9th class English 3rd unit

 

3. The Little Girl

 

The Little Girl 

To the little girl he was a figure to fear and avoided.

a figure to be feared:a person to be feared

Every morning before going to work he came into her room and gave her a casual kiss, to which she responded with “Goodbye, Father”.

And oh, there was a glad sense of relief when she heard the noise of the carriage growing fainter and fainter down the long road!

Glad sense of relief: feeling relaxed
Fainter and fainter: to lessen or reduce

In the evening when he came home she stood near the staircase and heard his loud voice in the hall.

 “Bring my tea into the drawing-room… Hasn’t the paper come yet? Mother, go and see if my paper’s out there — and bring me my slippers.”

“Kezia,” Mother would call to her, “if you’re a good girl you can come down and take off father’s boots.”

Slowly the girl would slip down the stairs, more slowly still across the hall, and push open the drawing-room door.

slip down: come down quietly and unwillingly

By that time he had his spectacles on and looked at her over them in a way that was terrifying to the little girl.

 “Well, Kezia, hurry up and pull off these boots and take them outside. Have you been a good girl today?”

 “I d-d-don’t know, Father.”

 “You d-d-don’t know? If you stutter like that Mother will have to take you to the doctor.”

Stutter: to stammer, to speak with pauses

She never stuttered with other people — had quite given it up — but only with Father, because then she was trying so hard to say the words properly.

given it up: stopped doing it
Trying so hard: making a lot of efforts

“What’s the matter? What are you looking so wretched about? Mother, I wish you taught this child not to appear on the brink of suicide…Here, Kezia, carry my teacup back to the table carefully.”

Wretched: unhappy, sad
on the brink of suicide: about to commit suicide
suicide: kill oneself

He was so big — his hands and his neck, especially his mouth when he yawned. Thinking about him alone was like thinking about a giant.

On Sunday afternoons Grandmother sent her down to the drawing-room to have a “nice talk with Father and Mother”.

But the little girl always found Mother reading and Father stretched out on the sofa, his handkerchief on his face, his feet on one of the best cushions, sleeping soundly and snoring.

Snoring: the sound produced by some people when there are asleep.

She sat on a stool, gravely watched him until he woke and stretched, and asked the time — then looked at her.

Gravely: seriously

“Don’t stare so, Kezia. You look like a little brown owl.”

One day, when she was kept indoors with a cold, her grandmother told her that father’s birthday was next week and suggested she should make him a pin-cushion for a gift out of a beautiful piece of yellow silk.

Laboriously, with double cotton, the little girl stitched three sides.

Word Meaning
Laboriously: with lot of effort or difficulty.

But what to fill it with? That was the question.

The grandmother was out in the garden, and she wandered into Mother’s bedroom to look for scraps.

Wandered into: went into, by chance
Scraps: small pieces of cloth or paper etc that are not needed.

On the bed-table, she discovered a great many sheets of fine paper, gathered them up, tore them into tiny pieces, and stuffed her case, then sewed up the fourth side.

That night there was a hue and cry in the house. Father’s great speech for the Port Authority had been lost.

Hue and Cry: angry protest.

Rooms were searched; servants questioned. Finally Mother came into Kezia’s room.

“Kezia, I suppose you didn’t see some papers on a table in our room?”

 “Oh yes,” she said, “I tore them up for my surprise.”

 “What!” screamed Mother. “Come straight down to the dining-room this instant.”

And she was dragged down to where Father was pacing to and fro, hands behind his back.

 “Well?” he said sharply.
Mother explained.
He stopped and stared at the child.
“Did you do that?”
“N-n-no”, she whispered.
“Mother, go up to her room and fetch down the damned thing — see that the child’s put to bed this instant.

The damned thing: used to express anger at something

Crying too much to explain, she lay in the shadowed room watching the evening light make a sad little pattern on the floor.

shadowed room means that as it was dark, there was a light outside the room which was making shadows in the room.
a sad little pattern refers to the sad atmosphere in the room.

Then Father came into the room with a ruler in his hands.

 “I am going to beat you for this,” he said.
“Oh, no, no”, she screamed, hiding under the bedclothes.

Bedclothes Refers to the sheets, the top sheets that you cover yourself when you are sleeping.

He pulled them aside.
“Sit up,” he ordered, “and hold out your hands.
You must be taught once and for all not to touch what does not belong to you.”

 “But it was for your b-b-birthday.”

Down came the ruler on her little, pink palms.

Hours later, when Grandmother had wrapped her in a shawl and rocked her in the rocking chair, the child clung to her soft body.

Clung: to attach yourself to something

 “What did God make fathers for?” she sobbed.

 “Here’s a clean hanky, darling. Blow your nose. Go to sleep, pet; you’ll forget all about it in the morning. I tried to explain to Father but he was too upset to listen tonight.”

But the child never forgot. Next time she saw him she quickly put both hands behind her back and a red colour flew into her cheeks.

