Thannappa
Thannappa is a postal worker featured in "The Missing Mail." He is portrayed as a kind man who wants the best for everyone around him. He becomes acquainted with the details of the lives of the people to whom he delivers mail.
Dr. Raman
Dr. Raman appears in the story "The Doctor's World." He is a very blunt medical doctor who has his mettle put to the test by the illness of a dear friend.
Sidda
Sidda shows up in the story "Leela's Friend." She is a kind servant who is good with children. She is falsely accused of stealing a necklace.
The Astrologer
The Astrologer appears in "An Astrologer's Day." He is a well-read man with a mysterious past.
Govind Singh
Govind is a gatekeeper who enjoys doing clay sculpting in his retirement.
The Talkative Man
The Talkative Man is a recurring character throughout the collection. He narrates various stories from his life and is characterized by the outlandish misfortunes and misunderstandings that occur in his daily life. His credibility sometimes appears questionable.
Swami
Swami is a character from one of Malgudi's novel, Swami and Friends. He attempts to use dishonesty about his teacher to get out of going to class, but is caught in his lie and fails to do so.
Rama Rao
Rama Rao is a man despondent about losing his gramophone business.
Attila
Attila is a dog that is not good at scaring away burglars.
Velan
Velan is a poor man who becomes a gardener for a wealthy estate. He develops an attachment to some trees he plants and is crushed when they are cut down.
Raju
Raju is a pickpocket who experiences a moment of remorse in the story "Trail of the Green Blazer."
The Narrator
The narrator is an unnamed individual who appears in several stories. They are characterized by their focus on reading and academics.
Sambu
Sambu is a young boy who enjoys watching a film starring his recently deceased father.
Ayah
Ayah is servant who is often taken for granted. She is described as being childlike.
Rama
Rama is a snake charmer abandoned by his father.
Ranga
Ranga is a knife sharpener who loves his daughters and fights frequently with his wife.
Raman
Raman is a bitter man who feels angry about not having a wife or children. He befriends a lost child at an expo.
Rao
Rao is an elderly man who used to be a widely feared enforcer in Malgudi.
