Chapter 2 

                                                             A Gift of Chappals


Q:1 Who are the main characters introduced at the beginning of the story, and where does it take place?

A: The story is set in Madras (now Chennai). The main characters are Mridu, a young girl, her grandparents Tapi and Thatha, her aunt Rukku Manni, and her cousins Lalli, Ravi, and Meena.


Q:2 What is the relationship between Mridu and Rukku Manni?

A: Rukku Manni is Mridu’s aunt. Mridu visits her house to meet her cousins Lalli, Ravi, and Meena.


Q:3 Describe Mridu’s first impression of the house and family members.

A: Mridu is welcomed warmly by Rukku Manni. She notices the slippers, the backyard, and her cousins’ playful behavior, especially Ravi’s energy and eagerness to show her the kitten.


Q:4 Who is Mahendran, and how is he introduced in the story?

A: Mahendran is a tiny kitten found in a torn football filled with sand. Ravi and Meena introduce him to Mridu in the backyard, keeping it a secret from their mother.


Q:5 What secret does Meena share with Mridu about the kitten?

A: Meena tells Mridu that their mother would be angry if she knew they had a cat, so they keep Mahendran a secret.


Q:6 How does Ravi manage to get milk for Mahendran without being caught?

A: Ravi pours milk into a coconut shell and drinks some himself to mislead Paati. He then quickly washes the tumbler and returns it to avoid suspicion.


Q: 7What is special about Mahendran’s full name, and why does Ravi tell it?

A: Mahendran’s full name is Mahendravarma Pallava Poonai (M.P. Poonai). Ravi tells this to impress Mridu, claiming the kitten is descended from the Pallava kings and has a royal heritage.


Q:8 How does Ravi connect Mahendran to history?

A: Ravi humorously claims that Mahendran is a descendant of the Mahabalipuram Rishi-Cat and even traces a lineage to the Egyptian cat goddess Bastet, mixing history with imagination.


Q:9 What does Ravi’s storytelling about Mahendran reveal about his character?

A: It shows that Ravi has a rich imagination, loves to talk, enjoys entertaining others, and sometimes exaggerates to impress his cousin.


Q:10 How does Mahendran react to Ravi’s whoop and the weird noise from Lalli?

A: Mahendran gets scared, hair standing on end, and scurries under the bamboo tray of red chillies, tipping some over himself.


Q:11 Describe Lalli’s experience with the violin.

A: Lalli struggles to play the violin properly. The music-master plays skillfully, but she keeps going off track, which Ravi compares to a train derailing.


Q:12 How does Mridu observe the music-master?

A: Mridu notices his beringed hand moving effortlessly along the violin, producing perfect music, highlighting the difference between his skill and Lalli’s practice.


Q:13 What does the “kreeching” sound signify in the story?

A: The “kreeching” is Lalli playing the violin badly while the music-master demonstrates proper notes. It startles both Mridu and Mahendran.


Q:14 How is the beggar first described in the garden?

A: The beggar is resting under the neem tree, leaning against the trunk, spreading his upper cloth, and seemingly prepared for a snooze while waiting for alms.


Q:15 How do the children react to the beggar?

A: Mridu and Meena are sympathetic, noticing his blistered feet. Ravi thinks practically about finding a solution to help him.


Q:16. Why does the beggar say he has “kept my body and soul together”?

A: He means he has survived the past week thanks to the generosity of the ladies in the house, showing his gratitude.


Q:17 How do the children plan to help the beggar?

A: They decide to give him a pair of slippers (chappals) to protect his blistered feet from the hot road.


Q:18 How are the beggar’s feet described, and why is this significant?

A: His feet have large, pink, peeling blisters, showing he urgently needs footwear. This emphasizes the importance of empathy and action.


Q:19 Which slippers do the children decide to give the beggar?

A: They choose a pair of shabby but sturdy old slippers that happen to fit the beggar perfectly.


Q:20 What is the beggar’s reaction when he receives the slippers?

A: He quickly puts them on, muttering a blessing to the children, and leaves happily.


Q:21 How does the music-master react when he discovers his chappals are missing?

A: He looks around the verandah unappreciatively, searching frantically, and complains about their cost.


Q:22 How does Rukku Manni respond when she learns what happened?

A: She is angry with Ravi for giving away the music-master’s chappals, scolding him for his mischief.


Q:23 How does Ravi defend his actions?

A: Ravi explains that the old slippers wouldn’t fit the beggar, and even if they did, it was important to help someone in need.


Q:24 How are the new chappals for the music-master obtained?

A: Rukku Manni brings out Gopu Mama’s hardly worn new chappals for the music-master to replace the ones given to the beggar.


Q:25 How does Rukku Manni’s anger change by the end of the story?

A: Though initially angry, she starts laughing at the situation, finding the children’s mischief amusing after realizing no real harm was done.


Q:26 What lesson do the children learn from helping the beggar?

A: They learn the value of empathy, compassion, and taking practical action to help those in need.


Q:27 How does the story use humor to convey its message?

A: The story includes funny incidents, like Mahendran getting frightened and Ravi exaggerating the kitten’s lineage, making the narrative entertaining while teaching values.


Q:28 Why does the story emphasize the children’s initiative?

A: It shows that even small acts by children, like giving slippers to the beggar, can make a meaningful difference.


Q:29 What role do Mridu and Meena play in helping the beggar?

A: They assist Ravi in selecting the slippers and express concern for the beggar’s wellbeing, demonstrating teamwork and empathy.


Q:30 How does Ravi’s imagination enrich the story?

A: Ravi’s tales about Mahendran’s royal and ancient ancestry add humor, creativity, and make the story lively for Mridu.


Q:31 Explain the phrase “kept my body and soul together” as used by the beggar.

A: It means the beggar managed to survive the week thanks to the kindness and help of the ladies in the house.


Q:32 What does “throw her off the scent” mean in the story?

A: It means to mislead Paati so she would not discover Ravi was giving milk to the kitten.


Q:33 Why does the author describe Mahendran as a “descendant of the Egyptian cat-goddess”?

A: To humorously exaggerate the kitten’s importance, showing Ravi’s playful imagination and love for storytelling.


Q:34 How is empathy portrayed in the story?

A: Through the children noticing the beggar’s blisters and taking practical steps to help him, showing care and moral responsibility.


Q:35 How does humor balance the moral message in the story?

A: The exaggerated kitten ancestry, the violin mishaps, and the children’s playful antics make the story funny while highlighting lessons on kindness.


Q:36 How does the author create suspense around the beggar’s footwear?

A: By describing the children’s search for suitable slippers and the beggar’s discomfort in the hot sun, keeping readers eager to know what will happen.


Q:37 How is the setting important to the story?

A: The household, garden, and verandah create a realistic backdrop where the children’s kindness and mischief unfold.


Q:38 How does Rukku Manni’s reaction reflect adult perspectives on children?

A: She is initially strict and scolding but ultimately forgiving, showing that adults balance discipline with understanding.


Q:39 Why is giving away someone else’s belongings (the music-master’s chappals) justified in this story?

A: Because the act helps a person in urgent need (the beggar), teaching that compassion can outweigh material concerns.


Q:40 What is the central moral of “A Gift of Chappals”?

A: The story teaches empathy, generosity, practical problem-solving, and that even small acts of kindness can have a big impact.

Answer by Mrinmoee