Jammu and Kashmir Board Class 10 English Abhiley Summary, Short Story Explanation with difficult word meanings from Tulip Book
Abhiley– Are you looking for Summary and Short Story Explanation for Jammu and Kashmir Board Class 10 English Short Story 2 Abhiley from Tulip Book. Get notes, summary of the Lesson followed by line by line explanation of the lesson along with the meanings of difficult words.
Abhiley Jammu and Kashmir Board Class 10 English
Abdul Ghani Sheikh
- Abhiley Introduction
- Theme of the Lesson
- Abhiley Summary
- Abhiley Summary in Hindi
- Abhiley Lesson Explanation
Abhiley Introduction
The lesson “Abhiley” by Abdul Ghani Sheikh tells us about the story of an elderly woman named Abhiley, who lives in a small village in India. She is deeply caring and very protective of her family, especially her granddaughter, Rukshana. Abhiley has a simple way of seeing the world, and because she rarely leaves her village, she doesn’t fully understand things like distance and modern life. For example, when she hears about an earthquake or flood far away, she worries that her family might be in danger, even if they are safe. Her love and concern are genuine, but her fears sometimes seem funny to others in her family. Through this story, we learn about the warmth, innocence, and strong bonds in Abhiley’s family, even if they don’t always see the world the same way.
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Theme of the Short Story Abhiley
The theme of “Abhiley” by Abdul Ghani Sheikh revolves around family love, generational differences, and the innocence of simple-mindedness. Abhiley’s deep love and protective nature for her family highlight the strong bonds that tie families together, despite misunderstandings. Her limited understanding of the world outside her village brings out a contrast between traditional beliefs and modern perspectives, showing how older and younger generations view things differently. Her innocence and simplicity reflect how genuine concern can sometimes be seen as naive, but it is also a reminder of the pure, unconditional love that family members have for each other.
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Abhiley Summary
The story in the lesson “Abhiley” by Abdul Ghani Sheikh is set in a peaceful mountain village and centers around an elderly woman named Abhiley, who lives with her family. Abhiley is kind and caring, but she is also quite simple-minded and views the world through an innocent lens. Her grandson is very special to her, and she loves him more than anything else. When he leaves the village to go study in the city, Abhiley feels a great sense of worry and unease. She doesn’t fully understand why he has to leave or what city life is really like, but she imagines it as a dangerous, mysterious place where he could face all kinds of risks. As time passes, Abhiley’s anxiety grows, and she becomes convinced that her grandson might be in serious trouble in the city. She asks her family members to go and bring him back, convinced that he won’t be safe unless he returns to the village. Her family, however, is amused by her worries. They know the city is not the scary place as she imagines, and they try to reassure her that her grandson is fine and that he’s away for his education, which is important for his future.
Abhiley’s family tries to explain to her how the city isn’t a dangerous place and that her grandson is safe, but she can’t quite understand this. To her, love and safety go hand in hand, and she cannot understand why anyone would need to leave the village if they have a family to care for them right there. As the story progresses, her family begins to understand that Abhiley’s worry, although exaggerated, comes from a deep love for her grandson. They realize that to her, he is still a child who needs protection, and she cannot separate her protective love from her fears for his safety. This understanding softens their perspective, and they see that her simple view of the world is part of what makes her love so genuine. In the end, the story Abhiley highlights the difference in understanding between generations. While the younger family members see the world in a practical, realistic way, Abhiley’s view is shaped by her love and attachment to her family.
