GSEB Class 9 English Solutions Chapter 6 The Night Train at Deoli

(A) Recite the Poem.

In The Train

As we rush, as we rush in the train,
The trees and the houses go wheeling back (go backwards),
But the starry heavens (sky filled with stars) above the plain foil
Come flying on our track.
All the beautiful stars of the sky,
The silver doves of the forest of night,
Over the dull earth swarm (collect together) and fly,
Companions (those travelling along) of our flight (journey).
We will rush ever on without fear;
Let the goal (aim) be far, the flight be fleet!
For we carry the heavens with us, dear,
While the earth slips from under our feet! – James Thomson

Say whether the statements are True or False.

Question 1. When we travel in a train... Stars are like bright birds.
Answer: True
In simple words: This statement is correct.

Exam Tip: For true/false questions, identify keywords in the statement and check if they match the context provided in the text.

Question 2. When we travel in a train... We are slipping on the earth.
Answer: False
In simple words: This statement is incorrect. The train moves, we do not slip on the earth.

Exam Tip: Pay attention to the literal meaning of words to accurately determine if a statement is true or false.

Question 3. When we travel in a train... Star-filled sky is changing.
Answer: False
In simple words: This statement is incorrect. The sky filled with stars does not change when the train moves.

Exam Tip: Distinguish between perceived movement (like things "flying on our track") and actual physical changes in the environment.

Question 4. When we travel in a train... The dark night looks like a forest.
Answer: False
In simple words: This statement is incorrect. The text describes the sky and stars, not the night looking like a forest.

Exam Tip: Carefully read all descriptive phrases in the poem to avoid misinterpreting comparisons.

Question 5. When we travel in a train... It seems as if trees are racing with us.
Answer: True
In simple words: This statement is correct. When we move in a train, objects outside often appear to be racing backward.

Exam Tip: Understand optical illusions that occur during travel, where stationary objects appear to move in the opposite direction.

Question 6. When we travel in a train... The journey is scaring.
Answer: False
In simple words: This statement is incorrect. The poem says "We will rush ever on without fear," indicating no fear during the journey.

Exam Tip: Look for direct statements in the text that contradict or support the given assertion, like phrases indicating emotions.

Question 7. Recollect a meeting with a stranger during your journey on a train or a bus and share the details of that person with your classmate. (You may use your mother tongue.)
Answer: No specific answer is provided as this is a discussion-based activity intended for classroom interaction. Students should share their personal experiences with a stranger during a journey, describing the person and the details of their meeting.
In simple words: This question asks you to tell your classmate about meeting someone new on a trip, like a bus or train ride.

Exam Tip: For discussion-based questions, focus on drawing from your own experiences and communicating them clearly, even if a written answer isn't formally required.

Vocabulary

1. Frame a sentence using all the words in each group.

Question 8. (1) anxious – look at – pale – my teacher.
Answer: My teacher looked at me so strictly that I became anxious and my face became pale.
In simple words: My teacher gazed at me harshly, making me feel worried and my face lose color.

Exam Tip: When combining words into a sentence, ensure logical flow and correct grammar, making sure all given words are naturally included.

Question 9. (2) determine – summer vacation – spend -Mt. Abu
Answer: I was determined to spend my summer vacation at Mount Abu.
In simple words: I firmly decided to pass my summer break at Mount Abu.

Exam Tip: Create sentences that clearly show the relationship between the words, demonstrating your understanding of each term.

Question 10. (3) kettle – tea – gas stove
Answer: Please keep the tea kettle on the gas stove.
In simple words: Place the kettle, used for making tea, on the cooking appliance.

Exam Tip: Opt for simple and direct sentences that effectively link the provided words.

Question 11. (4) run back – bell – classroom – students
Answer: When the bell rang, the students ran back into the classroom.
In simple words: After the school bell sounded, the learners hurried back inside their class.

Exam Tip: Construct sentences that tell a small, coherent story using all the specified words.

Question 12. (5) bare sun road - walk
Answer: The poor man walked on the road in the hot sun with bare feet
In simple words: The impoverished man journeyed on the path under the warm sun without shoes.

Exam Tip: Ensure that the context of the sentence makes sense and all words fit logically.

Question 13. 2. Form words by rearranging the letters in the correct order. The middle column gives you some clues.
Answer:

Exam Tip: Use the clues provided to help unscramble the letters and form the correct words. Context is key in such exercises.

Question 14. 3 Write the appropriate matches from the brackets to complete the phrases (and down, footboard, the dark, the engine, the train, the hospital, the jungle, the bell)
(1) clanging of the bell.
(2) border of the jungle.
(3) get off the train.
(4) rushed to the hospital.
(5) vanishing in the dark.
(6) hissing of the engine.
(7) stepped off the footboard.
(8) looked up and down.
Answer:
(1) clanging of the bell.
(2) border of the jungle.
(3) get off the train.
(4) rushed to the hospital.
(5) vanishing in the dark.
(6) hissing of the engine.
(7) stepped off the footboard.
(8) looked up and down.
In simple words: These phrases are already correctly completed using the words from the bracket.

Exam Tip: Read each phrase and available options carefully to ensure the chosen word creates a grammatically correct and meaningful expression.

4. Match the words with the expressions.

Question 15. Identify emotions from the image below.
Answer: The image shows different facial expressions matching the emotions: amazed, annoyed, confused, disgusted, embarrassed, excited, interested, shocked. These labels help to recognize various human feelings.
In simple words: The picture displays different face looks for feelings like surprised, bothered, mixed-up, turned-off, ashamed, eager, keen, and startled.

Exam Tip: Connect visual cues of facial expressions with their corresponding emotional labels to enhance your vocabulary and comprehension of non-verbal communication.

Comprehension

Question 16. 1. Look at the picture of the girl selling baskets. Read the lesson and write at least eight sentences about her. (bare feet, old clothes, young, walking gracefully, pale skin, black hair, dark eyes, searching and lively)
Answer: The girl in the picture was young and looked graceful. She wore old clothes and her feet were bare. She had pale skin, and her shiny black hair was noticeable. Her dark eyes were lively and always searching for something. She also had a shawl across her shoulders. The author observed her intently, noting these details.
In simple words: The girl was young, wore worn-out clothes, and had no shoes. She had fair skin, dark bright hair, and curious, animated eyes. A shawl was also draped over her shoulders.

Exam Tip: When describing a character, combine direct observations from the text with descriptive adjectives to create a vivid image. Ensure you include all requested points.

2. Say whether the statements are True or False. Correct the false statements.

Question 17. (1) The girl was selling many things.
Answer: False. The girl was selling baskets.
In simple words: Incorrect. She only offered baskets for sale.

Exam Tip: Always provide the correct information when a false statement needs to be corrected, clarifying the specific detail that was wrong.

Question 18. (2) The writer met the girl twice at Deoli.
Answer: True
In simple words: This statement is correct. The writer saw her two times at the Deoli station.

Exam Tip: Keep track of character interactions and settings to accurately recall event details.

Question 19. (3) The writer controlled his feeling of touching the girl.
Answer: False. The writer caught her hand and held it.
In simple words: Incorrect. The writer actually held her hand.

Exam Tip: Verify actions mentioned in the story to confirm if they match the statement or contradict it.

Question 20. (4) The writer watched the girl in the dream during the journey.
Answer: False. The writer sat up awake during the journey.
In simple words: Incorrect. The writer remained awake and did not dream of the girl.

Exam Tip: Distinguish between waking thoughts and dreams as described in the narrative.

Question 21. (5) The writer expressed his love in words during their second meeting.
Answer: False. The writer said nothing for some time but they spoke without words.
In simple words: Incorrect. The writer and girl communicated silently, not with spoken words, at their second meeting.

Exam Tip: Pay attention to how characters communicate—verbally or non-verbally—as this can be a key detail.

Question 22. (6) The writer broke his journey at Deoli and made inquiries about the girl.
Answer: True
In simple words: This statement is correct. He got off the train to ask about her.

Exam Tip: Remember specific actions taken by characters, such as breaking a journey to seek information.

