Chapter 8
A Pact with the Sun
1. What were the health complaints of Saeeda’s mother?
Answer: Saeeda’s mother suffered from fever, cough, body-ache, painful joints, and various other ailments. Though treated by multiple physicians over weeks, she would temporarily improve and then relapse, with one complaint being replaced by another.
2. How was Saeeda’s mother treated before consulting the specialist?
Answer: She was confined to a small, dark room, deprived of sunlight, fresh air, and normal food. Various physicians gave her treatment, but it was not effective, and she did not recover fully.
3. Why was Saeeda’s mother confined to a dark, small room?
Answer: Her family and previous physicians believed that confinement would protect her from illness. They forbade normal food and kept the doors and windows closed, which worsened her health.
4. Why did relatives and neighbours persuade her to consult a specialist?
Answer: They saw her condition deteriorating and emphasized that life is more valuable than money. They encouraged her to seek proper medical treatment despite financial difficulties.
5. How did Saeeda’s mother manage to pay for the specialist and medicine?
Answer: Although poor, she sold a few trinkets to pay the doctor’s fee and buy the effective medicine prescribed by the specialist.
6. What advice did the specialist give regarding diet?
Answer: The specialist advised her to eat anything she wished, including chapati, vegetables, milk, and fruits, emphasizing that proper nutrition was crucial for recovery.
7. What advice did the specialist give regarding her living environment?
Answer: He instructed her to move to a bigger room with doors and windows open, and to sit in the sun every morning from eight to nine. He emphasized that sunlight and fresh air were as important as medicine.
8. How did people react to the specialist’s advice?
Answer: Some approved of the advice, while others opposed it. An experienced lady claimed that sun exposure could be dangerous for someone with a chronic cough, leading to debates among neighbours.
9. How did Saeeda’s mother respond to the debate about the doctor’s advice?
Answer: She remained quiet but determined. Exhausted by the discussion, she decided to follow the doctor’s instructions to the letter, moving her bed to a sunny room and sitting in the sun daily.
10. How did the overcast weather affect Saeeda’s mother’s recovery?
Answer: The cloudy weather prevented sunlight from reaching her, which made Saeeda and her mother anxious, as they believed sunlight was necessary for her recovery.
11. How did Saeeda communicate with the sunrays?
Answer: Saeeda used a secret language that children have with nature, addressing the sunrays and requesting them to come the next day with warmth and brightness to help her mother recover.
12. How did the sunrays respond to Saeeda’s request?
Answer: The sunrays agreed to come the next day and promised to arrive at the fixed hour, showing a magical understanding of Saeeda’s appeal.
13. What obstacle did the sunrays face the next morning?
Answer: The sunrays were blocked by thick, mucky clouds, which prevented them from immediately reaching the earth and Saeeda’s courtyard.
14. How did the sunrays overcome the clouds?
Answer: The little sunrays focused their heat and energy on the clouds, forcing them to move aside so that the rays could reach Saeeda’s mother and her courtyard.
15. How did Saeeda react when she saw the sunrays approaching?
Answer: Her heart leapt with joy. She ran to call her mother, shouting, “Amma, Amma! The sun is here. Come out,” showing her excitement and relief.
16. How did Saeeda’s mother feel when she sat in the sun for the first time in months?
Answer: She felt as if she were in a new world. Her pale face glowed, her eyes shone, she felt the fragrance of flowers, heard birds singing, and enjoyed fresh air, which immediately made her feel better.
17. How long did Saeeda’s mother sit in the sun, and what effect did it have?
Answer: She sat in the sun for an hour, reclining against bolsters. This exposure to sunlight and fresh air helped her regain strength and contributed significantly to her recovery.
18. What role did Saeeda play in her mother’s recovery?
Answer: Saeeda encouraged her mother to follow the doctor’s advice and communicated with the sunrays using her secret language, requesting their help. Her determination and belief in the sun’s warmth played a symbolic and motivational role.
19. What did the story illustrate about the power of sunlight?
Answer: The story shows that sunlight and fresh air are vital for health. Proper exposure can help in recovery from illness and improve mood, energy, and overall well-being.
20. How does the story highlight the importance of following a specialist’s advice?
Answer: Despite opposition from neighbours, Saeeda’s mother followed the specialist’s instructions precisely, showing that proper medical guidance and adherence to it can lead to effective treatment.
