"Have you, children……." She began, And then, seeing they are curiously quiet, went on more slowly, "seen anyone lurking around the verandah?"

(i) What do you think Rukku Manni really wanted to ask?

(ii) Why did she change her question?

(iii) What did she think had happened?

(i) Rukku Manni really wanted to know where the sleepers of the music teacher had gone. She dropped a hint by asking the children about the slippers and if they have hidden it they must give them back.

(ii) In order to get the truth out easily and quickly, she changed the question. She was getting suspicious on seeing the children playing so quietly.

(iii) She thought that the music teacher's chappals had been stolen by someone. As per her, the thief secretly entered into the house and ran away with the chappals.