The Macdonalds lived next door. They had five children. Looking through a gap in the fence the little girl saw them playing ‘tag’ in the evening.The father with the baby, Mao, on his shoulders, two little girls hanging on to his coat pockets ran round and round the flower-beds, shaking with laughter. Once she saw the boys turn the hose on him—and he tried to catch them laughing all the time.

Then it was she decided there were different sorts of fathers.

Suddenly, one day, Mother became ill, and she and Grandmother went to hospital.

The little girl was left alone in the house with Alice, the cook. That was all right in the daytime but while Alice was putting her to bed she grew suddenly afraid.

“What’ll I do if I have a nightmare?” she asked.

Nightmare: a bad dream.

I often have nightmares and then Granny takes me into her bed—I can’t stay in the dark—it all gets ‘whispery’…”

“You just go to sleep, child,” said Alice, pulling off her socks, “and don’t you scream and wake your poor Pa.”

But the same old nightmare came — the butcher with a knife and a rope, who came nearer and nearer, smiling that dreadful smile, while she could not move, could only stand still, crying out, “Grandma! Grandma!” She woke shivering to see Father beside her bed, a candle in his hand.

A Butcher is a person who cuts animals, who cuts meat.

 “What’s the matter?” he said.

 “Oh, a butcher — a knife — I want Grannie.”

He blew out the candle, bent down and caught up the child in his arms, carrying her along the passage to the big bedroom.

A newspaper was on the bed. He put away the paper, then carefully tucked up the child.

tucked up: covered up nicely in bed

He lay down beside her. Half asleep still, still with the butcher’s smile all about her it seemed, she crept close to him, snuggled her head under his arm, held tightly to his shirt.

Snuggled: moved into a warm, comfortable position, close to another person

Then the dark did not matter; she lay still.

 “Here, rub your feet against my legs and get them warm,” said Father.

Tired out, he slept before the little girl. A funny feeling came over her.
So as Kezia father was very tired, he slept before she did. A funny feeling came over her.
Poor Father, not so big, after all — and with no one to look after him. He was harder than Grandmother, but it was a nice hardness. And every day he had to work and was too tired to be a Mr Macdonald… She had torn up all his beautiful writing… She stirred suddenly, and sighed.

 “What’s the matter?” asked her father. “Another dream”?

 “Oh,” said the little girl, “my head’s on your heart. I can hear it going. What a big heart you’ve got, Father dear

 

 

English Word	Meaning (English)	Meaning (Telugu)
Abandon	To leave forever	వదిలివేయడం
Benevolent	Kind and generous	దయగల
Candid	Honest and straightforward	నిష్పక్షపాతమైన
Deteriorate	To become worse	క్షీణించటం
Eloquent	Fluent at speaking	వాక్కు శక్తివంతమైన
Frugal	Economical, not wasteful	పొదుపు
Gratitude	Thankfulness	కృతజ్ఞత
Hypocrisy	Pretending to be what one is not	ద్వంద్వవాదం
Impartial	Without bias; fair	పాక్షికత లేని
Juxtapose	Put side by side	పక్కపక్కన ఉంచడం
Keen	Eager or sharp	ఉత్సాహంగా
Lucid	Clear and understandable	స్పష్టమైన
Meticulous	Very careful and precise	శ్రద్ధతో
Novice	Beginner	ప్రారంభికుడు
Obsolete	Out of date	ప్రాచీనమైన
Plausible	Believable	నమ్మదగిన
Quench	Satisfy thirst	తృష్ణను తీర్చు
Retaliate	Get revenge	ప్రతీకారం
Serene	Calm and peaceful	ప్రశాంత
Transient	Lasting for a short time	తాత్కాలిక
Ubiquitous	Found everywhere	అందరిలో
Vague	Not clear	అస్పష్టమైన
Wary	Cautious	జాగ్రత్తగా
Yearn	Strongly desire	ఆసపడు
Zealous	Very enthusiastic	ఉత్సాహభరిత
Adversity	Misfortune, difficulty	కష్టసమయం
Belligerent	Aggressive	యుధ్ధానికి తైర్థమైన
Concur	Agree	ఒప్పుకోవడం
Deplete	Use up	తక్కువ చేయడం
Elusive	Hard to catch	పట్టుకోవడం కష్టం
Futile	Useless	వ్యర్థమైన
Gregarious	Sociable	ఇతరులతో కలిసిమెలిసి ఉండేవారు
Hostile	Unfriendly	శత్రుదృక్కాం
Inevitable	Cannot be avoided	తప్పనిసరి
Jeopardy	Danger	ప్రమాదం
Kindle	Start, ignite	వెలిగించు
Lethargic	Without energy	అలసత్వంగా
Morose	Very sad	దుఃఖంగా
Nostalgia	Longing for the past	గతాన్ని ఆశపడుట
Opulent	Rich and luxurious	ఐశ్వర్యవంతమైన
Pragmatic	Practical	పారిపాటిగా
Revere	Show deep respect	ఎంతో గౌరవించు
Scrutinize	Examine closely	జాగ్రత్తగా చూడు
Tangible	Can be touched	స్పర్శయోగ్యం
Unanimous	Agreed by all	ఐక్యమైన
Vilify	Speak ill	అపకీర్తి పరచు
Whimsical	Playful, unpredictable	వినూత్నమైన
Yoke	To join together	కలిపివేయు
Zenith	Highest point	పరమౌన్నతి
Apprehensive	Worried something may happen	ఆందోళన గల