21. Why was the specialist’s advice considered unusual?
Answer: The advice emphasized simple, natural remedies such as sunlight, fresh air, and a nutritious diet over confinement and strict medical restrictions, which was contrary to common practice at the time.
22. How did Saeeda’s secret language with nature reflect her childlike perspective?
Answer: Children often communicate imaginatively with nature and the environment. Saeeda’s ability to “speak” to the sunrays shows her innocence, creativity, and belief in the magic of nature.
23. How did the sunrays feel about going to Saeeda’s courtyard despite obstacles?
Answer: The sunrays were determined and almost revolted against the sun, insisting that they could not break their promise to help Saeeda’s mother, showing their loyalty and magical personification.
24. How did the sun respond to the sunrays’ insistence?
Answer: The sun relented and allowed the rays to go to Saeeda’s courtyard, even warning them to be careful about the mucky clouds. This shows the story’s magical elements where nature cooperates with human intent.
25. How did the clouds affect the sunrays’ journey?
Answer: The clouds acted as a barrier, blocking the rays from reaching earth. The rays had to focus their heat to pierce through the clouds, symbolizing challenges that must be overcome to achieve goals.
26. How does the story portray hope and determination?
Answer: Saeeda’s hope and persistent communication with the sunrays, combined with her mother’s determination to follow the doctor’s advice, show that faith, patience, and perseverance lead to positive outcomes.
27. What lesson does Saeeda’s mother’s recovery teach?
Answer: It teaches that proper medical treatment, combined with exposure to nature, good nutrition, and following advice, is essential for recovery. Blind adherence to old customs or fear can be harmful.
28. Why was Saeeda’s mother’s room originally harmful to her health?
Answer: It was small, dark, and airless. Confinement prevented her from getting sunlight and fresh air, which are essential for physical and mental health, worsening her illness.
29. How did sunlight and fresh air act as a natural medicine?
Answer: Sunlight provided warmth and vitamin D, while fresh air improved breathing and circulation. Together, they strengthened the body, boosted immunity, and helped her recover from prolonged illness.
30. How does the story show the importance of nutrition?
Answer: The specialist encouraged Saeeda’s mother to eat nutritious food of her choice, emphasizing that proper diet supports recovery alongside medicine and exposure to nature.
31. How did magical realism appear in the story?
Answer: The sunrays are personified, talking to Saeeda and obeying her request. Clouds are portrayed as obstacles that can be overcome by determination, blending reality with magical elements to engage readers.
32. What emotions did Saeeda experience throughout the story?
Answer: She felt worry and sadness when her mother was unwell, hope when communicating with the sunrays, and joy and relief when the sunlight reached her mother and she began to recover.
33. How did the neighbours react to the mother’s sun therapy?
Answer: Some neighbours supported the idea, while others opposed it, believing sunlight might worsen her chronic cough. This shows the contrast between traditional beliefs and modern medical advice.
34. How does the story emphasize the value of life over money?
Answer: Saeeda’s mother sold her trinkets to pay for the specialist and medicine, showing that health and life are more important than material wealth.
35. What role did patience play in the recovery process?
Answer:Despite cloudy weather delaying sunlight, Saeeda and her mother patiently waited and followed instructions, illustrating that recovery requires patience and persistence.
36. How did nature help in the healing process?
Answer:Sunlight, fresh air, and the natural environment contributed to the mother’s physical and mental rejuvenation, showing the healing power of nature.
37. How does the story show the relationship between child and parent?
Answer: Saeeda’s care, concern, and proactive efforts to help her mother show a loving and responsible child-parent relationship based on empathy and devotion.
38. How did following the specialist’s advice make a difference?
Answer: The specialist’s advice combined medicine, nutrition, and sunlight exposure, which together led to her full recovery, demonstrating the effectiveness of holistic treatment.
39. What is the moral of the story?
Answer: The story teaches that proper medical care, nature’s benefits, patience, and faith can overcome illness. It also shows the value of hope, determination, and caring for loved ones.
40. How does the story inspire children?
Answer: It encourages children to believe in the power of hope, to care for family, and to recognize the importance of nature and following good advice. Saeeda’s proactive attitude shows that even children can make a positive difference.
Answer by Mrinmoee
