8 year old Leela abounds with joy when her parents hire a new servant to help about the house. Sidda the servant, is a simple soul – but he is all she knows. The Sivasankar family is a picture of joy as Sidda helps run an efficient household and give Leela the benefit of his experience. One day on the way home from market, Mrs. Sivasankar discovers her daughter’s chain missing. Sidda too vanishes. Leela is beside herself with grief, while the parents are busy with their own work, and the Police. In yet another bitter – sweet tale, R.K. Narayan sharply contrasts the innocent world of child with the hard realities of adulthood. The chain in finally found in a pickle- jar, but Sidda’s screams rent the air around the Police – station. Leela’s Friend is no more.
