |
59. What did Rama Rao say after learning about the delay? | “God, you have shown me mercy!” |
60. Why is the delayed train important in the story? | It symbolizes divine intervention and second chance |
61. How did his wife react when he returned home? | She was relieved and warmly welcomed him |
62. What news did she give him about the bungalow? | The tenants wanted to buy the bungalow |
63. Who wanted to buy the house? | The tenants |
64. How much money could they get from selling the house? | Around ₹4,500 |
65. What was Rama Rao’s new plan after selling the house? | Go to Madras and find real work |
66. What question did his wife ask him at the end? | Whether he would spend money on puzzles again |
67. What was his final answer about crossword puzzles? | He said he would never do it again |
68. What major social problem does the story highlight? | Unemployment and financial insecurity |
69. How does the story portray middle-class life? | As fragile and economically vulnerable |
70. What does the railway track symbolize? | Escape through death |
71. What does the delayed train symbolize? | God’s mercy / second chance |
72. What does the bungalow represent? | Lost status and pride |
73. What lesson does Rama Rao learn? | To face reality instead of chasing false hope |
74. What moral does the story convey? | Suicide is not the solution; life gives second chances |