Question 23. 3. Here is a list of sentences expressing the writer's attraction and love for the girl selling baskets. Put the numbers from 7 (the highest) to 1 (the least) for suggesting the degree of attraction according to your opinion.
4 I was looking at her intently.
1 I watched the girl until the signal box came in the way.
3 I could not forget her face.
7 I felt the impulse to put her on the train there and then.
6 I caught her hand and held it.
2 She was with me for the rest of the journey and for long after.
Answer: The provided list already assigns a numerical degree of attraction to each statement, from 7 (highest) to 1 (least), according to the author's increasing feelings:
7 I felt the impulse to put her on the train there and then.
6 I caught her hand and held it.
4 I was looking at her intently.
3 I could not forget her face.
2 She was with me for the rest of the journey and for long after.
1 I watched the girl until the signal box came in the way.
In simple words: This list shows how much the writer felt for the girl, from a strong urge to just looking. The numbers show which feelings were strongest (7) and which were weakest (1).

Exam Tip: For subjective ranking tasks, organize the statements according to the intensity of emotion or action described, ensuring the highest number aligns with the strongest sentiment.

Question 24. 4. Fill in the blanks selecting the appropriate words from the text.
Answer: The writer was of about eighteen years of age. He regularly spent his summer vacation with his grandmother who lived in Dehra. He left for Dehra early in May and returned late in July. Once while he was travelling by the night train, at Deoli, he saw a girl selling baskets on the platform. She had a pale skin. She had shiny black hair and dark eyes. The writer was attracted to her so he got off the compartment and walked across to the tea stall. Actually he didn't want to buy any basket but he still bought one so that he could be with her for some time. He wanted to touch her but he couldn't do so. As the train started, he ran back to his compartment. He couldn't forget the face and the dark, bright eyes of the girl till he reached Dehra.
In simple words: The writer was around eighteen years old and spent his summer breaks with his grandma in Dehra. He traveled by train, saw a girl selling baskets at Deoli, felt drawn to her, and bought a basket just to be near her. He couldn't forget her appearance after returning to Dehra.

Exam Tip: When filling in blanks within a passage, select words that fit both the grammatical structure and the overall meaning of the story.

5. Answer the questions.

Question 25. 1. Where did the author spend his summer vacation?
Answer: The author spent his summer vacation at his grandmother's place in Dehra.
In simple words: He passed his summer holidays at his grandmother's house in Dehra.

Exam Tip: For direct questions about setting or events, provide a concise answer directly from the text.

Question 26. 2. How did the author react when he saw the girl for the first time?
Answer: When the author saw the girl for the first time, he could not stop staring at her.
In simple words: He could not quit looking at her when he first saw the girl.

Exam Tip: Describe the character's immediate reactions and emotions as detailed in the story.

Question 27. 3. What feeling did the author have while buying a basket?
Answer: While buying a basket, the author wanted to touch the girl, but he could not do so.
In simple words: When he purchased the basket, he wished to touch her but was unable to.

Exam Tip: Focus on the author's internal thoughts and desires during significant interactions.

Question 28. 4. What kept the author awake for the rest of the journey?
Answer: The girl's face and her dark, bright eyes kept the author awake for the rest of the journey.
In simple words: Her face and her shining, dark eyes made him stay awake for the remainder of the trip.

Exam Tip: Identify key descriptive elements that have a lasting impact on the narrator.

Question 29. 5. What urge did the author have when he met the girl for the second time?
Answer: When the author met the girl for the second time, he had the urge to put her on the train and take her away with him.
In simple words: The second time they met, he had a strong desire to take her on the train and leave with her.

Exam Tip: Note the progression of the author's feelings and desires as the story develops.

Question 30. 6. Why did the author leave for Dehra earlier than usual?
Answer: The author left for Dehra earlier than usual because he could not forget the girl. He was very eager to see and meet her.
In simple words: He went to Dehra sooner than normal because he couldn't stop thinking about the girl and truly wanted to meet her again.

Exam Tip: Understand the motivations behind a character's actions, especially when they deviate from their routine.

Question 31. 7. How did the author feel as the train entered Deoli ? What did he decide then?
Answer: The author felt anxious and nervous as the train entered Deoli. He decided that he would not stand helplessly before her. He was wondering what he would say to the girl and what he should do.
In simple words: When the train reached Deoli, the author felt worried and tense. He chose not to stand by doing nothing and was thinking about what to say or do.

Exam Tip: Combine the emotional state of the character with their subsequent decisions or thoughts for a complete answer.

Question 32. 8. Whom did the author ask about the girl? What reply did he get?
Answer: The author asked the station master about the girl. The station master replied that he did not know the girl who sold baskets there.
In simple words: The author questioned the station head about the girl, and the station head said he didn't know her.

Exam Tip: Accurately identify the characters involved in a conversation and the key information exchanged.

Question 33. 9. Why did the author want to break his journey at Deoli? Could he do that?
Answer: The author wanted to break his journey at Deoli so that he could spend a day there to find the girl who had stolen his heart. But he could never do that.
In simple words: He wished to stop his trip at Deoli for a day to look for the girl he liked. However, he never actually did it.

Exam Tip: Distinguish between a character's intentions and the actual outcomes of their plans.

Question 34. 10. If you were the writer, what would you have done in the end?
Answer: If I were the writer, I would have got down at Deoli and searched for the girl. I would have found her out and told her about my feelings for her.
In simple words: If I were the author, I would have left the train at Deoli, looked for the girl, found her, and shared my feelings with her.

Exam Tip: For hypothetical questions, offer a clear and reasonable course of action, explaining the motivation behind your choice.

Question 35. What do you think about the end of the story?
Answer: The end of the story is very beautiful and touching. The writer was young and had fallen in love with a girl selling baskets on the platform. He could never forget her. He preferred to keep dreaming about her and hoping to meet her some day on the platform. He never stopped at Deoli to find the girl, but always passed through, hoping to see her waiting for him.
In simple words: The story's conclusion is lovely and moving. The young writer loved a basket-selling girl and couldn't forget her. He chose to dream of meeting her again, always passing Deoli with hope rather than stopping to search.

Exam Tip: When providing an opinion on a story's ending, support your view with specific details and character motivations from the narrative.

Language Practice

1. Work in pairs. Write the occupation of the speaker.

Question 36. Example: He told me that I should not drive until I was 18 years.
Answer: Traffic Police
In simple words: The speaker's job is to manage road traffic.

Exam Tip: Infer the occupation based on the nature of the advice or statement provided.

Question 37. (1) She told me that I was not taking my medicines regularly.
Answer: Doctor
In simple words: The speaker's profession is a medical practitioner.

Exam Tip: Identify the context of the conversation; health-related advice usually comes from a medical professional.

Question 38. (2) He scolded him that nobody would write from his neighbour's answer book.
Answer: Teacher
In simple words: The speaker's role is an educator.

Exam Tip: Recognize that instructions or admonishments about academic integrity typically come from a teacher.

Question 39. (3) She announced that the train scheduled on that day would arrive the day after.
Answer: Railway Announcer
In simple words: The speaker works to inform about train schedules.

Exam Tip: Consider who would be responsible for making such public announcements in a specific setting.

Question 40. (4) They declared that they were ready to participate in any programme organised after school hours.
Answer: Students / Teachers
In simple words: The speakers are either learners or instructors.

Exam Tip: When multiple roles fit the context, list all plausible occupations, as both students and teachers can participate in after-school programs.

Question 41. 2. Read the sentences in A and B carefully. Underline the differences.
Answer:

Exam Tip: When converting from direct to indirect speech, carefully adjust pronouns, verb tenses (often moving one step back in time), and time/place adverbs (e.g., "now" to "then," "today" to "that day").

Question 42. 3. Read the text given in L. 2 and write down the changes made in B into the table.
Answer:

Exam Tip: Practice identifying and implementing the specific grammatical transformations required when shifting between direct and indirect speech, such as tense shifts and changes in demonstratives.