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Abhiley Summary in Hindi
अब्दुल गनी शेख का पाठ “अभिले” एक शांतिपूर्ण पहाड़ी गांव में घटित होता है और अभिले नाम की एक बुजुर्ग महिला पर केंद्रित है, जो अपने परिवार के साथ रहती है। अभिली दयालु और देखभाल करने वाली है, लेकिन वह काफी सरल स्वभाव की भी है और दुनिया को एक मासूम नजरिये से देखती है। उसका पोता उसके लिए बहुत खास है और वह उसे किसी भी अन्य चीज़ से अधिक प्यार करती है। जब अभिली अपने गांव को छोड़कर शहर में पढ़ाई के लिए जाता है, तो उसे बड़ी चिंता और बेचैनी महसूस होती है। वह पूरी तरह से समझ नहीं पाती है कि उसे गांव क्यों छोड़ना है या शहर का जीवन वास्तव में कैसा है, लेकिन वह इसे एक खतरनाक, रहस्यमय जगह के रूप में कल्पना करती है जहां उसे सभी प्रकार के जोखिमों का सामना करना पड़ सकता है। जैसे-जैसे समय बीतता है, अभिली की चिंता बढ़ती है, और वह आश्वस्त हो जाती है कि उसका पोता शहर में गंभीर संकट में पड़ सकता है। वह अपने परिवार के सदस्यों से जाने और उसे वापस लाने के लिए कहती है, उसे यकीन है कि जब तक वह गांव नहीं लौटता, वह सुरक्षित नहीं रहेगा। हालाँकि, उसका परिवार उसकी चिंताओं से खुश है। वे जानते हैं कि शहर वह डरावनी जगह नहीं है जिसकी वह कल्पना करती है, और वे उसे आश्वस्त करने की कोशिश करते हैं कि उनका पोता ठीक है और वह अपनी शिक्षा के लिए दूर है, जो उसके भविष्य के लिए महत्वपूर्ण है।
अभिली का परिवार उसे समझाने की कोशिश करता है कि शहर खतरनाक जगह नहीं है और उसका पोता सुरक्षित है, लेकिन वह इसे समझ नहीं पाती है। उसके लिए, प्यार और सुरक्षा साथ-साथ चलते हैं, और वह समझ नहीं पा रही है कि किसी को भी गाँव छोड़ने की ज़रूरत क्यों होगी अगर उसके पास उनकी देखभाल करने के लिए एक परिवार है। जैसे-जैसे कहानी आगे बढ़ती है, उसके परिवार को यह समझ में आने लगता है कि अभिली की चिंता, हालांकि अतिरंजित है, उसके पोते के प्रति गहरे प्यार से आती है। उन्हें एहसास होता है कि उसके लिए, वह अभी भी एक बच्चा है जिसे सुरक्षा की आवश्यकता है, और वह उसकी सुरक्षा के लिए अपने सुरक्षात्मक प्रेम को अपने डर से अलग नहीं कर सकती है। यह समझ उनके दृष्टिकोण को नरम कर देती है, और वे देखते हैं कि दुनिया के बारे में उनका सरल दृष्टिकोण ही उनके प्यार को इतना सच्चा बनाता है। अंत में अभिले कहानी पीढ़ियों के बीच समझ के अंतर पर प्रकाश डालती है। जबकि परिवार के छोटे सदस्य दुनिया को व्यावहारिक, यथार्थवादी तरीके से देखते हैं, अभिली का दृष्टिकोण उसके परिवार के प्रति उसके प्यार और लगाव से आकार लेता है।
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Abhiley Lesson Explanation
Passage:
When Abhiley heard the news of the earthquake in Turkey, her face turned ashen. Choked with
tears, she said, “Oh Protector, you are Rahim va Karim, so merciful and benevolent. Have pity on my grand daughter Rukshana. Keep her safe!”
Word Meanings:
ashen (adj.): ash-coloured; deadly pale
choked (adj.): unable to speak as one is upset or frightened
Rahim va Karim (adj.): (Arabic) one who is kind, forgiving and helpful
merciful (adj.): kind and forgiving
benevolent (adj.): kind and helpful
pity (n): a feeling of sadness or sympathy for someone else’s unhappiness or difficult situation
Explanation: Abhiley hears about an earthquake that happened in Turkey, and she becomes very worried and scared. When she hears about it, her face becomes pale and shows that she is very worried. She is filled with emotion and can’t help but cry. In her prayer, she addresses God, calling Him “Protector” and describing Him as “Rahim va Karim,” which means he is kind and compassionate. Abhiley is asking God to take care of her granddaughter Rukshana and keep her safe during this difficult time.
Passage:
All of us burst out laughing. Kaga, my elder brother, said, “Abhi, Rukshana is in Srinagar. The earthquake has hit Turkey which is thousands of miles away from Srinagar.”
Word Meanings:
miles(n): a unit of measure equal to 5280 feet (about 1609 meters)
Explanation: Everyone starts laughing together. Kaga, the narrators’s older brother, points out to Abhi (Abhiley) that Rukshana is in Srinagar, a city that is far away. He explains that the earthquake happened in Turkey, which is very far from Srinagar, showing that there’s no immediate danger to Rukshana.
Passage:
But tears rolled down Abhiley’s sunken cheeks. It is not an easy task to cajole our Abhi or make her understand. How can one explain that the world has nearly two hundred countries and that all places are not like our village with its mere forty, fifty houses?