 

Thinking about the Text

Column A (Emotion)	Column B (Situation)
1. fear or terror	(iv) speaking to father
2. glad sense of relief	(ii) noise of the carriage grows fainter
3. a "funny" feeling, perhaps of understanding	(vi) father comforts her and falls asleep

Explanation:

• Kezia feels fear or terror when she has to speak to her father because he is very strict.
• She feels a glad sense of relief when her father leaves, and the noise of the carriage grows fainter.
• She has a "funny" feeling, perhaps of understanding, when her father comforts her during the storm and she realizes he loves her.

II. Answer the following questions in one or two sentences.

1. Why was Kezia afraid of her father?
   Kezia was afraid of her father because he was very strict, harsh in his manner, and rarely showed affection towards her.
2. Who were the people in Kezia’s family?
   The people in Kezia’s family were her father, her mother, and her grandmother.
3. What was Kezia’s father’s routine—
   (i) before going to his office?
   Before going to his office, Kezia’s father would come into her room, give her a casual kiss, and leave for work.
   (ii) after coming back from his office?
   After coming back from his office, he would ask for his tea and newspaper and sit in the drawing-room.
   (iii) on Sundays?
   On Sundays, he would stretch out on the sofa, rest, cover his face with a handkerchief, and snore.
4. In what ways did Kezia’s grandmother encourage her to get to know her father better?
   Her grandmother encouraged her by asking her to talk to her father when he was relaxing on Sundays and also suggested making a pin-cushion as a birthday gift for him.

III. Discuss these questions in class with your teacher and then write down your answers in two or three paragraphs each.

1. Kezia’s efforts to please her father resulted in displeasing him very much. How did this happen?

Kezia wanted to please her father by making a pin-cushion as a birthday present, as suggested by her grandmother. She needed something to stuff the pin-cushion and found some paper in her father’s room, not realizing they were important documents. When her father discovered the missing sheets, he was extremely angry. Instead of being pleased, he scolded and punished her. Kezia’s innocent attempt to do something nice for her father thus backfired and increased the distance between her and her father.

2. Kezia decides that there are “different kinds of fathers”. What kind of father was Mr Macdonald, and how was he different from Kezia’s father?

Mr. Macdonald, the neighbor, was a loving, playful, and friendly father. He enjoyed spending time with his children, playing with them, and never raised his voice or hand at them. In contrast, Kezia’s father was strict, reserved, and intimidating, showing little outward affection. This made Kezia feel that Mr. Macdonald’s children were lucky to have such a jolly and gentle father.

3. How does Kezia begin to see her father as a human being who needs her sympathy?

Kezia starts to see her father differently when her mother falls ill, and she has to sleep alone. During a thunderstorm, frightened, she runs to her father, who comforts her lovingly and lets her sleep by his side. She realizes that her father works hard and is tired, and she understands that he cares for her even if he doesn't express it openly. This moment helps her empathize with him and recognize his need for love and sympathy too.

:

1. Use an appropriate word from the synonyms given above in the following sentences:

(i) She was delighted by the news of her brother’s wedding. (very pleased)

(ii) I was thrilled to be invited to the party. (extremely pleased and excited about)

(iii) She was overjoyed at the birth of her granddaughter. (extremely happy)

(iv) The coach was satisfied with his performance. (satisfied about)

(v) She was very happy with her results. (happy about something that has happened)

2. Study the use of the word big in the following sentences:

(i) You are a big girl now. — older
(ii) Today you are going to take the biggest decision of your career. — most important
(iii) Their project is full of big ideas. — great / innovative
(iv) Cricket is a big game in our country. — popular / important / famous
(v) I am a big fan of Lata Mangeskar. — great / ardent
(vi) You have to cook a bit more as my friend is a big eater. — someone who eats a lot
(vii) What a big heart you’ve got, Father dear. — kind / generous

 

Here are the answers:

1. Underline the verbs of reporting in the following sentences.

(i) He says he will enjoy the ride.

(ii) Father mentioned that he was going on a holiday.

(iii) No one told us that the shop was closed.

(iv) He answered that the price would go up.

(v) I wondered why he was screaming.

(vi) Ben told her to wake him up.

(vii) Ratan apologised for coming late to the party.

2. Fill in the blanks with appropriate reporting verbs:

(i) “I am not afraid,” replied the woman.

