Chapter 10
The Child’s Return -1
1. What tragedy did Raicharan face after returning to his village?
Answer: After returning to his village, Raicharan’s wife gave birth to a son but died soon after. This left Raicharan alone with the child and filled his life with emotional conflict and sorrow.
2. Why did Raicharan feel no love for his newborn son at first?
Answer: He felt no love because he believed the child had come to replace his master’s lost son. He also felt it was wrong to be happy after the tragedy he had caused earlier.
3. What strange belief did Raicharan develop about the new baby?
Answer: Raicharan believed that the little master had been reborn in his house through this baby, as a form of spiritual return.
4. What made Raicharan think the child was the rebirth of the little master?
Answer: He thought so because the child was born soon after the master’s son’s death and showed similar behaviour, speech, and habits.
5. How did Raicharan justify his belief in rebirth?
Answer: He convinced himself through three points: timing of birth, his wife’s unexpected childbirth in old age, and similarities in speech and behaviour.
6. How did Raicharan treat the new baby over time?
Answer: He began to love and care for the baby deeply, treating him as a rich man’s son and giving him excessive attention and luxury.
7. What changes did Raicharan make in the child’s lifestyle?
Answer: He provided expensive clothes, ornaments, a go-cart, and kept him away from other children to give him special treatment.
8. Why did the village children mock the boy?
Answer: They called him “Your Lordship” and laughed at him because he wore rich clothes and behaved differently from other children.
9. How did Raicharan sacrifice his own life for the child?
Answer: He sold his land, left his village, and worked as a servant in Calcutta, spending all his earnings on the child’s education and care.
10. What kind of life did Raicharan live in Calcutta?
Answer: He lived in extreme poverty, surviving on little food while ensuring the child received the best education and comfort.
11. How did Phailna behave as he grew up?
Answer: Phailna became bright and well-educated but also somewhat self-centered and did not treat Raicharan as a father.
12. Why did Raicharan not tell anyone that he was Phailna’s father?
Answer: He did not reveal the truth because he believed it was his duty to serve and protect the child silently.
13. How did others treat Raicharan in Calcutta?
Answer: Other students and people sometimes mocked his simple manners, though they secretly liked his innocence and kindness.
14. What caused Raicharan’s physical decline?
Answer: He grew weak due to hunger, overwork, and emotional stress while sacrificing everything for Phailna.
15. Why did Raicharan leave his job suddenly?
Answer: He left because he had spent all his savings and could no longer cope with his employer’s complaints and the boy’s demands.
16. Where did Raicharan go after leaving his job?
Answer: He went to Baraset, where Anukul worked as a district judge.
17. How did Anukul react when he saw Raicharan?
Answer: Anukul was kind and emotional and even offered to take him back into service.
18. What shocking confession did Raicharan make to Anukul?
Answer: He confessed that he was responsible for the disappearance of Anukul’s child.
19. How did Anukul respond to Raicharan’s confession?
Answer: Anukul was shocked and refused to fully believe him, though he was disturbed.
20. What promise did Raicharan make to Anukul?
Answer: He said he would bring the child back in two days.
21. How did Anukul’s wife react when Phailna arrived?
Answer: She was overjoyed, emotional, and overwhelmed with love and affection for the boy.
22. Why did Anukul ask for proof of the child’s identity?
Answer: As a judge, he wanted truth and justice before accepting the child as his son.
23. Why did Raicharan say there was no proof?
Answer: He said that such emotional truth cannot have physical proof and only God knows the truth.
24. Why did Anukul doubt Raicharan’s story?
Answer: He doubted because there was no evidence, and he could not believe an old servant could produce such a child.
25. What decision did Anukul finally take?
Answer: He decided that Raicharan must leave the house permanently.
26. How did Raicharan react to being sent away?
Answer: He was deeply sorrowful, begged to stay, and felt completely broken.
27. What request did Anukul’s wife make?
Answer: She requested Anukul to forgive Raicharan and allow him to stay.
28. Why did Anukul refuse forgiveness?
Answer: He believed justice required punishment and that Raicharan had broken trust.
29. What emotional moment occurred between Raicharan and Anukul?
Answer: Raicharan touched Anukul’s feet and pleaded, showing deep devotion and sadness.
30. Why did Raicharan blame fate instead of himself?
Answer: He felt helpless and believed destiny was responsible for all events.
Answer by Mrinmoee
