Chapter 4 

                                                                 Chandni


About Abbu Khan and His Goats

Q1. Who was Abbu Khan? Where did he live and how did he spend his life?
Ans: Abbu Khan was an old man who lived all alone in Almora, a hill station. He kept a few goats as his pets and treated them like his own children. He gave them funny names like Kalua, Moongia, or Gujri. He took them out for grazing during the day, talked to them lovingly, and tied them up in his hut at night.

Q2. How did Abbu Khan treat his goats?
Ans: Abbu Khan loved his goats dearly. He gave them funny names, fed them with the best grass and grains, and even narrated stories to them as one talks to one’s children. He treated them with affection and care.

Q3. Why did Abbu Khan’s goats always run away despite his love and care?
Ans: Goats in hilly regions love their freedom and dislike being tied up. Abbu Khan’s goats were of the best hill breed and longed for open fields and fresh air. They could not remain confined, so whenever they got a chance, they broke free and ran away to the hills.

Q4. What happened to Abbu Khan’s goats after they ran away to the hills?
Ans: Unfortunately, whenever Abbu Khan’s goats ran away to the hills, they were killed by a dangerous old wolf who lived there. This made Abbu Khan very sad and puzzled about why his goats chose certain death over safety and comfort.

Q5. Why did Abbu Khan decide never to keep goats again? Did he stick to his decision?
Ans: Abbu Khan was heartbroken because all his goats left him only to be killed by the wolf. He thought he would spend the rest of his life without goats. However, his loneliness overcame him, and very soon he changed his mind and bought another goat.

Introduction of Chandni

Q6. Why did Abbu Khan decide to buy a young goat this time?
Ans: Abbu Khan thought that a young goat would stay with him longer. She would grow to love him and the food he gave her, and would not be tempted to run away to the hills.

Q7. Describe Chandni’s appearance.
Ans: Chandni was a beautiful young goat, white as snow. She had two little horns, a pair of gleaming red eyes, and a friendly temperament. She looked graceful and lively, like moonlight, which is why Abbu Khan named her Chandni.

Q8. Why did Abbu Khan name his goat Chandni?
Ans: Abbu Khan named her Chandni, meaning "moonlight," because she was white as snow and very beautiful, just like the serene glow of the moon.

Q9. How did Chandni become close to Abbu Khan?
Ans: Chandni had a friendly temperament. She listened to Abbu Khan’s stories with interest and affection. Over time, she became his favorite companion, and he loved her as dearly as his own child.

Q10. Did Abbu Khan believe Chandni would stay with him forever? Why?
Ans: Yes, Abbu Khan believed that Chandni loved him enough never to leave him. She had stayed for several years, and he thought she would never be attracted to the hills like his other goats.

Chandni’s Desire for Freedom

Q11. How did Chandni feel about the hills?
Ans: Every morning, Chandni looked longingly at the sunlit hills. She admired their beauty, the fresh breeze, and the green fields. She yearned to run freely there instead of being tied by a rope in Abbu Khan’s compound.

Q12. How did the rope around her neck affect Chandni?
Ans: Chandni hated the rope as it stopped her from moving freely. She became sad, lost her appetite, stopped listening to Abbu Khan’s stories, grew very thin, and stared moodily at the hills.

Q13. What did Chandni finally say to Abbu Khan about her condition?
Ans: Chandni told Abbu Khan frankly that she wanted to go to the hills. She said if she remained in his compound, she would die of sadness, but in the hills she would feel truly alive.

Q14. How did Abbu Khan react when he heard Chandni’s wish?
Ans: Abbu Khan was heartbroken and shocked. The breakfast pot fell from his hands. He pleaded with Chandni not to leave, offering tastier food and even a longer rope. He warned her of the wolf in the hills.

Q15. How did Chandni respond to Abbu Khan’s warnings?
Ans: Chandni was determined. She said that God had given her horns to fight the wolf. She did not care about the danger and kept repeating that she wanted to go to the hills.

Conflict Between Love and Freedom

Q16. What did Abbu Khan do to stop Chandni from leaving?
Ans: Out of anger and fear for her safety, Abbu Khan locked Chandni in a small hut, thinking it was the only way to protect her from the wolf.

Q17. How did Chandni escape from Abbu Khan’s hut?
Ans: Abbu Khan forgot to close the small window at the back of the hut. That very night, Chandni used it as her passage to freedom and ran towards the hills.

Q18. Why did Chandni consider Abbu Khan’s compound a prison?
Ans: Though Abbu Khan loved her, she had no freedom in his compound. The rope and restrictions made her feel trapped, like a prisoner. To her, even death in freedom was better than life in captivity.