(ii) “Leave me alone,” my mother shouted.

(iii) The children were complaining that the roads were crowded and noisy.

(iv) “Perhaps he isn’t a bad sort of a chap after all,” remarked the master.

(v) “Let’s go and look at the school ground,” suggested the sports teacher.

(vi) The traffic police ordered all the passers-by to keep off the road.

 

Writing

When I reflect upon my childhood, I find both similarities and differences with Kezia’s life from “The Little Girl.” Like Kezia, I often felt that my parents were strict and failed to understand my point of view. As a child, I sometimes misinterpreted their discipline as a lack of affection. However, unlike Kezia, I was fortunate to have open conversations with my parents, which helped bridge misunderstandings more quickly.

As I have grown older, my perception about my parents has changed significantly. Now, I can empathize with their struggles and responsibilities. I realize that their rules and boundaries were set out of genuine concern and love. With maturity, I have seen that my parents’ behavior has also evolved; they are more open to listening to my opinions and supporting my decisions. There is mutual respect in our interactions now.

Looking back, I feel both I and my parents have become more understanding of each other. I have learned to see things from their perspective, and they, in turn, have started valuing my independence and individuality. Communication and patience have played key roles in this transformation.

To build a strong relationship based on understanding, I would continue to prioritize open dialogue and empathy. Checking in on each other’s feelings and sharing both joys and struggles helps keep a strong bond. I believe that respecting differences, spending quality time together, and expressing gratitude for each other’s efforts will further deepen our trust and understanding.

Rain on the Roof Poem Explanation

Stanza 1
When the humid shadows hover
Overall the starry spheres
And the melancholy darkness
Gently weeps in rainy tears,
What a bliss to press the pillow
Of a cottage-chamber bed
And lie listening to the patter
Of the soft rain overhead!
Humid: something which is full of moisture.
‘shadows’ refers to the moisture-laden clouds which cast a shadow on the earth.
hover: Move around something
melancholy: sad
bliss: Happiness
patter: the sound of raindrops falling on the roof.
Cottage chamber means the bedroom.

Stanza 2
Every tinkle on the shingles
Has an echo in the heart;
And a thousand dreamy fancies
Into busy being start,
And a thousand recollections
Weave their air-threads into woof,
As I listen to the patter
Of the rain upon the roof.

Word Meaning:
tinkle: short, light ringing sound
shingles: rectangular wooden tiles used on roofs
echo: repeated sound
woof: weft, i.es the thread woven across the loom
patter: the sound of raindrops falling on the roof
‘busy being’ refers to human beings and here, the poet is referring to himself

Stanza 3
Now in memory comes my mother,
As she used in years agone,
To regard the darling dreamers
Ere she left them till the dawn:
O! I feel her fond look on me
As I list to this refrain
Which is played upon the shingles
By the patter of the rain.

Word Meaning:
ere: old poetic word for ‘before’
dawn: daybreak
list: old poetic word for’ listen’
refrain: a repeated part of a song or a poem; here, the sound of the rain

 

English Word	Meaning in English	Meaning in Telugu
1. Aberration	A departure from what is normal or expected	అసాధారణం, వ్యత్యాసం
2. Ambiguous	Having more than one possible meaning	అనిశ్చితమైన, ద్వంద్వార్థం
3. Benevolent	Well-meaning and kindly	దయతో కూడిన, సానుకూలమైన
4. Cacophony	A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds	శబ్ద కలహం, అసహ్యమైన ధ్వని
5. Conundrum	A confusing and difficult problem or question	చిక్కటి ప్రశ్న, సమస్య
6. Deleterious	Causing harm or damage	హానికరమైన, నష్టాన్ని కలిగించే
7. Ephemeral	Lasting for a very short time	తాత్కాలికమైన, తక్కువ కాలం ఉన్న
8. Fortuitous	Happening by chance, often lucky	యాదృచ్ఛికమైన, అదృష్టవశాత్తూ జరిగే
9. Idiosyncrasy	A peculiarity that serves to distinguish or identify	వ్యక్తిగత లక్షణం, ప్రత్యేకత
10. Juxtapose	To place side by side for comparison	పక్కపక్కన ఉంచడం, పోలిక కొరకు ఉంచడం
11. Magnanimous	Generous and forgiving, especially toward a rival	ఉదారమైన, మనసుతో క్షమించే
12. Nefarious	Wicked, villainous, or criminal	దుర్మార్గమైన, పాపిష్టమైన
13. Obfuscate	To deliberately make something unclear or difficult to understand	గందరగోళపరచడం, స్పష్టత లేకుండా చేయడం
14. Quixotic	Unrealistically optimistic or idealistic	వాస్తవానికి దూరమైన, కల్పితమైన
15. Resilient	Able to recover quickly from difficulties	తిరిగి లేచే శక్తి గల, దృఢమైన
16. Sagacious	Having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment	వివేకశీలి, తెలివైన
17. Ubiquitous	Present, appearing or found everywhere	ప్రతి చోటా ఉన్న, సమస్తవ్యాపి
18. Vacillate	To waver between different opinions or actions	కలత చెందడం, సందిగ్ధ స్థితిలో ఉండడం
19. Wistful	Having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longing	ఆవిడుతలతో కూడిన, వెతలుకిందే
20. Zealous	Showing great energy or enthusiasm	ఉత్తేజంతో కూడిన, సంకల్పంతో ఉన్న

