Q2 of 31 Page 20

Do you think Varma and of Bhatia are a contrast to each other? Give reasons.

Old Bhatia, Varmaji’s neighbour, was luckier than him in several aspects. He was still very active and lively. He didn’t need his children’s support to bathe and was in all position to have a bath outside the tiled bathroom indoors. Like he always did, old Bhatia carried his brass mug and towel, in all seasons and usually at impossible hours, into the yard and bathed noisily under the garden tap. He had a way with his style and there was no one to give him directions. Unfortunately, Varmaji had been denied all these rights and freedom. He felt jealous of Mr. Bhatia, especially when he saw the other man looked over the hedge to see if Varma were out on his verandah and call to him and talk while he wrapped his dhoti about him and dried the sparse hair on his head. Even the sight of Mr. Bhatia shivering with enjoyable exaggeration hurt Mr. Varma and it reminded him of his lost freedom.


More from this chapter

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1

Rakesh is acting more like a doctor than a son, and that ruins the quality of his father's last days. Do you think he is justified in doing so? Express your views in about 150-200 words.

 2

A static character in a story does not change during the development of the plot while adynamic character does. How are Varma and Rakesh examples of these? Substantiate with examples.

 2

Anita Desai's writing style is embellished by the wonderful phrases that she has used to convey the character's, feelings and to make the descriptions vivid. Substantiate this observation.

 2

(a) Read the following sentences from the story focussing on the italicised phrases.

1. 'The whole day long visitors streamed into the small yellow house.'


2. 'All in a multicoloured whirl of pride.'


3. 'When it is merely a peevish whim.'


4. The old man could just see her smirk sliding merrily.'


5. 'His authority was only tyranny in disguise.'


(b) Now read the following situations and match the above phrases with the situations.


i) Anvita received a string of awards for her innovation in Science. She was flooded with congratulatory messages. She was swimming in a ________.


ii) The party workers came to greet their leader on his birthday. They


_________ the party office from 5 am in the morning.


iii) Mr. Rao lost the argument to his wife. His teenaged son observed his father getting into the car sheepishly. As he got into the car he saw him ________________.


iv) Sanjay often threw tantrums and cried for everything. His patient mother could never make out whether it was genuine or if it was _____________.


v) Rohit was a Class 12 student studying in Delhi. As his parents worked abroad, Rohit's uncle was his local guardian. He laid down many restrictions on Rohit, out of sheer concern. Rohit felt it was a ____________.


(c) Pick out four more expressions from the text that enhance the description of people orevents, as in given the examples in '4.2.d'.


1. ___________________________________________


2. ___________________________________________


3. ___________________________________________


4. ___________________________________________