Chapter 4 


Comprehension Check (Page 61)

 1:Why did the man stare at Bepin Babu in disbelief?

Answer:Parimal Ghose recounted meeting Bepin Babu in Ranchi in 1958. He was taken aback and stared at Bepin Babu in disbelief because Bepin did not recognize him, revealing a lapse in his memory of the time he had spent in Ranchi.

 2:Where did Bepin Babu say he went in October ’58?

Answer: Bepin Babu mentioned that in October 1958 he had gone to Kanpur and celebrated the Puja with a friend.

 3:Mention any three (or more) things that Parimal Ghose knew about Bepin Babu.

Answer:Bepin Babu had fallen in Hudroo, injuring his right knee.

He lived in a bungalow at Ranchi, preferring meals cooked by a bawarchi rather than eating hotel food.
He had no children, had lost his wife ten years earlier, and his only brother had died due to insanity.

Comprehension Check (Page 64)

1:Why did Bepin Babu worry about what Parimal Ghose had said?

Answer: Bepin Babu was taken aback that Parimal Ghose seemed to know so many personal details about him—his leg injury, the bag of books, his wife’s death, and his brother’s insanity. Hearing all this made Bepin Babu strongly believe that Parimal had no reason to lie about the Ranchi trip, leading him to question whether he had indeed experienced a temporary lapse of memory regarding his visit.

 2:How did he try to decide who was right—his memory or Parimal Ghose?

Answer:Bepin Babu felt troubled after meeting Parimal Ghose, who firmly stated that he had known him since 1958 during his Ranchi visit. When Bepin Babu examined his right knee, he realised he had no recollection of the injury. To resolve the confusion about his Ranchi trip, he decided to reach out to Dinesh Mukerji, hoping that Dinesh’s memories of the events from 1958 would help clarify the situation.

 3:Why did Bepin Babu hesitate to visit Mr. Mukerji? Why did he finally decide to phone him?

Answer:At first, Bepin Babu was reluctant to visit Mr. Mukerji because he feared facing Dinesh’s sharp sarcasm. He chose to dismiss the information Parimal had shared at the bookstore, considering it false. However, the fact that Parimal knew so many personal details about him continued to trouble Bepin Babu, prompting him to seek clarity. To avoid potential embarrassment in person, he decided to phone Mr. Mukerji instead.

4:What did Mr. Mukerji say? Did it comfort Bepin Babu, or add to his worries?

Answer: Mr. Mukerji promptly referred to his diary and confirmed that both he and Bepin Babu had indeed visited Ranchi in October 1958. This revelation left Bepin Babu puzzled, as he still could not understand why he had no recollection of the trip.

Comprehension Check (Page 67)

 1:Who was Chunilal? What did he want from Bepin Babu?

Answer:Chunilal was a schoolmate of Bepin Babu. Lately, he had been facing difficulties and kept visiting Bepin Babu, hoping for assistance in finding a job. Although Bepin Babu knew he could offer little help, Chunilal continued to show up at his house repeatedly, like an unwelcome visitor.

 2:Why was Dr. Chanda puzzled? What was unusual about Bepin Babu’s loss of memory?

Answer: Dr. Chanda was puzzled after hearing about Bepin Babu’s memory lapse, noting that such a case was unusual and beyond his typical experience. What made it peculiar was that Bepin Babu could recall almost everything from his past except his visit to Ranchi. Therefore, Dr. Chanda advised him to go to Ranchi in hopes that revisiting the place might help him remember the forgotten events.


Comprehension Check (Page 69)

 1:Had Bepin Babu really lost his memory and forgotten all about a trip to Ranchi?

Answer:Probably not. Bepin Babu had not actually experienced a memory lapse or forgotten his trip to Ranchi. Chunilal’s letter revealed that he had played a trick on Bepin Babu because Bepin had refused to help him secure a job.

 2:Why do you think Chunilal did what he did? Chunilal says he has no money; what is it that he does have?

