Summary of Bhisham Sahni’s ‘Dinner for the Boss’

The desire and aspirations of social mobility makes Shyamnath emotionless, stone hearted and ungrateful towards his mother. After having prepared for the party, hiding the mother from the guest becomes the central problem for Shyamnath. He does not want his mother to be noticed by any of the guests. Thus he gives her instructions to keep herself away from the sight of the guests. He even asks her not to sleep and snore.<br>

He directs her to remain in the veranda a long as the drinking will go on in the sitting room, and when they come in the veranda for dinner, she should move quietly into the sitting room. But the drinks continue till late night The mother falls asleep sitting on the chair in the veranda. Shyamnath comes there leading the guests for dinner. He finds his mother dozing and snoring loudly. He feels ashamed and becomes enraged. He feels like dragging his mother into her room which becomes impossible in the presence of guests.<br>

He directs her to remain in the veranda a long as the drinking will go on in the sitting room, and when they come in the veranda for dinner, she should move quietly into the sitting room. But the drinks continue till late night The mother falls asleep sitting on the chair in the veranda. Shyamnath comes there leading the guests for dinner. He finds his mother dozing and snoring loudly. He feels ashamed and becomes enraged. He feels like dragging his mother into her room which become impossible in the presence of guests.<br>

Everyone starts giggling on seeing the old woman dozing and snoring. The mother panics and stands up and starts staring at the ground. Before any distress may occur, the boss comes ahead and acts wisely. He smiles and wishes 'Namastey to the old woman. He lovingly shakes hand with her several times and asks the old woman about her well being Then the boss tries to comfort the old woman's anxiety by asking her to sing a Punjabi folk song. The old mother responses with, "Hariya ni maye,<br>

Hariya ni bhaine, Hariya te bhap bhariya hai. The veranda resounds with applause, clapping and laughter of the guests. The boss feels so joyous to hear that he forgets to stop clapping. Shyamnath's annoyance turns into joy and pride. After the departure of the guests, the old mother requests her son to send her to Haridwar. She expresses her wish to stay there in her last few days of life and remember the name of God.<br>

But Shyamnath feels irritated to hear this and asks his mother to embroider a phulkari for his boss to please him. The old mother expresses her helplessness in minute work like embroidery of phulkari in her old age with low vision. But the callous Shyamnath throws emotional master card and says that it can bring him promotion. On hearing that she can help her son in getting a bright future, she at once assures him saying, I will do it beta, However it'll have to be done, I will do it." Mr. Shyamnath who still stumbles under the effect of alcohol says, "Now go to sleep" and he himself turns towards his own room.<br>

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