Question 43. 4. You are a class monitor. As the monitor of your class, you are asked to take attendance and report the reasons for their absence in the class. Following are the reasons given by the students who remained absent the previous day in the class. You : Why were you absent yesterday ? (1) Disha: I was not well. (2) Haroon: I got up late in the morning. (3) Suketu : I was not ready with my homework. (4) Vraj : I visited my uncle's place with my parents. (5) Dhiraj: I went to the stadium to watch the cricket match. (6) Sonia : We had some guests and I had to help my mother in the kitchen. Now you are reporting the students' reasons to your class teacher.
Answer: Madam,
(1) Disha said that she had not been well.
(2) Haroon said that he had got up late in the morning.
(3) Suketu said that she had not been ready with his homework.
(4) Vraj said that he had visited his uncle's place with his parents.
(5) Dhiraj said that he had gone to the stadium to watch the cricket match.
(6) Sonia said that they had some guests and she had to help her mother in the kitchen.
In simple words: As the class monitor, I am reporting to the teacher the students' reasons for missing class yesterday, using reported speech.

Exam Tip: When reporting, ensure you change "yesterday" to "the previous day," pronouns (e.g., "I" to "she/he"), and verb tenses (e.g., "was" to "had been") for accurate indirect speech.

Question 44. 5. As a part of your school project, you meet Roopam, a former student of your school. He / She remembers his / her school days. I was an average student in studies. But I was very good at English. I was not good at sports as I was very fat. I did not like reading much. I used to spend too much time watching TV I loved the annual function celebrations. Work in pairs and write a brief report on what was shared by Roopam about his/her school days.
Answer: Roopam is a former student of our school and he / she is a successful businessman / woman now. He / She said that he / she had been an average – student in studies. But he / she stated that he / she had been very good at English. He/she shared that he / she had not been good at sports as he / she was very fat. He/She said that he / she had not liked reading much. He / She said that he / she would spend too much time watching TV. He / She happily said that he / she had loved the annual function celebrations.
In simple words: Roopam, a successful former student, shared about school. They were average in academics but great at English, not good at sports due to weight, disliked reading, watched too much TV, and loved school events.

Exam Tip: When writing a report based on an interview, convert all statements into indirect speech, using appropriate reporting verbs (said, stated, shared, etc.) and maintaining a formal tone.

Question 45. 6. Your school is busy preparing for the Annual Day. A music teacher is appointed to train you for different events. Unfortunately, the music – teacher's guitar is lost from the school. The teacher is making inquiry for the lost guitar. Teacher: Where were you last evening ? Mohsin: I was with the dance group. But I saw Raghav playing the guitar. Raghav: I took it for a while. Then I went to see the dance practice. Megha : I was busy with my classical dance practice. Reena :We were rehearsing our prayer song in the assembly hall. Sam: I left for home early as I wasn't feeling well. The teacher is now sharing the information with the principal about what happened. Complete the following text.
Answer: I had left the guitar in the music hall the previous evening. I asked the students who were involved with different events. Mohsin said that he was with the dance group but he had seen Raghav playing the guitar. Raghav said that he had taken it for a while and then he went to see the dance practice. Megha revealed that she had been busy with her classical dance practice. Reena said that they had been rehearsing for their prayer song in the assembly hall. Sam said that he had left for home early as he wasn't feeling well.
In simple words: The teacher told the principal that the guitar was left in the music hall. Students Mohsin, Raghav, Megha, Reena, and Sam were questioned, and their replies about their whereabouts and activities were reported.

Exam Tip: Convert dialogues into reported speech by changing tenses, pronouns, and time expressions. Use varied reporting verbs like "said," "revealed," and "stated."

Question 46. 7. When Radhika and Shekhar shifted to their new flat, several things needed repairing. The flat owner rang them up and said... "I am out of station now, but I will come tomorrow and give you the extra key for the main door. I will also get the furniture in the kitchen repaired and get the gas heater fixed in the bathroom. I will also get the curtain in the drawing room fixed this week. I had checked the fans and lights in all the rooms. And I had reinstalled a new stabilizer for the AC in the bedroom. I am not sure whether the doorbell works well. If you find any other problem, you can ring me up tonight at home." Two weeks passed but the flat owner had done nothing. Radhika is telling her friend what the owner had said. Complete the text.
Answer: When my flat owner rang up he said that he was out of station then, but he would come the next day and give us the extra key for the main door. But he never came. He said that he would also get the furniture in the kitchen repaired and get the gas heater fixed in the bathroom. He would also get the curtain in the drawing room fixed that week. But he never did. He also said that he had checked the fans and lights in all the rooms and he had reinstalled a new stabilizer for the AC in the bed room. He told us that he was not sure if the doorbell worked well. Then he said that if we found any other problem, we could ring him up that night at home. We rang him up, but he never responded.
In simple words: Radhika's flat owner promised to come the next day with the key and repair several items in the flat, including furniture, the gas heater, and curtains. He also mentioned checking the electrical fittings and AC stabilizer, and asked them to call if there were other issues. However, he did not fulfill any of these promises, nor did he respond when called.

Exam Tip: When converting direct speech into reported speech, ensure all temporal and spatial adverbs (e.g., "now" to "then," "tomorrow" to "the next day," "this week" to "that week") are correctly shifted. Also, convert first-person pronouns to third-person.

Question 47. 8. Read the dialogue. Now write it as you are reporting it to your neighbour. Work in pairs. The author: I have to go to Delhi. The girl: I do not have to go anywhere. The author: I will come again. Will you be there? The girl: I do not have to go anywhere.
Answer: The author told the girl that he had to go to Delhi. The girl said that she did not have to go anywhere. The author said that he would come again and asked her if she would be there. The girl again replied that she did not have to go anywhere.
In simple words: The author told the girl he needed to go to Delhi. She said she didn't have to go anywhere. He asked if she would be there when he returned, and she repeated she had nowhere to go.

Exam Tip: When transforming a dialogue into reported speech, pay close attention to converting questions (e.g., "Will you be there?") into statements introduced by "asked if/whether."

Writing

Question 48. 1. Read the conversation among the family members. Now write a report on Dilipbhai's family tour. Work in pairs. Dilipbhai: Hello, everybody! It's time to plan this year's family trip. What are your suggestions? Dhaval: Papa, let's go to Mangalore once again...! Dilipbhai: Again to the same place? Why? Darshana: Yes, Papa. That was the most exciting trip. The journey by Konkan Railway was the most memorable one. Ranjanben: I agree with the kids. I still remember those beautiful sea-shores, palm trees, villages and towns on the way to Mangalore by train. Dhaval: And those mountain passes and tunnels and jungles? Darshana: Of course, I would love to travel on the same route again. Dilipbhai: Well, I remember the railway stations and porters and passengers only ... But I grant your wish. Let's go once again on the same beautiful route to revisit all those beautiful landscapes.
Answer: Dilipbhai greeted the family with a hello and said that it was time to plan that year's family trip. He asked them what their suggestions were. Dhaval suggested that they should go to Mangalore once again. Dilipbhai asked him why (they should go) to the same place again. Agreeing with Dhaval, Darshana said that that had been the most exciting trip and added that the journey by Konkan Railway had been the most memorable one. Ranjanben agreed with the kids and said that she remembered those beautiful seashores, palm trees, villages and towns on the way to Mangalore by train even then. Dhaval then asked her about those mountain passes and tunnels and jungles. Darshana agreed with Dhaval and Ranjanben and said that she would love to travel on the same route again. Dilipbhai said that he remembered the railway stations and porters and passengers only, but he had granted their wish. He suggested that they should go once again on the same beautiful route to revisit all those beautiful landscapes.
In simple words: Dilipbhai started family trip planning, asking for ideas. Dhaval suggested Mangalore, which Darshana and Ranjanben supported, recalling the exciting Konkan Railway journey and its views. Though Dilipbhai only remembered people, he agreed to revisit the scenic route.

Exam Tip: When writing a report based on a conversation, ensure all participants' contributions are accurately reported using indirect speech. Structure the report logically, following the flow of the original dialogue.

