Comprehension Check
1. Why does Indrani Debi dislikce Duttada's "hobnobbing" with Dibya?
2. She is complaining and smiling. Why is she smiling?
3. (i) What was Duttada's secret ambition?
(ii) What did he do to achieve it?
4. What is the difference between a planet and a comet, as given in the
story?
5. Why was Duttada hopeful that he would discover a new comet soon?
6. Why does Duttada say — "I almost wish I had not discovered this
comet."?
7. Why is his wife unhappy about the discovery?
Answers
Dibya’ was the name given by Indrani Debi. It was a telescope. Dattada was always busy during night with Dibya. He never cared for his wife or about himself. So his wife disliked it as her rival.
She complains that Dibya has cast a spell on her husband. But she could not help smiling at his childlike behaviour. He did not bother to close the door and he forgot to put on his sweater.
(i) Duttada’s secret ambition was to buy a good telescope and to have enough of spare time to watch the stars.
(ii) He waited for his retirement. After retirement he got sufficient funds. Then he bought a telescope and he started gazing at the stars without caring for his wife and life.
A planet has a fixed orbit. A comet comes from the distant comers of the solar system. It keeps on changing.
Duttada was hopeful of discovering a new comet because he knew that professional astronomers did not consider them significant and ignored them.
The discovery of the new comet brought Duttada publicity which he did not like. He had to attend many receptions and functions. So he wished he hadn’t discovered that new comet.
The discovery of the new comet made Duttada’s wife unhappy. She was superstitious. She thought that the discovery would bring calamities on the family as well as on the earth