 

 

literary devices used in the poem "Rain on the Roof"

• Alliteration: Repetition of the same consonant sounds at the beginning of words in close succession.
  Examples:
• “Humid hover” (repetition of ‘h’ sound)
• “Starry spheres” (‘s’ sound)
• “Press pillow” (‘p’ sound)
• “Lie listening” (‘l’ sound)
• “Their thread” (‘th’ sound)
• “Rain roof” (‘r’ sound)
• “Memory my mother” (‘m’ sound)
• “Darling dreamers” (‘d’ sound)6.
• Onomatopoeia: Words that imitate natural sounds.
  Examples: “Patter” and “tinkle” describe the sound of raindrops falling6.
• Personification: Giving human qualities to non-human things.
  Examples:
• Darkness is personified by comparing it with sadness.
• Memories are said to “weave dreams,” as if they act like humans6.
• Transferred Epithet: An adjective used with a noun, though it actually refers to another noun.
  Examples:
• “Melancholy darkness”: Here, people are melancholy (sad), not the darkness itself.
• “Dreamy fancies”: Refers to the dreams or thoughts of people, not that the fancies themselves are dreamy6.
• Imagery: The poet creates vivid images, appealing to the senses, such as the sight and sound of rain1.
• Simile & Metaphor:
• Simile: Comparisons using "like" or "as" (“like a lullaby”)1.
• Metaphor: Implicit comparisons, like calling rain a “friend”1.
• Rhyme Scheme: The poem follows a specific rhyme pattern (A B C B D E F E), contributing to its musical quality6.

 

Thinking about the Poem”

I.1. What do the following phrases mean to you?

(i) Humid shadows:
These are the damp or moist shadows formed by clouds in the sky, indicating incoming rain.

(ii) Starry spheres:
This refers to the night sky filled with stars—spheres in the sky that shine at night.

(iii) What a bliss:
This phrase expresses a feeling of great joy or happiness, especially from a simple pleasure—in the poem, the bliss of lying in bed listening to rain.

(iv) A thousand dreamy fancies into busy being start:
It means that as it rains, a thousand imaginative thoughts or daydreams come alive in the poet’s mind.

(v) A thousand recollections weave their air-threads into woof:
Here, “woof” is the woven part of fabric, so this phrase means many old memories come together in the poet’s mind, weaving a tapestry of thoughts.

I.2. What does the poet like to do when it rains?

The poet likes to lie in his cozy bed and listen to the sound of raindrops falling on the roof. It brings him comfort, peace, and triggers memories of the past.

I.3. What is the single major memory that comes to the poet? Who are the “darling dreamers” he refers to?

The single major memory is of his mother, who used to tuck him in bed when he was a child. The “darling dreamers” are the poet and his siblings—or all children who dream sweetly when cared for by their mothers.

I.4. Is the poet now a child? Is his mother still alive?

No, the poet is no longer a child; he is reminiscing about his childhood. His mother is no longer alive, and he remembers her fondly whenever it rains.

II.1. When you were a young child, did your mother tuck you in, as the poet’s did?

This is a personal reflection question; answers will vary for each student.

II.2. Do you like rain? What do you do when it rains steadily or heavily as described in the poem?

This is also a personal reflection. You can answer about your feelings towards rain—whether you enjoy it and how you spend time during rain, such as reading, sleeping, listening to music, or watching the rain.

II.3. Does everybody have a cosy bed to lie in when it rains?

No, not everyone is fortunate to have a cozy bed or home for shelter. Many people—like the homeless, poor, and some animals—have to seek shelter or face discomfort during rain. Animals may hide under trees, roofs, or in shelters, while some people use temporary coverings or try to find public places for refuge.

Iswarin the Storyteller

The story was narrated to Ganesh by a young man, Mahendra by name. He was a junior supervisor in a firm which offered on hire supervisors at various types of construction sites: factories, bridges, dams, and so on. Mahendra’s job was to keep an eye on the activities at the work site. He had to keep moving from place to place every now and then as ordered by his head office: from a coal mining area to a railway bridge construction site, from there after a few months to a chemical plant which was coming up somewhere.

Supervisor: a person whose job is to check the work of all the other people

He was a bachelor. His needs were simple and he was able to adjust himself to all kinds of odd conditions, whether it was an ill equipped circuit house or a makeshift canvas tent in the middle of a stone quarry. But one asset he had was his cook, Iswaran. The cook was quite attached to Mahendra and followed him uncomplainingly wherever he was posted. He cooked for Mahendra, washed his clothes and chatted away with his master at night. He could weave out endless stories and anecdotes on varied subjects.