Question 49. 2. Write a paragraph on 'The Person I Miss the Most'.
Answer: The Person I Miss the Most Since last year, I have been studying in a boarding school in Mount Abu. Besides my family and friends, I really miss Mohan, my friend in the village. Every summer vacation, I would visit my grandparents, who lived in a small village. Every morning, I would go to the field with my grandfather. I played with Mohan, who was of my age. His father worked on our field. Mohan was a lively boy, full of energy. He taught me to climb trees, plough the field and even milk the cows! Though he did not go to school, he had a lot of knowledge about trees and crops, animals and birds. I learnt more from him than any school could ever teach me. Sometimes, we would sit under the banyan tree and I would teach him to read and write. We enjoyed a lot together. I miss him the most.
In simple words: I miss Mohan, my village friend, since moving to boarding school. Every summer, visiting my grandparents, I'd play with him in the fields. Mohan, energetic and wise about nature, taught me many things, and I taught him to read. We truly enjoyed our time, and I miss him deeply.

Exam Tip: When writing a descriptive paragraph, use vivid language and specific details to bring the subject to life. Focus on sensory details and emotional connections to engage the reader.

Question 50. 3. Describe the given picture. You can use these words if you like. (platform, buses, passengers, hawkers, porters, bookstore, depot manager, drivers, conductor, inquiry window, police)
Answer: The picture shows a busy bus station, bustling with activity. It features wide and clean platforms where many buses are parked. Platform numbers are clearly visible. There is a specific office for the depot manager, a bookstore, and an inquiry window for information. Drivers and conductors stand near their buses, and passengers are seen waiting to board. Some people who have just arrived are waiting for rickshaws to take them home. The station also has porters and hawkers, and a few policemen are present, maintaining order.
In simple words: This picture shows a lively bus station with many buses on clean platforms. There are offices, a bookshop, and an information window. Drivers, conductors, passengers, hawkers, porters, and police are all present. People are waiting to leave or arrive.

Exam Tip: When describing a picture, use the provided keywords to ensure a comprehensive and detailed account. Organize your description logically, moving from general observations to specific details.

Comprehension

A. Read the extracts and answer the questions.

Question 51. (1) When I was at college, I regularly spent my summer vacation in Dehra, at my grandmother's place. I would leave the plains early in May and return late in July. Deoli was a small station about 50 km from Dehra. It was on the border of the heavy jungles of the Indian Terai. Question 1. Where did the author spend his summer vacation?
Answer: The author spent his summer vacation at his grandmother's place in Dehra.
In simple words: He passed his summer holidays at his grandmother's house in Dehra.

Exam Tip: Always extract direct answers from the provided text for comprehension questions, ensuring accuracy and conciseness.

Question 1. What did the author see when the train stopped at Deoli?
Answer: When the train stopped at Deoli, the author saw a young girl, who was selling baskets, coming down the platform.
In simple words: When the train arrived at Deoli, the writer saw a girl on the platform selling baskets.

Exam Tip: For observation-based questions, simply state what the character witnessed at that moment.

Question 1. Describe the girl's appearance.
Answer: The girl was young and wore old clothes, with a shawl draped across her shoulder. Her feet were bare.
In simple words: The girl was young, dressed in old clothes with a shawl, and had no shoes on.

Exam Tip: When describing a character, include details about their age, clothing, and any notable features mentioned in the text.

Question 1. How did the author react when he saw the girl for the first time?
Answer: When the author saw the girl for the first time, he could not stop staring at her.
In simple words: The author kept looking at the girl and could not take his eyes off her when they first met.

Exam Tip: Describe initial reactions clearly. Use strong verbs to show the character's feelings.

Question 2. Describe the young girl.
Answer: The girl had pale skin, shiny black hair, and dark eyes.
In simple words: She had fair skin, dark, shiny hair, and deep-colored eyes.

Exam Tip: Be concise when detailing physical characteristics, focusing on distinctive attributes.

Question 3. What did the girl see? What did she pretend?
Answer: The girl saw that the author was looking at her intently, but she pretended not to notice it.
In simple words: The girl saw the author watching her closely, but she acted as if she did not notice.

Exam Tip: Distinguish between what a character observes and what they choose to show or conceal.

Question 4. What does the author say about the girl's eyes?
Answer: The author states that the girl's eyes were dark, searching, and lively.
In simple words: The writer mentioned that the girl's eyes were dark, always looking around, and full of life.

Exam Tip: Quote or paraphrase descriptions of specific features accurately from the text.

Question 1. What did the author do when the girl moved on?
Answer: When the girl moved on, the author left his seat and rushed to the carriage door.
In simple words: After the girl walked away, the author quickly got up and ran to the train door.

Exam Tip: Focus on the immediate actions a character takes in response to an event.

Question 2. What did the girl do when she saw the author at the carriage door?
Answer: When the girl saw the author at the carriage door, she stood waiting on the platform.
In simple words: The girl waited on the platform when she saw the author at the train door.

Exam Tip: Note character interactions and their postures carefully.

Question 1. What feeling did the author have while buying the basket?
Answer: While buying the basket, the author wanted to touch the girl's fingers, but he could not do so.
In simple words: When he bought the basket, the author wished to touch the girl's hand, but he was unable to.

Exam Tip: Pay attention to the subtle emotions and unspoken desires of characters.

Question 1. What was the girl doing when the train left the platform?
Answer: When the train left the platform, the girl was standing alone there and looking at the author and smiling.
In simple words: As the train departed, the girl remained standing by herself on the platform, smiling and looking at the author.

Exam Tip: Detail the character's final actions and expressions as the scene concludes.

Question 2. Why could the author not hear what the girl said?
Answer: The author could not hear what the girl said because it was lost in the clanging of the bell and the engine's hissing.
In simple words: The writer could not hear the girl's words because the sound of the bell and the engine's noise drowned them out.

Exam Tip: Identify environmental factors that affect character communication.

Question 3. How long did the author keep watching the girl?
Answer: The author kept watching the girl till the signal-box came in the way and then the jungle hid the station.
In simple words: The author watched the girl until the signal box blocked his view, and then the jungle covered the station.

Exam Tip: Note the duration or the point at which an action ceases.

Question 1. What kept the author awake for the rest of the journey?
Answer: The girl's face and her dark, bright eyes kept the author awake for the rest of the journey.
In simple words: The author stayed awake during the rest of the trip because he couldn't stop thinking about the girl's face and her sparkling eyes.

Exam Tip: Highlight the lasting impact of a meeting or event on a character.

Question 2. Why did the author forget about the girl when he reached Dehra?
Answer: The author forgot about the girl when he reached Dehra because there were many other things on his mind.
In simple words: The writer stopped thinking about the girl once he got to Dehra, as he had many other thoughts occupying him.

Exam Tip: Explain the reasons behind a character's shift in focus or memory.

Question 3. When did he remember the girl?
Answer: He remembered the girl on his return journey two months later.
In simple words: He thought of the girl again when he was traveling back, two months after their first meeting.

Exam Tip: Specify the exact time or condition under which a memory returns to a character.

Question 1. What did the author feel when he saw the girl again?
Answer: The author felt an unexpected thrill when he saw the girl again.
In simple words: The author felt a sudden, surprising excitement when he saw the girl a second time.

Exam Tip: Focus on the specific emotion experienced by the character.

Question 2. What was the girl's reaction when she saw the author?
Answer: When the girl saw the author, she smiled and looked pleased that he remembered her.
In simple words: The girl smiled and seemed happy that the author remembered her when she saw him.

Exam Tip: Describe how a character's facial expressions and demeanor convey their feelings.

Question 3. Why was the author pleased?
Answer: The author was pleased because the girl remembered him.
In simple words: The author felt happy because the girl still knew who he was.

Exam Tip: Always provide the reason behind a character's emotional state.

Question 4. What did the author do when he saw the girl?
Answer: When the author saw the girl, he ran to the door and waved at her.
In simple words: The author ran to the train door and waved to the girl when he saw her.

Exam Tip: State the immediate and physical actions taken by a character.

Question 1. What urge did the author have when he met the girl for the second time?
Answer: When the author met the girl for the second time, he had the urge to put her on the train and take her away with him.
In simple words: When the author saw the girl again, he felt a strong desire to take her with him on the train.

Exam Tip: Express strong internal feelings or impulses a character experiences.