Word Meanings:
cajole (v): to persuade or coax with false promise or pleasant talk
sunken (adj.): (of eyes or cheeks) seeming to have fallen further into the face, especially because of tiredness, illness, or old age
Explanation: Abhiley is very sad, and tears are falling down her cheeks. It is clear that she is feeling overwhelmed and worried, especially about her granddaughter Rukshana. The speaker mentions that it’s difficult to comfort Abhiley or help her understand the situation. The speaker tries to say that the world is much bigger than their small village, which only has about forty to fifty houses. This shows how Abhiley’s worries stem from her limited understanding of geography and the vastness of the world, where there are nearly two hundred different countries, each with its own unique situations. The speaker feels that explaining this to Abhiley is difficult because of her deep concern and emotional state.
Passage:
She had become increasingly apprehensive since the evening Rukshana departed to Srinagar. The bus in which Rukshana was travelling had broken down near Kargil. Abhiley argued that if the bus had broken down, it must mean that Rukshana had not survived. To convince her otherwise, we had to use our eloquence to the utmost.
Word Meanings:
eloquence (n): fluency
apprehensive (adj.): feeling worried about something that you are going to do or that is going to happen
utmost (adj.): used to emphasize how important or serious something is
departed (v): leave, especially in order to start a journey
Explanation: Abhiley is very worried about her granddaughter Rukshana since she left for Srinagar. Her anxiety grows when she hears that the bus Rukshana was on stopped working near Kargil. Because of this, Abhiley fears that something bad might have happened to Rukshana, believing that if the bus stopped midway or was broken, Rukshana must not be safe. To help Abhiley feel better, the speaker and others around her try to explain that just because the bus broke down doesn’t mean Rukshana is in danger. They have to use their best talking skills to convince her and calm her fears. This passage shows how much Abhiley cares about Rukshana and how hard it is to comfort someone who is very scared.
Passage:
Kaga consoled her. “Abhiley, if the bus stopped working it doesn’t mean that it has had an accident. Buses often break down during a journey. Sometimes the oil freezes due to the cold. Sometimes nuts and bolts of the engine don’t function or a certain part stops working. The driver parks the vehicle on one side of the road, repairs it, and then the vehicle takes off.”
Word Meanings:
console (v): to soothe the grief
nuts and bolts (n): the practical workings of a machine
Explanation: Kaga tries to calm Abhiley, who is worried about Rukshana after hearing that her bus broke down. He tells her that a bus stopping on the way doesn’t mean that it has met with an accident. He explains that buses can have problems, like oil freezing in the cold or parts of the engine not working properly. When this happens, the driver just stops the bus, fixes the problem, and then they can keep going on the journey. Kaga wants Abhiley to feel better and understand that Rukshana is probably okay.
Passage:
We also had to take extreme precautions before commenting on the news in front of Abhi. The
mention of daily happenings, like the rolling of a bus into a ditch at such and such place, the derailing of a rail cart, the disappearance of an aeroplane, or the firing of a bullet at some procession or other was enough to trigger an interminable series of questions. “Is my Rukshana safe? Was Rukshana travelling in that bus? Rukshana is very curious. She must have gone to see that procession.”
Word Meanings:
precautions (n): an action that is done to prevent something unpleasant or dangerous happening
ditch (n): a long, narrow open hole that is dug into the ground, usually at the side of a road or field
derailing (v): If a train derails or is derailed, it comes off the railway tracks
procession (n): a line of people who are all walking or travelling in the same direction, especially in a formal way as part of a religious ceremony or public celebration
interminable (adj.): continuing for too long and therefore boring or annoying
Explanation: The family had to be very careful when discussing the news in front of Abhi. Even small news stories, like a bus rolling into a ditch, a train going off the tracks, an airplane going missing, or a shooting at an event, could make Abhi worried. If she heard about these things, she would immediately start asking a lot of questions, like, “Is my Rukshana safe? Was Rukshana on that bus?” Abhi was very curious and often thought that Rukshana might be involved in those events, so they tried to avoid topics that could upset her.
Passage:
We would start laughing and Abhi would admonish us yet again for sending Rukshana to
Srinagar. When she expressed her helplessness, we comforted her, saying that Srinagar is a mountain resort, that it’s called Paradise on Earth, and every year thousands of tourists visit Kashmir to explore it. We tried to make her understand that Rukshana was in Srinagar not out of some desperation but to get further education and seek a better life. When we promised that next spring we would take her to Srinagar too, Abhi fell silent. If we had brought up the subject of her visiting Srinagar before Rukshana left, she would have risen in anger and pursed her mouth, declaring, “I won’t leave my children and grandchildren to go anywhere.”