Answer: Chunilal orchestrated the whole episode because Bepin Babu had never helped him find a proper job, and he was completely broke. To get back at Bepin, he aimed to stir up memories of Bepin’s fall near Hudroo in Ranchi. Although Chunilal had no money or steady employment, he possessed a vivid imagination, which he believed could help him overcome his career struggles. He had even written a novel that was under consideration by a publisher, giving him hope for a potential source of income.

Working with the text (Page 69)

 1:The author describes Bepin Babu as a serious and hardworking man. What evidence can you find in the story to support this?

Answer: Bepin Babu is portrayed as a serious and diligent man. He worked daily at a large firm, holding a responsible position. Having been with the company for twenty-five years, he earned a reputation as a tireless and conscientious employee.

 2:Why did Bepin Babu change his mind about meeting Chunilal? What was the result of this meeting?

Answer: Chunilal frequently visited Bepin Babu seeking help to find a job, but Bepin Babu usually refused to meet him. On that particular day, he decided to see Chunilal to ask if he remembered anything about the Ranchi trip. Chunilal confirmed Bepin Babu’s visit, which left Bepin puzzled and prompted him to consult a specialist doctor to address his supposed memory loss.

 3:Bepin Babu lost consciousness at Hudroo Falls. What do you think was the reason for this?

Answer: Bepin Babu lost consciousness at Hudroo Falls because he sensed that this location might trigger memories of his 1958 visit to Ranchi. Unable to recall any incident, he soon fell beside a boulder and accidentally fractured his hip.

 4:How do you think Bepin Babu reacted when he found out that Chunilal had tricked him?

Answer: When Bepin Babu discovered Chunilal’s trick, he felt a deep sense of remorse for not helping him earlier. He regretted turning Chunilal away and recognised that, in his prosperous times, he had forgotten the true value of friendship, making him a victim of his own forgetfulness.

Working with language (Page 70-72)

 1:Fill in the blanks below using ‘had to’/ ‘have to’/ ‘has to’.

(i) I ________________ cut my hair every month.

Answer: I have to cut my hair every month.

(ii) We ________________ go for swimming lessons last year.

Answer: We had to go for swimming lessons last year.

(iii) She ________________ tell the principal the truth.

Answer:  She has to tell the principal the truth.

(iv) They ________________ take the baby to the doctor.

Answer:  They had to take the baby to the doctor.

(v) We ________________ complain to the police about the noise.

Answer:   We have to complain to the police about the noise.

(vi) Romit ________________ finish his homework before he could come out to play.

Answer:   Romit had to finish his homework before he could come out to play.

(vii) I ________________ repair my cycle yesterday.

Answer:   I had to repair my cycle yesterday.

Question 2:

Here are a few idioms that you will find in the story. Look for them in the dictionary in the following way.

First, arrange them in the order in which you would find them in a dictionary.

(Clue: An idiom is usually listed under the first noun, verb, adjective or adverb in it. Ignore articles or prepositions in the idiom).

To help you, we have put in bold the word under which you must look for the idiom in the dictionary.

(i) at/from close quarters (close: adjective)

(ii) break into a smile (break: verb; look under ‘break into something’)

(iii) carry on (carry: verb)

(iv) have a clean record (you may find related meanings under both these words)

(v) beat about the bush (verb)

Now refer to your dictionary and find out what they mean.

Answer:

(i) at/from close quarters – This means stay nearby or close by.

(ii) break into a smile – This means to smile suddenly.

(iii) carry on – This means to continue with some task or work.

(iv) have a clean record – This means to have a clean conduct or track record.

(v) beat about the bush – This means to make rough guesses without proper knowledge.


 1:What do you think happened after Bepin Babu came to know the truth? Was he angry with this friend for playing such a trick on him? Or do you think he decided to help a friend in need?

Answer: After discovering the truth about Chunilal’s trick, Bepin Babu felt a mix of shame, remorse, and some anger at himself for not helping Chunilal when he had asked. He was slightly annoyed with Chunilal for causing him worry, but relieved to know that he had not actually suffered any memory loss. This incident made Bepin Babu realise that, in his prosperous times, he had neglected the true meaning of friendship. Learning from this, he resolved to always help a friend in need in the future.


Answer by Mrinmoee