Question 2. What did the girl do when she saw the author?
Answer: When the girl saw the author, she came straight to the tea stall.
In simple words: The girl went directly to the tea stall after she saw the author.

Exam Tip: Describe the character's direct and purposeful actions.

Question 3. What happened when the author and the girl met?
Answer: When the author and the girl met, the girl's eyes were filled with light, and they said nothing but spoke without words.
In simple words: When they met, the girl's eyes brightened, and they communicated without actually speaking.

Exam Tip: Explain both the internal and external aspects of a meeting between characters.

Question 4. What could the author not bear?
Answer: The author could not bear the thought of watching her vanishing into the darkness of the Deoli station.
In simple words: The author could not stand the idea of seeing the girl disappear into the dark train station.

Exam Tip: Identify specific thoughts or situations that cause distress to the character.

Question 5. What did the author finally do?
Answer: The author finally caught the girl's hand and held it.
In simple words: The author ultimately grabbed the girl's hand and kept it.

Exam Tip: Describe the decisive action a character takes at the culmination of a moment.

Question 1. The author wanted to take the girl with him. How did the girl respond?
Answer: The girl said that she did not have to go anywhere and that she would always be there, at Deoli.
In simple words: The girl replied that she had no plans to go anywhere and would always remain at Deoli.

Exam Tip: Provide the character's direct response, indicating their decision or intention.

Question 2. What happened when the train started moving?
Answer: When the train started moving, the author pulled his hand away from the girl and ran for the moving train.
In simple words: As the train began to move, the author let go of the girl's hand and ran to catch the departing train.

Exam Tip: Describe the sequence of events and the character's quick actions in a dynamic situation.

Question 1. Why did the author leave for Dehra earlier than usual?
Answer: The author left for Dehra earlier than usual because he could not forget the girl. He was very eager to see her and meet her.
In simple words: The author departed for Dehra sooner than normal because he kept thinking about the girl and truly wanted to see her again.

Exam Tip: Explain the motivation behind a character's unusual actions.

Question 1. How did the author feel as the train entered Deoli?
Answer: The author felt anxious and nervous as the train entered Deoli.
In simple words: The author felt worried and uneasy when the train pulled into Deoli station.

Exam Tip: Describe the specific emotions felt by a character during a significant moment.

Question 2. What did he decide?
Answer: He decided that he would not stand helplessly before her.
In simple words: He made up his mind not to appear powerless in front of her.

Exam Tip: State the character's resolution or firm decision clearly.

Question 3. What was the author wondering?
Answer: The author was wondering what he should say to the girl and what he should do.
In simple words: The author was thinking about what words to use with the girl and what actions to take.

Exam Tip: Articulate the character's internal thoughts or dilemmas.

Question 1. Whom did the author ask about the girl?
Answer: The author asked the station master about the girl.
In simple words: The author inquired about the girl with the station manager.

Exam Tip: Identify who a character seeks information from.

Question 2. What reply did he get?
Answer: The station master replied that he did not know the girl who sold baskets there.
In simple words: The station master responded that he was not familiar with the girl who sold baskets at that place.

Exam Tip: State the exact response a character receives to their query.

Question 3. What did the author feel when he did not see the girl?
Answer: When the author did not see the girl, he was deeply disappointed and wanted to do something.
In simple words: The author felt very sad and desired to act when he couldn't find the girl.

Exam Tip: Describe the character's emotional reaction and subsequent desire for action.

Question 1. What did the author decide?
Answer: The author decided to break his journey at Deoli some day and find out the girl who had stolen his heart.
In simple words: The author resolved to stop his journey at Deoli one day to search for the girl who had captured his feelings.

Exam Tip: Explain the long-term decision made by the character based on their emotional experience.

Question 2. What does the author say about the girl?
Answer: The author says that one day he would find the girl who had stolen his heart with a look from her dark, impatient eyes.
In simple words: The author states that he would eventually locate the girl who won his affection with just a glance from her dark, eager eyes.

Exam Tip: Summarize the author's description and perception of the girl's impact.

Question 1. Why does the author always look out of the window?
Answer: The author always looks out of the window to see the girl's unchanged face smiling at him.
In simple words: The author constantly gazes out the window, hoping to catch sight of the girl's familiar, smiling face.

Exam Tip: Provide the continuous motivation for a character's repetitive action.

Question 2. Why would the author never break his journey at Deoli?
Answer: The author would never break his journey at Deoli because he preferred to keep hoping and dreaming and looking out for the girl waiting for him.
In simple words: The author chose not to stop at Deoli because he liked the idea of always hoping and dreaming about the girl, always looking for her from the train window.

Exam Tip: Explain the underlying emotional or psychological reasons for a character's consistent behavior.

Question 3. Does the author break his journey at Deoli?
Answer: No, the author never breaks his journey at Deoli, but he passes through as often as he can.
In simple words: No, the author never stops his trip at Deoli; instead, he travels through it as many times as possible.

Exam Tip: State a clear yes/no answer first, then provide a brief explanation.

B. Use the set of words in your own sentences.

Question 1. bare - wonder
Answer: Mini wondered how the boys in the village could walk in the hot sun with bare feet.
In simple words: Mini thought it was strange how the boys walked with no shoes under the hot sun.

Exam Tip: Ensure your sentence logically connects both words while forming a clear thought.

Question 2. notice - pale
Answer: The teacher noticed that the little boy was looking pale and weak.
In simple words: The teacher saw that the young boy appeared unwell and very light-skinned.

Exam Tip: Use words that naturally fit together in a descriptive context.

Question 3. lively – pleased
Answer: The parents were pleased to see the lively dance of the children.
In simple words: The parents felt happy watching their children's energetic dance.

Exam Tip: Create a sentence that expresses a cause-and-effect relationship between the words.

Question 4. gracefully - came down
Answer: The dancer came down gracefully and sought the blessing of her guru.
In simple words: The dancer descended with elegance and asked for her teacher's blessing.

Exam Tip: Focus on describing an action with an adverb for precision.

Question 5. follow - intently
Answer: The little boy followed the magician and waited intently to see what he was doing.
In simple words: The young boy watched the magician very closely, eager to see his actions.

Exam Tip: Construct a sentence where one word modifies the action of the other.

Question 6. pretend - unexpected
Answer: Jay felt an unexpected thrill when he saw the gifts, but he pretended as if he was not interested.
In simple words: Jay felt a sudden burst of excitement seeing the presents, but he acted like he didn't care.

Exam Tip: Show a contrast between a genuine feeling and a feigned reaction.

Question 7. incident - helplessly
Answer: When the incident happened, a lot of people were present there, but they stood helplessly.
In simple words: Many people were there when the event occurred, but they couldn't do anything to help.

Exam Tip: Use words that describe a situation and the reaction to it.

Question 8. walk up to – haste
Answer: The minister's secretary walked up to him in haste and whispered something in his ear.
In simple words: The minister's assistant quickly approached him and quietly spoke into his ear.

Exam Tip: Combine an action with how it was performed.

Question 9. blurred – disappointed
Answer: The old photographs were so blurred that grandfather could not recognize anyone and so he was quite disappointed.
In simple words: The old photos were unclear, so grandfather couldn't tell who was who, which made him very sad.

Exam Tip: Show a cause-and-effect relationship between the state of an object and a character's emotion.

Question 10. thrill-got off
Answer: I was so thrilled on seeing my grandparents that I got off the moving train.
In simple words: I was so excited to see my grandparents that I jumped off the moving train.

Exam Tip: Illustrate how a strong emotion can lead to an action.

Question 11. hope - determined
Answer: Though there was little hope of winning the case, the poor man was determined to fight for his rights.
In simple words: Even with little chance of success in court, the poor man was firm in his decision to secure his legal entitlements.

Exam Tip: Show how resolve can exist despite low expectations.

Question 12. enquiry – vanish
Answer: The detectives are conducting an enquiry to find out the statue, which vanished from the temple.
In simple words: The investigators are doing a search to find the statue that disappeared from the temple.

Exam Tip: Connect an investigation to the item that is missing.