Word Meanings:
admonish (v): to warn gently; to rebuke
helplessness (n): the feeling or state of being unable to do anything to help yourself or anyone else
desperation (n): the feeling of being in such a bad situation that you will take any risk to change it
pursed (v): to bring your lips tightly together so that they form a rounded shape, usually as an expression of disapproval
Explanation: The family liked to laugh together, but every time they did, Abhi would get upset with them for sending Rukshana to Srinagar. She felt worried and helpless about Rukshana’s safety. To help Abhi feel better, they told her that Srinagar is a lovely place in the mountains, was compared to the heaven where many people visit each year. They explained that Rukshana went there not because she had no choice, but to get a better education and make her life better. To make Abhi happier, they promised her that next spring season, they would take her to Srinagar. This made Abhi quiet. If they had talked about taking her to Srinagar before Rukshana left, she would have become angry and say that she didn’t want to leave her children and grandchildren.
Passage:
Srinagar aside, our Abhi has not even ventured beyond a distance of ten miles from our village.
Two years ago, after a gap of eight years, she had made it to Leh town for the annual Dosmoche festival, held every winter to purge the town of evil. She saw masked dancers and musicians leading a procession from the palace through the main bazaar. She came across monks burning effigies and making crosses of thread to trap harmful spirits and hungry ghosts of the old year. There was much hustle-bustle. But that evening, when Abhiley returned home, she could only complain, “Oh dear, my head is spinning. There were so many people there that the breath was squeezed out of me. I will never go again.”
Word Meanings:
purge (v): to purify from sin
ventured (v): to risk going somewhere or doing something that might be dangerous or unpleasant
effigies (n): a model or other object that represents someone, especially one of a hated person that is hanged or burned in a public place
hustle-bustle (phrase): noise and activity
Dosmoche festival (n): Dosmoche is a Buddhist festival celebrated in Ladakh
Explanation: The narrator talks about Abhi, who hadn’t traveled far from her village except for one special occasion. Two years ago, after not going anywhere for the last eight years, she visited Leh town for the Dosmoche festival. This festival happens every winter to drive away bad spirits. During the festival, she saw exciting things like dancers in masks, musicians, and monks performing rituals, such as burning figures to get rid of harmful spirits from the previous year. The town was very crowded and lively. However, when Abhi got home that evening, she felt anxious and complained that there were too many people, making her feel suffocated. She decided she didn’t want to go to such crowded events again.
Passage:
During those days, a daughter of a distant relative came to visit us in our village. She lived in Delhi. Abhiley did not recognize her and kept staring at her. We stifled our laughter and enjoyed
ourselves thoroughly.
Word Meanings:
stifle (v): to prevent something from happening
Explanation: A girl from Delhi, who is a distant relative of the family, comes to visit their village. Abhiley, who lives in the village, does not know this girl and keeps looking at her curiously. The narrator and others find the situation funny and try to hold back their laughter as they enjoy watching Abhiley’s reaction.
Passage:
Finally, when Abhiley was told that this was Dolma, she was astonished. “La Dolma, I was wondering from where this memsahib had descended upon our house. What kind of clothes have you put on?” Dolma smiled.
Word Meanings:
astonished (adj.): very surprised
descended (v): to go or come down
memsahib (n): a married white or upper-class woman (often used as a respectful form of address by non-white people)
Explanation: Abhiley sees a girl she doesn’t recognize and keeps staring at her. When someone tells Abhiley that the girl’s name is Dolma, she is surprised. Abhiley exclaims, “La Dolma!” and wonders where this girl, whom she calls “memsahib” (a term for a woman who seems important), has come from. She also comments on Dolma’s clothes, which look different from what Abhiley usually sees. Dolma just smiles, which shows she finds Abhiley’s reaction funny or nice.
Passage:
“Where have you come from, Dolma?”
“I live in Delhi, Ama.”
“Oh, then you must be meeting Rukshana every day!”
“Ama, Delhi is very far from Srinagar.”
Word Meanings:
ama (n): a term for mother or elder woman in some cultures
Explanation: Abhiley is speaking to Dolma and asks her where she is from. Dolma replies that she lives in Delhi. Abhiley then assumes that Dolma must see Rukshana every day because she thinks both cities are close to each other. However, Dolma clarifies that Delhi is actually very far from Srinagar, where Rukshana is.
Passage:
“Have you never met Rukshana?” Abhiley sighed in disappointment.
“I spent two days in Srinagar on my way here. I tried to meet Rukshana but couldn’t locate her house, Ama.”
“Oh, what have you done!” Abhiley was miffed. “You were in Srinagar and couldn’t find the house of my granddaughter.”
“It’s a big city,” my sister-in-law interrupted. “It has a population of five to six lakhs, Abhiley. How will people know where someone lives unless they have the complete address?”
“Everyone says the same thing.” Abhiley’s tone became serious and her eyes filled with tears.
