Read the given extracts and answer the questions that follow.

"I won't take any more of your medicines." "No. Never" and he swept the bottle out of his son's hand.

(a) What caused Mr. Varma to react in this manner?

(b) Is Rakesh responsible for it? Give a reason.

(c) Which of the options given below best describes Mr. Varma's state of mind in the given extract.

(i) helpless (ii) spiteful (iii) angry (iv) frustrated

(a) Varmaji fell ill so frequently and with such mysterious diseases that even his son could not cure him. The meals that arrived for him on the shining stainless steel tray twice a day were frugal to say the least: dry bread, boiled lentils, boiled vegetables and, if there were a bit of chicken or fish, that was boiled too. If he called for another helping in a cracked voice that quavered theatrically Rakesh himself would come to the door, gaze at him sadly and shake his head, saying no. Determined, Varmaji announces that he didn’t need his son’s medicines. All that he wished was death.

(b) Seeing his father’s health declining, Rakesh took certain strict steps to cut down his father’s diet. At first he stopped all provisions of Halva to the old man and it was only the first item to be crossed off the old man’s diet. The meals that arrived for him on the shining stainless steel tray twice a day was boiled too. Rakesh shook his head to his father that it was his duty to be careful about what he ate and how he ate as his health was at risk. Rakesh had by this time developed a doctor-patient relationship with his father. Rakesh was only concerned with his father’s health but the old man thought his son was miserly.

(c) Mr. Varma's state of mind in the given extract was helpless. Varmaji realized that, even with a doctor at home he was not half as happy as old Bhatia. He began to think that his son had crossed all limits. He also denied all medicines and sat back wishing for death.