Question 13. impatient-rush to
Answer: The people waiting in the queue since morning became so impatient that they rushed to the gate and opened it.
In simple words: People who had been waiting in line all morning got so eager that they quickly ran to the gate and opened it.

Exam Tip: Describe how an emotion can trigger a sudden, forceful action.

Question 14. prefer - anxious
Answer: Father became so anxious that he preferred to go to school and see the result, rather than wait at home.
In simple words: Dad was so worried that he chose to go to school to get the results right away, instead of staying at home.

Exam Tip: Show how anxiety can influence a character's preference for action over waiting.

Question 15. nervous – haste
Answer: Mr. Verma looked quite nervous as he left the office in haste.
In simple words: Mr. Verma appeared rather worried as he quickly departed from the office.

Exam Tip: Link an emotional state to the manner in which an action is performed.

C. Write who said to whom the following sentences.

Question 1. Do you want to buy a basket?
Answer: This was said by the girl (selling baskets) to the author.
In simple words: The girl selling baskets asked this question to the writer.

Exam Tip: Clearly identify both the speaker and the listener for each dialogue fragment.

Question 2. I do not have to go anywhere.
Answer: This sentence was said by the author to the girl (selling baskets). (Self-correction: The PDF has the girl saying this later too, but the sequence in the question suggests it's the author's initial response.) The girl also said this to the author.
In simple words: The author stated this to the basket-selling girl. The girl also said the same thing to the author.

Exam Tip: Pay attention to the context of the dialogue to correctly attribute it to the speaker.

Question 3. Are you sure you don't want a basket?
Answer: This was said by the girl (selling baskets) to the author.
In simple words: The girl selling baskets asked this to the writer.

Exam Tip: Identify the speaker and recipient based on the nature of the question.

Question 4. They are very strong, made of the finest cane.
Answer: This sentence was said by the girl (selling baskets) to the author.
In simple words: The girl who sold baskets mentioned this to the author.

Exam Tip: Attribute descriptive statements to the character providing the information.

Question 5. I have to go to Delhi.
Answer: This sentence was said by the author to the girl (selling baskets).
In simple words: The author spoke this sentence to the girl who was selling baskets.

Exam Tip: Confirm who makes statements about travel plans or obligations.

Question 6. I do not have to go anywhere.
Answer: This sentence was said by the girl (selling baskets) to the author.
In simple words: The girl selling baskets said this to the writer.

Exam Tip: Verify who expresses a lack of travel plans in the conversation.

Question 7. I will come again. Will you be here?
Answer: This was said by the author to the girl (selling baskets).
In simple words: The author asked this of the girl who sold baskets.

Exam Tip: Identify the character making a promise and asking about future presence.

Question 8. Do you know the girl who used to sell baskets here?
Answer: This was said by the author to the station master.
In simple words: The author asked this question to the station manager.

Exam Tip: Note who is asking for information about a third party and to whom they are speaking.

Fill in the blanks choosing the correct words from the brackets.

Question 1. (heavy, regularly, return)
Answer: When I was at college, I **regularly** spent my summer vacation in Dehra, at my grandmother's place. I would leave the plains early in May and **return** late in July. Deoli was a small station about 50 km from Dehra. It was on the border of the **heavy** jungles of the Indian Terai.
In simple words: During college, I often spent my summer breaks in Dehra with my grandmother. I would depart the plains in early May and come back in late July. Deoli, a small station about 50 km from Dehra, was on the edge of the thick forests of the Indian Terai.

Exam Tip: Choose words that best fit the context and meaning of each sentence.

Question 2. (visiting, decided, selling)
Answer: I **decided** that one day I would get off the train at Deoli and spend the day there. I was eighteen, **visiting** my grandmother and the night train stopped at Deoli. A girl came down the platform **selling** baskets.
In simple words: I chose that one day I would exit the train at Deoli and stay there for the day. I was eighteen years old, going to see my grandmother, and the night train stopped at Deoli. A girl appeared on the platform, offering baskets for sale.

Exam Tip: Select words that reflect choices, actions, and ongoing activities in the narrative.

Question 3. (gracefully, cold, bare)
Answer: It was a **cold** morning, and the girl had a shawl across her shoulder. Her feet were **bare**, and her clothes were old. She was a young girl, walking **gracefully** towards me.
In simple words: It was a chilly morning, and the girl had a shawl over her shoulder. Her feet were without shoes, and her clothing was old. She was a young girl, moving elegantly towards me.

Exam Tip: Pick words that describe the weather, a person's appearance, and their manner of movement.

Question 4. (stopped, pretended, intently)
Answer: When she came to my window, she **stopped**. She saw that I was looking at her **intently**, but at first, she **pretended** not to notice.
In simple words: When she reached my window, she paused. She saw that I was staring at her closely, but initially, she acted like she didn't see me.

Exam Tip: Use words that show a sequence of actions, observation, and feigned ignorance.

Question 5. (searching, dark, pale)
Answer: She had a **pale** skin, shiny black hair, and **dark** eyes. And then those eyes, **searching** and lively, met mine.
In simple words: She had fair skin, glossy black hair, and deep-colored eyes. Then, those curious and vibrant eyes met mine.

Exam Tip: Select adjectives that accurately describe physical features and emotional qualities.

Question 6. (noticed, neither, rushed)
Answer: She stood by my window for some time, and **neither** of us said anything. But when she moved on, I don't know why, I left my seat and **rushed** to the carriage door. She **noticed** me at the door, and stood waiting on the platform.
In simple words: She stood by my window for a while, and both of us kept quiet. But when she walked away, I quickly moved from my seat to the train door. She saw me there and waited on the platform.

Exam Tip: Choose words that describe mutual inaction, sudden movement, and recognition.

Question 7. (sure, finest, wished)
Answer: "Do you want to buy a basket?” she asked. “They are very strong, made of the **finest** cane." "No," I said, "I don't want a basket.” We stood looking at each other for a very long time, and then she said, “Are you **sure** you don't want a basket ?” “Give me one," I said, and I took the one on top and gave her a rupee. I **wished** to touch her fingers, but could not.
In simple words: "Do you want to purchase a basket?" she inquired. "They are very sturdy, crafted from the best cane." "No," I replied, "I don't need a basket." We stood gazing at each other for a long period, and then she questioned, "Are you certain you don't want a basket?" "Give me one," I stated, and I picked the topmost one and handed her a rupee. I longed to touch her fingers, but it was not possible.

Exam Tip: Pay attention to words used in dialogue, descriptions of quality, and unfulfilled desires.

Question 8. (blew, clanging, hissing)
Answer: The guard **blew** his whistle; she said something, but it was lost in the **clanging** of the bell and the **hissing** of the engine. I had to run back to my compartment.
In simple words: The guard sounded his whistle; she spoke, but her words were hidden by the loud bell and the engine's soft noise. I had to rush back to my train section.

Exam Tip: Choose verbs and onomatopoeic words that describe specific sounds and actions in a train station environment.

Question 9. (platform, slipped, smiling)
Answer: I watched her as the **platform** **slipped** away. She was alone on the **platform**, and did not move, but she was looking at me and **smiling**.
In simple words: I observed her as the station ground moved away. She was by herself on the station area, not moving, but she was looking at me with a smile.

Exam Tip: Select words that accurately describe the setting, movement, and a character's expression.

Question 10. (blurred, bright, journey)
Answer: I sat up awake for the rest of the **journey**. I could not forget the girl's face and her dark, **bright** eyes. But when I reached Dehra, the incident became **blurred** and distant; for there were other things on my mind.
In simple words: I stayed awake for the remainder of the trip. I couldn't get the girl's face and her vivid, dark eyes out of my mind. However, once I arrived in Dehra, the event became unclear and far off because I had many other thoughts.

Exam Tip: Use words that convey the progression of time, vivid memories, and fading recollections.

Question 11. (unexpected, drew into, waved)
Answer: I was looking out for her as the train **drew into** the station, and I felt an **unexpected** thrill. I saw her walking up the platform. I ran to the door and **waved** at her.
In simple words: I was searching for her as the train came into the station, and I felt a sudden excitement. I watched her approach on the platform. I quickly went to the door and gestured to her.

