The Snake and the Mirror - V. M. Basheer

 Word Meanings

Coiled कुण्डली लगाना 

Homeopath चिकित्सक

humourous मजाकिया 

rented किराए का

familiar जाना पहचाना 

attentively बड़े ध्यान पूर्वक

earnings कमाई 

meagre बहुत कम 

solitary अकेला 

ceiling भीतरी छत 

beneath नीचे 

tempted लालायित होना

attractive आकर्षक 

valid उचित 

silly मूर्खता पूर्ण 

resumed ग्रहण करना

dull रूखा 

thud थाप की आवाज

wriggled ऐंठना 

simultaneous एक साथ घटित होना 

slithered फिसलना 

surrounded घिरा हुआ 

molten पिघली हुई 

crushing कुचलना 

slightest जरा सा भी

lurked झांकना 

feebly कमजोरी से

appreciated प्रशंसा करना

vermillion spot सिंदूरी निशान

at closer quarters बड़े नजदीक से 

reedy कमजोर 

sprinter तेज धावक 

smeared लेप लगाना 

rascal दुष्ट 

Textual Exercise 

Q1- "The sound was familiar one".What sound did the doctor hear?

Ans- It was the sound of a snake.

Q2- What did the doctor think the sound was?

Ans- The doctor thought it was the sound of rats.

Q3- How many times the doctor hear the voice?

Ans- He heard it three times.

Q4- When and why did the sound stop?

Ans- The sound stopped when the snake fell on the back of the chair, on which the doctor was sitting. 

Q5- What two 'important ' and 'earth- shaking ' decisions the doctor take while he was looking into the mirror?

Ans- He decided that he would shave daily and grow a thin moustache.  He also decided that he would keep a smile on his face. 

Q6- What happened to the doctor while he was sitting in his chair?

Ans- The doctor heard a dull noise. It was the noise of something falling from  above. He turned to see what it was. A fat snake landed on the doctors shoulder and coiled itself round his arm.

Q7- The snake has been compared to which three objects  ?

Ans- First of all the snake has been compared to a rubber tube. A snake looks like a rubber tube. Secondly, the snake has been compared to a leaden rod because of its tight grip. Thirdly,  the snake has been compared to a rod of molten fire. Its tight grip was giving a burning pain to the doctor.  All these comparisons are apt.

Q9- What kind of woman did the doctor want to marry, and why?

Ans- He wanted to marry a woman doctor who had a plenty of money. Thus he could be a rich man. He also wanted his wife to be a fat woman. He could save himself by running away from his wife if he ever would make a mistake. 

Q10- "I was turned to stone ." When does the doctor say so?

Ans- One summer night a snake entered the doctor's room. It landed on his shoulder.  Its hood was hardly three or four inches away from his face. He sat there holding his breath.  He felt himself turned to a stone. 

Q11- What happened at last with the snake and the doctor?

Ans- The doctor felt that his end was near. Suddenly,  the snake saw the mirror on the table. It released doctor's arm and slipped on the table. It started to look itself into the.  The doctor got a chance and run away. 

Rajender Tanwar

Lecturer in English

GGSSS KAIRU Bhiwani