Read the short story written by
Rabindranath Tagore
"The Home Coming'.
Answers
Answer:
Phatik Chakravorti was ringleader among the boys of the village. A new mischief got
into his head. There was a heavy log lying on the mud-flat of the river waiting to be
shaped into a mast for a boat. He decided that they should all work together to shift the
log by main force from its place and roll it away. The owner of the log would be angry
and surprised, and they would all enjoy the fun. Every one seconded the proposal, and it
was carried unanimously.
But just as the fun was about to begin, Makhan, Phatik's younger brother, sauntered up,
and sat down on the log in front of them all without a word. The boys were puzzled for
a moment. He was pushed, rather timidly, by one of the boys and told to get up but he
remained quite unconcerned. He appeared like a young philosopher meditating on the
futility of games. Phatik was furious. "Makhan," he cried, "if you don't get down this
minute I'll thrash you!"
Makhan only moved to a more comfortable position.
Now, if Phatik was to keep his regal dignity before the public, it was clear he ought to
carry out his threat. But his courage failed him at the crisis. His fertile brain, however,
rapidly seized upon a new manoeuvre which would discomfit his brother and afford his
followers an added amusement. He gave the word of command to roll the log and
Makhan over together. Makhan heard the order, and made it a point of honour to stick
on. But he overlooked the fact, like those who attempt earthly fame in other matters,
that there was peril in it.
The boys began to heave at the log with all their might, calling out, "One, two, three,
go," At the word "go" the log went; and with it went Makhan's philosophy, glory and
all.
All the other boys shouted themselves hoarse with delight. But Phatik was a little
frightened. He knew what was coming. And, sure enough, Makhan rose from Mother
Earth blind as Fate and screaming like the Furies. He rushed at Phatik and scratched his
face and beat him and kicked him, and then went crying home. The first act of the
drama was over.
Phatik wiped his face, and sat down on the edge of a sunken barge on the river bank,
and began to chew a piece of grass. A boat came up to the landing, and a middle-aged
man, with grey hair and dark moustache, stepped on shore. He saw the boy sitting there
doing nothing, and asked him where the Chakravortis lived. Phatik went on chewing the
grass, and said: "Over there," but it was quite impossible to tell where he pointed. The
stranger asked him again. He swung his legs to and fro on the side of the barge, and
said; "Go and find out," and continued to chew the grass as before.
Explanation:
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