Q19. What did Chandni feel when she reached the hills?
Ans: Chandni was overwhelmed with joy. She felt as though the hills, grass, flowers, and wind were welcoming her warmly. She experienced the happiest day of her life, running and playing freely.

Q20. Why did Chandni refuse to join the herd of wild goats?
Ans: Chandni politely refused their invitation because she wanted to enjoy her new freedom alone, without any bonds or groups.

The Encounter with the Wolf

Q21. What happened when darkness fell on the hills?
Ans: As darkness enveloped the hills, Chandni heard a strange grunt from the bushes. Soon, the wolf emerged, staring at her greedily with eyes shining like burning coals.

Q22. What did Chandni think when she saw the wolf?
Ans: She was scared but remembered her decision. She told herself that death in an open field was better than life in a small hut, and prepared to fight bravely.

Q23. How did Chandni prepare herself for the fight with the wolf?
Ans: Chandni stood firm on her legs, bent her head slightly, and pointed her horns forward like a soldier ready to fight a treacherous enemy.

Q24. What thought gave Chandni strength before the fight?
Ans: She reminded herself that success or failure depends on luck or chance, but what mattered was putting up a good fight with courage.

Q25. How is Chandni compared to a soldier?
Ans: Chandni is described as a picture of courage, like a soldier defending her honor, standing strong against a powerful enemy, ready to sacrifice her life for freedom.

The Fight

Q26. How long did the fight between Chandni and the wolf continue?
Ans: The fight lasted the whole night, under the moon and stars, until dawn.

Q27. How did nature react to the fight?
Ans: The moon hid behind clouds, the stars faded one by one, and the silence of the night deepened. The scene symbolized the seriousness of Chandni’s struggle for freedom.

Q28. What happened when the morning came?
Ans: With the first rays of the sun, Chandni was found lying on the ground, soaked in blood. The wolf, tired and sleepy, was preparing to devour her.

Q29. Did Chandni win or lose the fight?
Ans: Physically, Chandni lost the fight as the wolf overpowered her. But morally and spiritually, she was the real winner because she fought bravely for her freedom.

Q30. What does Chandni’s struggle symbolize?
Ans: Chandni’s struggle symbolizes the eternal fight between freedom and captivity. It shows that freedom, even at the cost of death, is more valuable than a comfortable life in bondage.

The Wise Old Bird’s Verdict

Q31. How did the assembly of birds react after the fight?
Ans: The birds debated who the real winner was. Most said the wolf had won because Chandni was dead.

Q32. What did the wise old bird say about the result of the fight?
Ans: The wise old bird declared with confidence that Chandni was the real winner, as she had fought bravely and upheld her dignity and freedom.

Q33. Why did the wise old bird consider Chandni the winner?
Ans: For the bird, victory was not about survival but about courage and self-respect. Chandni chose death with honor over life in captivity, making her the true victor.

Q34. What lesson does the story “Chandni” teach us about freedom?
Ans: The story teaches that freedom is life itself. Comfort, safety, or love mean nothing if one is not free. Chandni’s courage shows that living with dignity and independence is worth even the greatest risk.

Q35. How does the story highlight the contrast between love and freedom?
Ans: Abbu Khan’s love gave Chandni comfort, food, and safety, but without freedom, it felt like imprisonment. Chandni chose freedom over Abbu Khan’s protective love, showing that freedom is a basic need stronger than affection.

Themes and Values

Q36. What qualities of Chandni do you admire most?
Ans: Chandni’s determination, courage, and love for freedom are admirable. Even when faced with certain death, she refused to give up her right to live freely.

Q37. What does Abbu Khan’s character tell us about love?
Ans: Abbu Khan’s character shows that love, when mixed with control and restriction, can become suffocating. True love must allow freedom.

Q38. Why is Chandni’s decision considered heroic?
Ans: Chandni knowingly walked into danger for the sake of freedom. Her courage to face the wolf and die fighting rather than live in captivity makes her a true hero.

Q39. What role does the wolf play in the story?
Ans: The wolf represents danger and death, but also the ultimate test of Chandni’s courage. Without the wolf, Chandni’s bravery and spirit of freedom would not have been revealed.

Q40. In what way is the story “Chandni” relevant to human life?
Ans: The story reflects the universal truth that freedom is essential for a meaningful life. Just like Chandni, human beings also crave liberty and dignity more than comfort or safety.


Answer by Mrinmoee