Such a Long Journey: The Easiest Summary
The story of the novel takes place in Bombay, India in the year 1971. It revolves around Gustad Noble and his family, and the people living in Khodadad building. Gustad is living with his wife, Dilnawaz and their three children – Sohrab, elder son, Darius and Roshan, a girl who most of the time stays sick – ill. Gustad is leading a middle-class family meanwhile facing many problems too. But this does not mean that he is poor from the beginning of his life. Gustad belongs to a wealthy family. His father was the owner of stores like furniture and books, but the circumstances have changed and it all vanished with the time.
Throughout the novel, Gustad faces many challenges and problems that makes his “Such a Long Journey” of life. Gustad’s elder son, Sohrab, is very intelligent. He has scored well in his 10th and 12th grade, even he got a chance to take admission in a prestigious ‘Indian Institute of Technology.’ Sohrab is the star of his father’s eye, and the hope of the family. But Sohrab refused to join IIT, breaking the dreams and hopes of Gustad and his family. Sohrab’s decision makes his father, Gustad, upset and this also leads to a furious argue between the father and son. And lastly, Sohrab left the home, being rebellious to his father, Gustad.
At the other side, Gustad’s youngest children, Roshan who is 9 years old by now and the source of happiness for Gustad, remains ill most of the time. The situation leads Dilnawaz, Gustad’s wife who is superstitious, to spend more time with a witch-like old neighbor Miss Kutpitia who encourages her to perform black and white magics. Moreover, Gustad’s younger son Darius’s friendship with Jasmine, daughter of Mr. Rabadi, creates a new problem for Gustad. Darius’s friendship with Jasmine gives Mr Rabadi, who is already in argument with Gustad, a chance to blame Darius that Darius is after his daughter, Jasmine. The situation leads to an argument between Rabadi and Gustad.
Next, the local government released a notice informing to take down the wall surrounding the Khodadad building. So, Gustad brings an artist to paint murals of Gods and Goddesses on the wall so that the believers of all religious make efforts to save it.
The next thing that happened to Gustad is that his old friend Major Jimmy Bilimoria, who is also called Billy Boy, sends Gustad a letter requesting to deposit ten lack rupees into a secret bank account for backing the revolution in Pakistan for the Freedom of Bangladesh.
Going in past, some years ago Gustad met with an accident while saving his son, Sohrab, from a speedy car. At that time, Major Bilimoria helped Gustad, taking him to Madhiwalla Bonesetter and saving his life. Later, Gustad was brought home by a taxi driver, Ghulam Mohammad, who is a good and very close friend of Major Bilimoria because Bilimoria saved his life in Kashmir revolt. Ghulam Mohammad is a faithful friend of Bilimoria, and he said to Gustad that –
“Billy’s Friend is my friend, and his enemy will have to answer to me. Anyone who harms him, I will go after him, whatever it takes.”
Because of his friendship with Billy, Ghulam Mohammad was working in RAW, and keeps on changing his identity. Sometimes he becomes a bookseller, sometimes he becomes a taxi driver. Now, because Billy saved Gustad, they become close friends. Billy has no family, so he loves Gustad as his own brother, and Gustad’s family as his own family. Once, suddenly, Billy disappeared from Khodadad building causing the reason for Gustad’s frustration.
Now, coming back to story, because of his bond and brother like friendship with Billy, Gustad accepted Billy’s request to deposit the money in the bank. As Gustad accepts Billy’s request, he notices weird things started to happen to him. Many times, he found dead animals, thrown in front of his house, with threatening notes. So, to complete the task, Gustad takes the help of another good friend Dinshawji, who is working with Gustad in the bank and is a joyful person.
Now, Gustad and Dinshawji both decided to complete the task. Later, Dinshawji revealed the secret to Laurie Coutino, a staff member in the bank, to impress her; and Gustad somehow handled the situation. After sometimes, Dinshawji’s health collapses and he died soon. On the other side, Bilimoria was kept in Delhi jail. Gustad goes to meet him where Gustad finds him on the bed of hospital prison. Billy asked for Gustad’s forgiveness, and revealed the politics behind all these things that happened. Later, Billy died of a heart attack in the prison, and Gustad later comes to know that it was a murder. Gustad, now, comes back to Khodadad.
In the ending scene of the novel, municipal workers are shown working to break the wall surrounding the Khodadad building. Because of the murals of the Gods and Goddesses on the wall, riot breaks out during the removal of the wall resulting in Tehmul Lungraa’s death. Gustad carried out his body to his apartment, and prays for him.
Tehmul Lungraa is a childish living with his elder brother as his parents died many years ago. He is lame because he broke his hip in a fall from the compound's solitary neem tree in his childhood. Even in his mid-thirties, he behaves like a child and prefers to be among children to adults. He adores Gustad. He is nicknamed "Scrambled Egg.”
