Chapter a-pair-of-mustachios: A Pair of Mustachios | Short Questions

Ramanand uses his 'business acumen' to turn the Khan's anger into a series of profitable deals. He pretends to be 'amenable' but only complies with the Khan's demands in exchange for expensive items. He starts by taking a gold nose-ring and then cleverly keeps one tip of his moustache up to provoke the Khan further. This forces the Khan to bring more jewellery and eventually sign away his entire estate just to see the merchant's moustache flat, showing how Ramanand exploits ego for money.

The village elders and the priest act as witnesses and social enforcers, which highlights how deeply these 'queer conventions' are rooted in the community. Their presence makes the 'bargain' between the Khan and Ramanand legally and socially binding. However, the author also suggests they are 'jealous' of the Khan's ancestry. Their involvement shows that the entire village supports a system that values outward symbols, making the Khan's self-destruction a public event sanctioned by the local authorities.

In the story, this phrase means that a person's social identity, rank, and honor are tied directly to the style of their facial hair. Unlike European society, where 'clothes make the man,' the author explains that in his country, mustachios are the primary poetry and symbol of one's order. They serve as 'permanent boundary-lines' that are strictly guarded. This belief is so strong that people like Khan Azam Khan are willing to lose all their 'worldly possessions' just to maintain the purity of their specific moustache style.

Khan Azam Khan is a 'survival' from the old feudal gentry. He wears a 'gold-brocaded waistcoat' that is now faded and lives in a 'dilapidated' house. He has 'not even a patch of land left,' which means his economic power is completely gone. These remnants show that his noble status is a thing of the past. He clings to his tiger moustache precisely because it is the only thing he has left that connects him to his ancestors' 'past glory' and 'stately ruins.'

Ramanand shows his cunning by appearing to give in to the Khan's will while actually making the situation worse. After taking the seven-generation-old necklace, he brushes one tip down as promised, but then allows the 'other tip' to go up. He makes it look like an 'illusion' or a 'dubious' accident, which he knows will further enrage the Khan. This calculated move ensures that the Khan will return with even more possessions to offer, eventually leading to the total transfer of his property.