Bachelor: a person who is unmarried
Makeshift: temporary
Quarry: mine
Asset: advantage
Anecdote: A short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person

Iswaran also had an amazing capacity to produce vegetables and cooking ingredients, seemingly out of nowhere, in the middle of a desolate landscape with no shops visible for miles around. He would miraculously conjure up the most delicious dishes made with fresh vegetables within an hour of arriving at the zinc sheet shelter at the new workplace.

Desolate: uninhabited, empty
Conjure up: to gather or create with magic
Zinc sheet shelter: a temporary place to live with the roof made of metallic sheets

Mahendra would be up early in the morning and leave for work after breakfast, carrying some prepared food with him. Meanwhile Iswaran would tidy up the shed, wash the clothes, and have a leisurely bath, pouring several buckets of water over his head, muttering a prayer all the while. It would be lunchtime by then. After eating, he would read for a while before dozing off. The book was usually some popular Tamil thriller running to hundreds of pages. Its imaginative descriptions and narrative flourishes would hold Iswaran in thrall.

Muttering: speaking in a low voice
Dozing off: falling asleep
Narrative flourishes: detailed descriptions
In thrall: The state of being in someone’s power

His own descriptions were greatly influenced by the Tamil authors that he read. When he was narrating even the smallest of incidents, he would try to work in suspense and a surprise ending into the account. For example, instead of saying that he had come across an uprooted tree on the highway, he would say, with eyebrows suitably arched and hands held out in a dramatic gesture, “The road was deserted and I was all alone. Suddenly I spotted something that looked like an enormous bushy beast lying sprawled across the road. I was half inclined to turn and go back. But as I came closer I saw that it was a fallen tree, with its dry branches spread out.” Mahendra would stretch himself back in his canvas chair and listen to Iswaran’s tales uncritically.

Arched: curved
Gesture: A movement of hands for head to indicate something
Deserted: empty
Enormous: huge

 “The place I come from is famous for timber,” Iswaran would begin. “There is a richly wooded forest all around. The logs are hauled on to the lorries by elephants. They are huge well fed beasts. When they turn wild even the most experienced mahout is not able to control them.” After this prologue Iswaran would launch into an elaborate anecdote involving an elephant.

Word meaning
Timber: wood that has been processed for commercial purposes
Hauled: transported
Prologue: an introductory speech
Elaborate: detailed

 “One day a tusker escaped from the timber yard and began to roam about, stamping on bushes, tearing up wild creepers and breaking branches at will. You know, sir, how an elephant behaves when it goes mad.” Iswaran would get so caught up in the excitement of his own story that he would get up from the floor and jump about, stamping his feet in emulation of the mad elephant.

Word meaning
Tusker:  an elephant
roam about: move around
Stamping:  hitting with force
Emulation: Effort to match or surpass a person by imitation or copying

 “The elephant reached the outskirts of our town; breaking the fences down like matchsticks,” he would continue. “It came into the main road and smashed all the stalls selling fruits, mud pots and clothes. People ran helter skelter in panic! The elephant now entered a school ground where children were playing, breaking through the brick wall. All the boys ran into the classrooms and shut the doors tight. The beast grunted and wandered about, pulling out the football goal post, tearing down the volleyball net, kicking and flattening the drum kept for water, and uprooting the shrubs. Meanwhile all the teachers had climbed up to the terrace of the school building; from there they helplessly watched the depredations of the elephant. There was not a soul below on the ground. The streets were empty as if the inhabitants of the entire town had suddenly disappeared.

Outskirts:  outer area
helter skelter: here and there
Panic:  sudden fear causing unthinkable behaviour
Grunted:  Made a loud sound
Depredations: Attacks which are made to destroy something

 “I was studying in the junior class at that time, and was watching the whole drama from the rooftop. I don’t know what came over me suddenly. I grabbed a cane from the hands of one of the teachers and ran down the stairs and into the open. The elephant grunted and menacingly swung a branch of a tree which it held in its trunk. It stamped its feet, kicking up a lot of mud and dust. It looked frightening. But I moved slowly towards it, stick in hand. People were watching the scene hypnotized from nearby housetops. The elephant looked at me redeyed, ready to rush towards me. It lifted its trunk and trumpeted loudly. At that moment I moved forward and, mustering all my force, whacked its third toenail on the quick. The beast looked stunned for a moment; then it shivered from head to foot — and collapsed.”

