Chapter 12 

                                                            One-Way Ticket -I


1. Who is Kishto and how is he dressed?

Answer: Kishto is a twelve-year-old boy from the village. He wears a long khadi kurta, probably his father’s, and his pyjamas are always too short for his long legs. He keeps long hair that looks patched on his head like a thatch.

2. What special habit does Kishto have?

Answer: Kishto has a funny habit of copying everyone in the village. He imitates people from his grandmother (Dadi) to the ration-shop man with his pair of scales.

3. Who is Bishni and what are her qualities?

Answer: Bishni is thirteen years old. She wears a loose three-piece dress consisting of a ghagra, choli, and odhni. She is bold and confident but talks a lot, so she is called a chatterbox.

4. How does Bishni wear her hair?

Answer: Bishni keeps her hair in two long plaits hanging on both sides of her head.

5. Describe Lambu’s personality.

Answer: Lambu is eleven years old. He is simple, innocent, and awkward. Though tall for his age, he often interrupts others and asks silly questions or gives childish ideas.

6. Why is Krishan called “Krishan the wise”?

Answer: Krishan is fourteen years old and is neat, clean, and sensible. He walks with a straight gait and is known for solving problems. Whenever someone faces difficulty, they go to him for help.

7. How is Gittoo different from the others?

Answer: Gittoo is twelve but shorter than boys of his age. He dresses in khaki and likes to play roles like a policeman or postman. He gathers news and gossip from the village and keeps everyone informed.

8. What plan do the five friends make?

Answer: The five friends plan to go to Dholpur village by bus to attend a fair held there.

9. Why do they want to go to Dholpur?

Answer: They want to visit the fair in Dholpur to enjoy various rides and attractions.

10. What attractions are there at the fair?

Answer: The fair has caterpillar train rides, cars that run through a maze, horse rides, a small aquarium with real fish, a merry-go-round, a giant wheel, and a hansi ghar.

11. Who do they decide to take with them?

Answer: They decide to take their dog Sheru along with them.

12. How do they prepare for the trip?

Answer: They ask their parents for money for the rides, and their mothers give them some food to eat on the way.

13. What happens after they board the bus?

Answer: After boarding the bus and sitting on worn-out seats huddled together, they realize that the bus does not move.

14. What is the reason for the bus not moving?

Answer: The conductor says that something is wrong with the engine.

15. How does Kishto react to the situation?

Answer: Kishto laughs loudly and questions the conductor about why the bus is not moving and how they will repair it without proper tools.

16. What suggestion does Lambu give?

Answer: Lambu suggests that they should go back home because the bus has broken down.

17. Why does Bishni disagree with Lambu?

Answer: Bishni does not want to miss the fair. She is eager to see the mela and the new rides.

18. What solution does Krishan give?

Answer: Krishan suggests that they walk to Dholpur and return the next morning by bus.

19. Why does Gittoo doubt the plan?

Answer: Gittoo thinks that they may get tired while walking such a long distance.

20. How does Bishni show her courage?

Answer: Bishni says that she walks to many places and is sure she can walk to the fair without getting tired.

21. What does Kishto say about Bishni?

Answer: Kishto praises her bravery and calls her a brave girl.

22. How do they inform their parents?

Answer: They decide to call the postman chacha on the telephone to inform their parents that they are safe and will return the next day.

23. What do they do with their tickets?

Answer: They return the bus tickets and get their money back from the conductor.

24. Why does Gittoo ask everyone to walk fast?

Answer: Gittoo tells them to walk fast because it will soon become dark.

25. At what time do they reach the fair?

Answer: They reach the fairground at about 7 o’clock in the evening.

26. How do the children sit in the bus?

Answer: They sit on worn-out seats and huddle together closely.

27. What does Sheru do during the bus ride?

Answer: Sheru keeps a watch on everything happening around.

28. What does the word ‘chatterbox’ describe in the story?

Answer: The word ‘chatterbox’ describes Bishni because she talks a lot.

29. What does ‘awkward’ describe in Lambu’s character?

Answer: ‘Awkward’ describes Lambu’s behavior as he is clumsy and often says childish things.

30. What does ‘gait’ mean in the story?

Answer: ‘Gait’ means the way a person walks. Krishan has a straight and confident gait.

31. Why are the children excited?

Answer: The children are excited because they are going to enjoy different rides and attractions at the fair.

32. What role does Krishan play in the group?

Answer: Krishan acts as the leader and guide. He provides solutions whenever there is a problem.

33. How does Lambu’s idea show his childish nature?

Answer: Lambu’s idea of going back home immediately shows that he is simple-minded and unable to think of other solutions.

34. What does Gittoo like to pretend?

Answer: Gittoo likes to pretend to be a policeman or postman.

35. What kind of clothes does Gittoo wear?

Answer: Gittoo usually wears khaki clothes like a policeman.

36. How do the mothers support the children?

Answer: The mothers give them some food to eat on the way to the fair.

37. Why is the story called “One-Way Ticket”?

Answer: The story is called “One-Way Ticket” because the bus breaks down, and the children cannot travel as planned. They have to return the tickets and walk instead.

38. How does teamwork help the children?

Answer: By discussing together and agreeing on Krishan’s idea, they manage to reach the fair safely.

39. What qualities of friendship are shown in the story?

Answer: The story shows cooperation, courage, understanding, leadership, and unity among friends.

40. What lesson do we learn from this story?

Answer: We learn that courage, unity, and positive thinking can help us overcome difficulties and achieve our goals.

Answer by Mrinmoee