Exam Tip: Choose verbs that depict the arrival of the train, a sudden emotion, and a greeting gesture.

Question 12. (remembered, smiled, pleased)
Answer: When she saw me, she **smiled**. She was **pleased** that I **remembered** her. I was **pleased** that she **remembered** me.
In simple words: When she saw me, she gave a smile. She was happy that I knew her. I, too, was happy that she knew me.

Exam Tip: Focus on reciprocal emotions and actions in a meeting.

Question 13. (impulse, filled with, spoke)
Answer: She did not start selling baskets, but came straight to the tea stall. Her dark eyes were suddenly **filled with** light. We said nothing for some time, but we **spoke** without words. I felt the **impulse** to put her on the train there and then, and take her away with me.
In simple words: She went directly to the tea stall instead of selling baskets. Her dark eyes suddenly became bright. We didn't talk with words for a while, but we communicated silently. I felt a strong urge to take her on the train right then.

Exam Tip: Select phrases that describe non-verbal communication, intense emotions, and sudden urges.

Question 14. (vanish, bear, held)
Answer: I could not **bear** the thought of watching her **vanish** into the darkness of Deoli station. I took the baskets from her hand and put them on the ground. She put out her hand to take a basket, but I caught her hand and **held** it.
In simple words: I could not stand the idea of seeing her disappear into the dark Deoli station. I removed the baskets from her hand and placed them on the ground. She reached out for a basket, but I took her hand and kept it.

Exam Tip: Focus on strong feelings, sudden disappearances, and physical contact.

Question 15. (clanged, moving, hated)
Answer: The guard blew his whistle, and I **hated** the guard for doing that. “I will come again,” I said. "Will you be here ?” She nodded. "I do not have to go anywhere.” She nodded again. The bell **clanged**, and the train slid forward. I had to pull my hand away from the girl and run for the **moving** train.
In simple words: The guard blew his whistle, and I disliked him for it. "I will return," I said. "Will you be here?" She agreed. "I don't need to go anywhere," she confirmed. The bell rang loudly, and the train slowly moved ahead. I had to release the girl's hand and rush for the departing train.

Exam Tip: Choose words that describe strong emotions, sounds, and the movement of the train.

Question 16. (forget, haste, living)
Answer: This time I did not **forget** her. She was with me for the rest of the journey, and for long after. All that year she was a bright, **living** thing. And when the college term ended, I packed in **haste** and left for Dehra earlier than usual.
In simple words: This time, I did not lose memory of her. She was in my thoughts for the rest of the journey and for a long time afterward. That entire year, she was a vibrant, real presence. And when college ended, I quickly packed and departed for Dehra sooner than I usually would.

Exam Tip: Select words that convey memory retention, vitality, and hurried actions.

The Night Train at Deoli Summary in Gujarati

જ્યારે હું કૉલિજમાં હતો, ત્યારે ઉનાળાની રજાઓમાં હું હંમેશાં મારાં દાદીના ઘરે, દેહરા જતો. મેં મહિનાની શરૂઆતમાં (જ) હું મેદાની વિસ્તારમાંથી નીકળી (દેહરા) જતો અને જુલાઈ મહિનાના અંતમાં પાછો ફરતો. દેરાથી 50 કિમી દૂર દેઉલી નામનું એક નાનું સ્ટેશન હતું. તે તરાઈના ગાઢ જંગલને અડીને હતું.

એક છોકરી આવી. ઠંડી સવાર હતી અને છોકરીના ખભા ફરતી શાલ હતી.

તેના પગ ખુલ્લા હતા અને તેનાં કપડાં જૂનાં હતાં. તે યુવાન હતી, અને આકર્ષક ચાલમાં મારા તરફ આવી રહી હતી. તે મારી બારી પાસે આવીને અટકી ગઈ. તેણે જોયું કે હું આતુરતાથી તેની સામે જોઈ રહ્યો હતો, પણ પહેલાં તો તે કશું જ જોતી ન હોય તેવો ડોળ કર્યો. તેની ચામડી નિસ્તેજ હતી, (અને તેને ચમકતા, કાળા વાળ અને કાળી આંખો હતી અને તેની પેલી કંઈક શોધતી જીવંત આંખો સાથે મારી આંખો મળી.

થોડી વાર તો તે મારી બારી પાસે ઊભી રહી અને અમારાં બંનેમાંથી કોઈ કંઈ બોલ્યું નહીં. પણ જ્યારે તે આગળ ચાલી. - ત્યારે, મને ખબર નહીં કેમ, હું મારી બેઠક છોડીને ડબાના દરવાજા તરફ દોડી ગયો. તેણે મને દરવાજે ઊભેલો જોયો અને તે લૅટફૉર્મ પર રાહ જોતી ઊભી રહી. હું ચાની દુકાન પાસે ગયો.

ધીમા તાપ પર કીટલી ઊકળી રહી હતી, છોકરી મારી પાછળ દુકાન પાસે આવી. “તમારે ટોપલી ખરીદવી છે?” તેણે પૂછ્યું. “ટોપલીઓ ઉત્તમ ખેતરમાંથી બનાવેલી, ખૂબ મજબૂત છે.” “ના,” મેં કહ્યું, “મારે ટોપલી નથી જોઈતી.”

અમે ઘણી વાર સુધી એકબીજાની સામે જોતાં ઊભા રહ્યાં, અને પછી તેણે પૂછયું, “નક્કી તમારે ટોપલી નથી જોઈતી?” - “મને એક (ટોપલી) આપ,” કહ્યું અને મેં ઉપરની એક ટોપલી લઈને તેને એક રૂપિયો આપ્યો. તેની આંગળીઓને સ્પર્શ કરવાની મારી ઇચ્છા હતી, પણ હું) તેમ કરી શક્યો નર્ટી. ગાર્ડે વિસલ વગાડી; તેણે કંઈક કહ્યું, પણ ઘંટના અવાજમાં અને એન્જિનના સૂસવાટામાં તે સંભળાયું નહીં.

મારે મારા ડબામાં પાછા દોડવું પડ્યું, પ્લેટફૉર્મ પૂરું થયું ત્યાં સુધી હું તેને જોતો રહ્યો. લૅટફૉર્મ પર તે એકલી જ હતી અને ત્યાંથી ખસી નઈં, પણ તે મારી સામે જોઈ મલકાતી હતી. સિગ્નલ બૉક્સ વચ્ચે આવ્યું ત્યાં સુધી હું તેને જોતો રહ્યો, અને પછી સ્ટેશન જેગલની પાછળ ઢંકાઈ ગયું. હજી પણ હું તેને ત્યાં એકલી ઊભેલી જોઈ શકતો હતો.

બાકીના પ્રવાસ દરમિયાન હું જાગતો બેસી રહ્યો. હું તે છોકરીનો ચહેરો અને તેની કાળી ચમકતી આંખો ભૂલી શક્તો નહોતો.પણ દેહરા પહોંચ્યા પછી, એ પ્રસંગ ઝાંખો થઈને ભુલાઈ ગયો; કારણ કે મારા મનમાં બીજા ઘણા વિચારો હતા. પણ જ્યારે બે મહિના બાદ હું મારી વળતી મુસાફરી કરી રહ્યો હતો, ત્યારે તે છોકરી મને યાદ આવી.

ગાડી જ્યારે સ્ટેશન પર પહોંચી, ત્યારે હું તેને શોધી રહ્યો હતો અને મને એક અનપેક્ષિત રોમાંચનો અનુભવ થયો. મેં તેને પ્લેટફૉર્મ પર આવતી જોઈ. હું દરવાજે દોડી ગયો અને તેને હાથથી ઇશારો કર્યો. તે મને જોઈને મલકી, તે મને યાદ હતી, તેથી તે ખુશ થઈ. હું તેને યાદ હતો, તેથી હું ખુશ થયો.