Hypnotize: to influence, control or direct completely as by personal charm, words or domination
Mastering: putting together
whacked:  hit noisily
Collapsed: fell

At this point Iswaran would leave the story unfinished, and get up mumbling, “I will be back after lighting the gas and warming up the dinner.” Mahendra who had been listening with rapt attention would be left hanging. When he returned, Iswaran would not pick up the thread of the story right away. Mahendra would have to remind him that the conclusion was pending. “Well, a veterinary doctor was summoned to revive the animal,” Iswaran would shrug casually. “Two days later it was led away by its mahout to the jungle.”

rapt attention: completely fascinated or absorbed by what one is seeing or hearing
pick up the thread of the story: would not restart the story from where he left in order to arouse curiosity
veterinary doctor: a doctor who specializes in treating animals
Summoned: called
Shrug: to raise one’s shoulders slightly and momentarily to express doubt, ignorance, or indifference

 “Well, how did you manage to do it, Iswaran — how did you bring down the beast?”

 “It has something to do with a Japanese art, I think, sir. Karate or jujitsu it is called. I had read about it somewhere. It temporarily paralyses the nervous system, you see.”

Not a day passed without Iswaran recounting some story packed with adventure, horror and suspense. Whether the story was credible or not, Mahendra enjoyed listening to it because of the inimitable way in which it was told. Iswaran seemed to more than make up for the absence of a TV in Mahendra’s living quarters.

Credible: able to be believed; convincing
Inimitable: Unique

One morning when Mahendra was having breakfast Iswaran asked, “Can I make something special for dinner tonight, sir? After all today is an auspicious day — according to tradition we prepare various delicacies to feed the spirits of our ancestors today, sir.”

Auspicious: good
Delicacies: tasty food
Spirits: souls of the dead
Ancestors: elders of the family

 That night Mahendra enjoyed the most delicious dinner and complimented Iswaran on his culinary skills. He seemed very pleased but, unexpectedly, launched into a most garish account involving the supernatural.

culinary skills: related to cooking
Garish: something which is too colourful and fancy that it is disliked
Supernatural: related to ghosts and spirits

 “You know, sir, this entire factory area we are occupying was once a burial ground,” he started. Mahendra was jerked out of the pleasant reverie he had drifted into after the satisfying meal. “I knew on the first day itself when I saw a human skull lying on the path. Even now I come across a number of skulls and bones,” Iswaran continued.

Reverie: a state of being pleasantly lost in one’s thoughts; a daydream

He went on to narrate how he sometimes saw ghosts at night. “I am not easily frightened by these things, sir. I am a brave fellow. But one horrible ghost of a woman which appears off and on at midnight during the full moon… It is an ugly creature with matted hair and a shrivelled face, like a skeleton holding a foetus in its arms.”

Shrivelled: wrinkled and shrunken
Foetus: unborn baby

Mahendra shivered at the description and interrupted rather sharply, “You are crazy, Iswaran. There are no such things as ghosts or spirits. It is all a figment of your imagination. Get your digestive system examined — and maybe your head as well. You are talking nonsense.”

Figment: production

He left the room and retired for the night, expecting Iswaran to sulk for a couple of days. But the next morning he was surprised to find the cook as cheerful and talkative as ever.

Sulk: be silent, morose, and bad-tempered out of annoyance or disappointment

From that day on Mahendra, for all his brave talk, went to bed with a certain unease. Every night he peered into the darkness outside through the window next to his bed, trying to make sure that there was no movement of dark shapes in the vicinity. But he could only see a sea of darkness with the twinkling lights of the factory miles away.

Vicinity: nearby area

He had always liked to admire the milk – white landscape on full moon nights. But after hearing Iswaran’s story of the female ghost he avoided looking out of his window altogether when the moon was full.

One night, Mahendra was woken up from his sleep by a low moan close to his window. At first he put it down to a cat prowling around for mice. But the sound was too guttural for a cat. He resisted the curiosity to look out lest he should behold a sight which would stop his heart. But the wailing became louder and less feline. He could not resist the temptation any more. Lowering himself to the level of the windowsill he looked out at the white sheet of moonlight outside. There, not too far away, was a dark cloudy form clutching a bundle. Mahendra broke into a cold sweat and fell back on the pillow, panting. As he gradually recovered from the ghastly experience he began to reason with himself, and finally concluded that it must have been some sort of auto suggestion, some trick that his subconscious had played on him.

Moan: crying sound
Prowling: searching
guttural: sound produced in the throat; harsh sounding
Wailing: crying sound
Feline: relating to cats or other members of the cat family
Panting: breathing heavily
Ghastly: causing horror and fear
auto suggestion: subconscious adoption of an idea which one has originated oneself

By the time he had got up in the morning, had a bath and come out to have his breakfast, the horror of the previous night had faded from his memory. Iswaran greeted him at the door with his lunch packet and his bag. Just as Mahendra was stepping out Iswaran grinned and said, “Sir, remember the other day when I was telling you about the female ghost with a foetus in its arms, you were so angry with me for imagining things? Well, you saw her yourself last night. I came running hearing the sound of moaning that was coming from your room…”

Grinned: smiled broadly
Resolving: deciding
haunted place: visited by ghosts

A chill went down Mahendra’s spine. He did not wait for Iswaran to complete his sentence. He hurried away to his office and handed in his papers, resolving to leave the haunted place the very next day!

