1.) “It’s a regular scene.” What was regular about the scene? (para – 1)
Answer: In metropolis cities like Mumbai, it is common to see rush at the stations. Everyone is busy is catching the train as fast as they can.
2.) “Roma Talreja tried to settle into a corner near the door in the train.” Was she right in doing this? What would you have done if you were there? Answer: No Roma was not right in settling into a corner near the door. It is quite risky and could end up having serious accident. But we do understand that since the train was completely occupied by the people, Roma’s standing at a corner near the door was right for her to do at that time.
3.) “There’s a girl by the tracks,” the voices cried out. Whose voices do you think those were? Answer: The voices were of the other passengers who were at the opposite direction.
4.) Baleshwar was impulsive in taking a decision because there was a girl by the tracks. (Fill in the blank appropriately.) (para – 3)
5.) The dictionary says ‘callous’ means ‘unconcerned’. In this situation, who do you think were ‘callous’ towards the accident? Answer: In this accident, the people were callous. They saw Roma by the track but they didn’t volunteer to help her.
6.) ‘Baleshwar rushed to help the girl.’ His movement has been described with verbs like ‘shoved’. Identify two more such verbs/verbal phrases in paragraph 5.
Answer: Jumped Landed
1.) Where did Baleshwar find Roma at last? Answer: At last Baleshwar found Roma between two stations five kilometers apart in Thane district.
2.) “Behenji, aap theek hai?” But there was no response and no help in sight. Why was it so? Read paragraph 6 and answer. Answer: Roma had fallen by the railway track while commuting by the train. Baleshwar too jumped off the still-moving train. They both were all alone between two stations five kilometers apart in Thane district. Since Roma was unconscious, she couldn’t respond to Baleshwar.
3.) Fill in the table with appropriate details.
Self assessment
1.) Who volunteered to help Baleshwar? Answer: A tempo-truck driver volunteered to help Baleshwar.
2.) “Roma stirred and her eyes fluttered open.” What could have made her react so? Answer: Roma was moved back intothe truck. When the vehicle lurched forward, Roma stirred and her eyesfluttered open then she reacted.
3.) Some details of Roma’s brother are given in paragraph 14. Read and fill in the columns appropriately.
Self assessment.
1.) “Oh, I couldn’t thank him,” Baleshwar thought. Who do you think he couldn’t thank? Answer: Baleshwar couldn’t thank the tempo-truck driver who had helped him reaching the hospital.
2.) Why did Baleshwar revisit the spot where Roma had fallen? Answer: Baleshwar revisited the spot where Roma had fallen to find her belongings because Dinesh had told him that her cell phone and handbag were missing.
3.) Baleshwar got some assurance from a railway employee. What was that? Answer: Baleshwar revisited the spot where Roma had fallen to find her belongings. A railway employee assured Baleshwar that some of Roma’s belongings had been already found.
4.) Roma said, “I think it’s astonishing”. What was astonishing? Answer: The way in which Roma was rescued was astonishing to her. Also, it was astonishing that a stranger would jump off a train and risk his life for her.
1.) Some incidents relating to Roma Talreja are given below. Put them in the right order.
a.) Roma lost her foothold. b.) the train hurted ahead c.) Roma was thrown out of the coach.
d.) Roma was jammed between two women.