In the end of the novel, the wall was removed by municipal officers. Sohrab comes back to home. Gustad and Sohrab reunites with tears in his eyes. A lot of disappointments – frustrations, challenges and problems come in Gustad’s life, making his life “Such a Long Journey….”
Throughout the novel, Gustad faces many challenges and problems that makes his “Such a Long Journey” of life. Gustad’s elder son, Sohrab, is very intelligent. He has scored well in his 10th and 12th grade, even he got a chance to take admission in a prestigious ‘Indian Institute of Technology.’ Sohrab is the star of his father’s eye, and the hope of the family. But Sohrab refused to join IIT, breaking the dreams and hopes of Gustad and his family. Sohrab’s decision makes his father, Gustad, upset and this also leads to a furious argue between the father and son. And lastly, Sohrab left the home, being rebellious to his father, Gustad.
At the other side, Gustad’s youngest children, Roshan who is 9 years old by now and the source of happiness for Gustad, remains ill most of the time. The situation leads Dilnawaz, Gustad’s wife who is superstitious, to spend more time with a witch-like old neighbor Miss Kutpitia who encourages her to perform black and white magics. Moreover, Gustad’s younger son Darius’s friendship with Jasmine, daughter of Mr. Rabadi, creates a new problem for Gustad. Darius’s friendship with Jasmine gives Mr Rabadi, who is already in argument with Gustad, a chance to blame Darius that Darius is after his daughter, Jasmine. The situation leads to an argument between Rabadi and Gustad.
Next, the local government released a notice informing to take down the wall surrounding the Khodadad building. So, Gustad brings an artist to paint murals of Gods and Goddesses on the wall so that the believers of all religious make efforts to save it.
The next thing that happened to Gustad is that his old friend Major Jimmy Bilimoria, who is also called Billy Boy, sends Gustad a letter requesting to deposit ten lack rupees into a secret bank account for backing the revolution in Pakistan for the Freedom of Bangladesh.
Going in past, some years ago Gustad met with an accident while saving his son, Sohrab, from a speedy car. At that time, Major Bilimoria helped Gustad, taking him to Madhiwalla Bonesetter and saving his life. Later, Gustad was brought home by a taxi driver, Ghulam Mohammad, who is a good and very close friend of Major Bilimoria because Bilimoria saved his life in Kashmir revolt. Ghulam Mohammad is a faithful friend of Bilimoria, and he said to Gustad that –
“Billy’s Friend is my friend, and his enemy will have to answer to me. Anyone who harms him, I will go after him, whatever it takes.”
Because of his friendship with Billy, Ghulam Mohammad was working in RAW, and keeps on changing his identity. Sometimes he becomes a bookseller, sometimes he becomes a taxi driver. Now, because Billy saved Gustad, they become close friends. Billy has no family, so he loves Gustad as his own brother, and Gustad’s family as his own family. Once, suddenly, Billy disappeared from Khodadad building causing the reason for Gustad’s frustration.
Now, coming back to story, because of his bond and brother like friendship with Billy, Gustad accepted Billy’s request to deposit the money in the bank. As Gustad accepts Billy’s request, he notices weird things started to happen to him. Many times, he found dead animals, thrown in front of his house, with threatening notes. So, to complete the task, Gustad takes the help of another good friend Dinshawji, who is working with Gustad in the bank and is a joyful person.
Now, Gustad and Dinshawji both decided to complete the task. Later, Dinshawji revealed the secret to Laurie Coutino, a staff member in the bank, to impress her; and Gustad somehow handled the situation. After sometimes, Dinshawji’s health collapses and he died soon. On the other side, Bilimoria was kept in Delhi jail. Gustad goes to meet him where Gustad finds him on the bed of hospital prison. Billy asked for Gustad’s forgiveness, and revealed the politics behind all these things that happened. Later, Billy died of a heart attack in the prison, and Gustad later comes to know that it was a murder. Gustad, now, comes back to Khodadad.
In the ending scene of the novel, municipal workers are shown working to break the wall surrounding the Khodadad building. Because of the murals of the Gods and Goddesses on the wall, riot breaks out during the removal of the wall resulting in Tehmul Lungraa’s death. Gustad carried out his body to his apartment, and prays for him.
Tehmul Lungraa is a childish living with his elder brother as his parents died many years ago. He is lame because he broke his hip in a fall from the compound's solitary neem tree in his childhood. Even in his mid-thirties, he behaves like a child and prefers to be among children to adults. He adores Gustad. He is nicknamed "Scrambled Egg.”
In the end of the novel, the wall was removed by municipal officers. Sohrab comes back to home. Gustad and Sohrab reunites with tears in his eyes. A lot of disappointments – frustrations, challenges and problems come in Gustad’s life, making his life “Such a Long Journey….”