તેણે પલીઓ વેચવાનું શરૂ ન કરતાં, સીધી ચાની દુકાન પાસે આવી. તેની કાળી આંખો અચાનક ચમકી ઊઠી. થોડી વાર તો અમે કંઈ બોલ્યા નહીં પણ (અમે) મૌન દ્વારા વાતો કરી. મને એ જ વખતે તેને ગાડીમાં

રહેવાનો વિચાર હું સહન કરી શક્યો નહીં. તેના હાથમાંથી ગૈપલીઓ લઈને મેં નીચે મૂકી. એક ટોપલી લેવા તેણે હાથ લંબાવ્યો પણ મેં તેનો હાથ પકડી રાખ્યો.

"મારે દિલ્લી જવાનું છે," મેં કહ્યું. તેણે માથું ધુણાવ્યું, "મારે ક્યાંય જવાનું નથી." ગાર્ડે તેની વિસલ વગાડી અને આમ કરવા માટે મને તેનો તિરસ્કાર થયો. હું ફરી વાર આવીશ,” મેં કહ્યું, “તું અહીં જ હોઈશ ને?” તેણે માથું હલાવ્યું. "મારે ક્યાંય જવાનું નથી." તેણે ફરી વાર માથું હલાવ્યું. ઘંટ વાગ્યો અને ગાડી આગળ ચાલી. છોકરીના હાથમાંથી મારે હાથ છોડવો પડ્યો અને ચાલતી ગાડી માટે દોટ મૂકી.

આ વખતે હું તેને ભૂલ્યો નહીં, બાકીના પ્રવાસ દરમિયાન, અને પછી પણ, ઘણા લાંબા સમય સુધી તે મારી સાથે હતી. તે આખાય વર્ષ દરમિયાન તે એક તેજસ્વી, જીવંત વસ્તુ હતી. અને જ્યારે કૉલિજનું સત્ર પૂરું થયું, મેં ઝડપથી સામાન તૈયાર કર્યો અને હંમેશ કરતા વહેલો દેહરા જવા નીકળી ગયો.

ટ્રેન દેકલી પહોંચી ત્યારે હું બેચેન અને આતુર હતો. તે છોકરીને શું કહેવું અને મારે શું કરવું જોઈએ તે હું વિચારતો હતો. હું તેની સામે અસહાય થઈને નહીં જ ઊભો રહું, એ વિશે હું મક્કમ હતો. ટ્રેન દેવલી પહોંચી, અને મેં પ્લેટફૉર્મના એક છેડાથી બીજા છેડા સુધી નજર દોડાવી, પણ મને તે છોકરી ક્યાંય દેખાઈ નહીં.

મેં બારણું ખોલ્યું અને પગથિયેથી ઊતરી ગયો. હું ખૂબ નિરાશ થયો. મને લાગ્યું કે મારે કંઈક કરવું જોઈએ. તેથી હું ઝડપથી સ્ટેશન માસ્ટર પાસે ગયો અને (તેમને) પૂછ્યું, “અહીં ટોપલીઓ વેચતી હતી તે છોકરીને તમે જાણો છો?'

“ના, હું (તેને) નથી જાણતો,' સ્ટેશન માસ્ટરે કહ્યું.

ગાડી સ્ટેશનની બહાર જઈ રહી હતી અને મારે લૅટફૉર્મ પર દોડીને ડબાનું બારણું પકડવા માટે કૂદવું પડ્યું.

દેઉલી ગ્લૅટફૉર્મ દેખાતું બંધ થયું અને મેં નક્કી કર્યું કે એક દિવસ હું મારા પ્રવાસ દરમિયાન ત્યાં રોકાઈ જઈશ. હું ગામમાં એક દિવસ વિતાવી, તપાસ કરીશ, અને જે છોકરીએ માત્ર તેની કાળી ઉત્સુક આંખોની એક નજરથી મારું હૃદય ચોરી લીધું હતું, તેને શોધી કાઢીશ.

છેલ્લાં થોડાં વર્ષોમાં હું દેઉલીથી કેટલીય વાર પસાર થયો છું. મારી સામે મલકતો એ જ ચહેરો જોવા માટે હું હંમેશાં બારીની બહાર જોઉં છું. પણ હું ક્યારેય ત્યાં રોકાઈશ નહીં. ટોપલીઓ લઈને મારી રાહ જોતી એ છોકરીને જોવાની આશા અને સ્વગ્ન સાથે (હું) બારીની બહાર જોવાનું પસંદ કરું છું. હું ક્યારેય દેઉલી રોકાતો નથી, પણ વારંવાર ત્યાંથી પસાર થાઉં છું. - Ruskin Bond

Word Meanings

plains (પ્લેન્સ) મેદાન, સમતલ ભૂમિ

heavy (હેવિ) ગાઢ

bare (બૅર) ઉઘાડું

gracefully (ગ્રેસફુલિ) મોહક રીતે, આકર્ષક રીતે

intently (ઈન્ટેન્ટલિ) આતુરતાથી

to pretend (પ્રિટેન્ડ) ઢોંગ કરવો, દેખાવ કરવો, ડોળ કરવો

to notice (નોટિસ) જોવું, ધ્યાનમાં આવવું

pale (પેલ) ફીકું, નિસ્તેજ

searching (સર્ચિંગ) કંઈક શોધતું હોય તેવું

lively (લાઈવ્લિ) જીવન અને ઉત્સાહથી ભરેલું, ચેતનવંતું

to follow (ફૉલો) પાછળ જવું, પીછો કરવો

incident (ઈન્સિડન્ટ) પ્રસંગ, બનાવ

blurred (બ્લર્ડ) ઝાંખું

distant (ડિસ્ટન્ટ) દૂરનું, ભુલાઈ ગયેલું

unexpected (અનઈક્સપેક્ટેડ) અનપેક્ષિત

thrill (થ્રિલ) રોમાંચ

pleased (પ્લીઝ્ડ) ખુશ

impulse (ઈમ્પલ્સ) લાગણીનો આવેશ

to bear (બેઅર) સહન કરવું

to vanish (વૅનિશ) અદૃશ્ય થઈ જવું

to nod (નૉડ) માથું ધુણાવવું, માથું હલાવવું

to slide (સ્લાઈડ) આગળ સરી જવું

forward (ફૉર્વડ) આગળ

haste (હેસ્ટ) ઉતાવળ, ઝડપ

nervous (નર્વસ) ગભરાયેલું, ઉત્તેજિત, બેચેન

anxious (એન્ક્શસ) અસ્વસ્થ, આતુર

to wonder (વન્ડર) વિચારવું

determined (ડિટર્મિન્ડ) કૃતનિશ્ચય, મક્કમ

helplessly (હેલ્પલેસલિ) લાચારીથી, અસહાય થઈને

disappointed (ડિસપૉઈન્ટિડ) નિરાશ

enquiry (ઈન્ક્વાયરિ) પૂછપરછ, તપાસ

impatient (ઈમ્પેશન્ટ) અધીર, ઉત્સુક

to prefer (પ્રિફર) વધારે પસંદ કરવું

to hope (હોપ) આશા કરવી

to dream (ડ્રીમ) સ્વપ્ન જોવું

Idioms and Phrases

(1) to get off

We got off at Neral station to go to Matheran.

(2) to come down

The policeman came down the road to clear the traffic jam.

(3) to look at

The teacher looked at the naughty children with anger.

(4) to move on

moved on to meet another group.

(5) to rush to

The doctor had to rush to the hospital to attend to a patient.

(6) to walk across

We walked across the road to go to the museum.

(7) to run back

Mohan ran back to his class because he forgot his lunch box there.

(8) to slip away

As the train left the station, I saw the beautiful hills slip away behind me.

(9) to come in the way

I could not see the actors on the stage because a tall boy came in the way.

(10) to look out for

The police are looking out for the thief who robbed the bank yesterday.

(11) to draw into

The coolies rushed towards the compartments as the train drew into the station.

(12) to walk up to

Raj walked up to the teacher and said sorry for his behaviour.

(13) filled with

Mother's eyes were filled with tears of joy when she saw me after a long time.

(14) to put someone / something on

Father put me on the train to Mumbai.

(15) to pull away

Deepak pulled the small boy away from the road and saved his life.

(16) To look up and down

The passenger looked up and down the platform, but he could not see any coolies.