Spine: back bone
Resolving: deciding
Handed his papers: resigned

.

English Word	Meaning (English)	Meaning (Telugu)
Abandon	To leave completely	పూర్తిగా వదిలిపెట్టు
Benevolent	Kind and generous	దయతో ఉన్న
Cautious	Careful; avoiding risk	జాగ్రత్తగా ఉన్న
Dauntless	Fearless	భయంలేని
Elusive	Difficult to find/catch	పట్టుకోలేని, అందుకోలేని
Frivolous	Not serious; silly	గొప్ప ఆలోచన లేని, లేవు
Gratify	To please or satisfy	తృప్తి చేయు
Haphazard	Random; not organized	యాదృచ్చికమైన
Imminent	About to happen	జరిగినివ్వబోతున్న
Juxtapose	Place side by side	పక్కపక్కన ఉంచు
Keen	Eager or enthusiastic	ఆసక్తి ఉన్న
Lucid	Clear; easy to understand	స్పష్టమైన
Mundane	Ordinary; uninteresting	సాధారణమైన
Novice	Beginner	ప్రారంభికుడు
Ominous	Threatening	ప్రమాద సూచనిచేసే
Perilous	Dangerous	ప్రమాదకరమైన
Quell	Suppress; put an end to	అణచివేయు
Resilient	Able to recover quickly	తేరుకునే శక్తి ఉన్న
Stagnant	Not moving or changing	ఆగిపోయిన
Tangible	Can be touched	ముట్టుకోదగిన
Ubiquitous	Present everywhere	ప్రతిచోటా ఉన్న
Vivid	Bright, clear	ప్రకాశవంతమైన
Wary	Cautious, alert	జాగ్రత్తగా ఉన్న
Zealous	Very enthusiastic	తీవ్రమైన ఆసక్తి ఉన్న
Admonish	Warn or reprimand	హెచ్చరించు
Blatant	Very obvious	స్పష్టంగా కనిపించేది
Concur	Agree	ఏకీభవించు
Diligent	Hard-working	కష్టపడే
Eclectic	Choosing from many sources	అనేక మానవ వనరులు నుండి ఎంపికచేసే
Fluctuate	To change frequently	మారడం, ఊగిసలాడించడం
Gregarious	Sociable; likes company	సమాజాన్ని ఇష్టపడే
Heed	Pay attention to	శ్రద్ధ చూపు
Illicit	Illegal	అక్రమమైన
Jeopardy	Danger	ప్రమాదం
Knack	Natural skill	సహజ నైపుణ్యం
Lethargic	Without energy	అలసటగా, నిరుత్సాహంగా
Meticulous	Very careful, precise	దీర్ఘ సూచనతో, ఖచ్చితంగా
Nonchalant	Calm and unconcerned	నిర్లక్ష్యంగా
Oblivious	Unaware, unconscious	తెలియకుండా ఉండటం
Pragmatic	Practical	ప్రాయోగికమైన
Quirk	Strange habit	విచిత్రపు అలవాటు
Reclusive	Preferring to be alone	ఒంటరిగా ఉండే వాడు
Scrutinize	Examine closely	జాగ్రత్తగా పరిశీలించు
Trivial	Unimportant	తక్కువ ప్రాధాన్యత కలిగిన
Uncanny	Strange, mysterious	విచిత్రమైన
Versatile	Able to do many things	బహుముఖ
Wither	Dry up, wilt	వాడిపోవడం
Yearn	Desire strongly	ఆత్రంగా కోరుకోడం
Zest	Great enthusiasm	ఉత్సాహం

1. In what way is Iswaran an asset to Mahendra?
Iswaran handles all domestic chores, cooks excellent meals even in difficult locations, and entertains Mahendra with captivating stories, making life more comfortable and interesting for him.

2. How does Iswaran describe the uprooted tree on the highway? What effect does he want to create in his listeners?
He calls it "an enormous bushy beast" and uses suspenseful, dramatic narration to excite and engage his listeners.

3. How does he narrate the story of the tusker? Does it appear to be plausible?
He tells it with animation and drama, describing how he stopped a mad elephant as a boy. The story is exaggerated and not believable, but entertaining.

4. Why does the author say that Iswaran seemed to more than make up for the absence of a TV?
Because Iswaran’s entertaining and vivid storytelling kept Mahendra amused, just like watching TV.

5. What happens to Mahendra on a full-moon night, despite his disbelief in ghosts?
He gets frightened after seeing a ghostly figure outside his window, even though he thought ghosts were imaginary.

6. Can you think of another ending for the story?
Instead of leaving, Mahendra could discover the "ghost" was actually Iswaran playing a harmless prank, and they both laugh about it, becoming better friends.