Word Meanings:
miffed (adj.): annoyed and hurt
disappointment (n): something or someone that is not what you were hoping it would be
Explanation: Abhiley is sad because Dolma, who visited Srinagar, didn’t get to meet Rukshana, her granddaughter. Dolma explains that she tried to find Rukshana’s house during her two days in Srinagar but couldn’t locate it. Abhiley is upset and wonders how Dolma couldn’t find Rukshana when she was so close. Abhiley’s sister-in-law tries to explain that Srinagar is a big city with many people, so it’s hard to find someone’s house without the exact address. Despite this explanation, Abhiley feels very worried, and her sadness shows in her serious tone and teary eyes.
Passage:
I remember another funny episode regarding my Abhi. I was very young those days. My uncle
sometimes came to the village to hunt. Once, my uncle returned to the town but left his double-
barrelled gun behind. Agu had kept his gun in the kitchen where a big battalion of children of various relatives and in-laws often gathered. Abhiley was so tense that she couldn’t sleep for two nights. She guarded the kitchen all day to make sure no child touched the gun, convinced that as soon as it was touched, the bullets would explode instantly and everyone would die. She would have locked the door if it had been any other room, but how could she close off the kitchen? When Aba and Agu returned to the village on the third day and heard about the situation, they rolled on the floor with laughter.
Word Meanings:
double- barrelled (adj.): A double-barrelled gun has two barrels ( parts shaped like tubes)
battalion (n): a large group of people
Explanation: The narrator remembers a funny story about Abhiley from when they were very young. Abhiley’s uncle had come to the village to hunt and accidentally left behind his double-barrelled gun. Worried about the safety of the children who often played in the kitchen, Abhiley felt very anxious. She couldn’t sleep for two nights because she was scared that if any child touched the gun, it would cause the bullets to explode, leading to disaster. Abhiley was so concerned that she tried to keep an eye on the kitchen all day, thinking it was dangerous. Since the kitchen was a common area, she couldn’t lock the door like she would have done for other rooms. When her husband and uncle returned on the third day and learned what had happened, they couldn’t help but laugh at her worries.
Passage:
I must confess that I take advantage of Abhiley’s simplicity. The army of children always present
at our home often tears my notebooks to make kites and boats, ripping the sheets to shreds with scissors-like fingers. I put on a tearful face before Abhi and tell her that these papers are official. If they are torn, I will be penalized. These words work like magic on her and she preserves my papers with such intense care that no child would dare to even look at them. Not stopping at that, she saves all sorts of scraps and titbits even when I am away and when I go to the village, she presents them to me. Among them are papers from the grocer and snuff-seller for wrapping spices and snuff.
Word Meanings:
simplicity (n): the fact that something is ordinary, traditional, or natural, and not complicated penalized (v): to punish someone for breaking a rule
titbits (n): here, small pieces of scrap paper
grocer (n): a person who owns or works in a shop selling food and small things for the home
snuff-seller (n): a person who sells tobacco
Explanation: The narrator shares how they take advantage of Abhiley’s simple and caring nature. Many children often come to their home and mess around by tearing up the narrator’s notebooks to make kites and boats. To stop this, the narrator pretends to be very upset and tells Abhiley that if the papers get torn, they will get in trouble because they are important. Abhiley gets very worried and makes sure to keep the papers safe, scaring the children away from them. Not only does she protect the notebooks, but she also collects any leftover pieces of paper when the narrator is not around. When the narrator comes back to the village, Abhiley happily gives them all the saved papers, including ones from the grocery store.
Passage:
All grandmothers, despite their varied backgrounds, are similar, particularly in their reaction to modem technology like one of the grandmothers in our neighbourhood. When she refers to an aeroplane, she switches to honorific speech. “The plane-sahib has arrived,” “The plane-sahib must be facing a lot of difficulties,” (on hearing it make noises) and “Today, plane-sahib was very big.” They say that when another Abhi saw a plane for the first time, she went to greet the plane with bundles of grass in her basket.
Word Meanings:
honorific (adj.): showing or giving honour or respect
Explanation: The narrator talks about how all grandmothers, no matter where they come from, have some things in common, especially their funny reactions to modern technology. The narrator mentions a grandmother in their neighborhood who speaks about airplanes in a very respectful way. She uses special words, calling the airplane “plane-sahib.” For example, she might say, “The plane-sahib has arrived,” or “The plane-sahib must be facing a lot of difficulties,” especially when she hears the airplane making any noise. The passage also tells a story about another grandmother, also named Abhi, who had never seen a plane before. When she finally saw one, she thought it was so special that she went outside with a basket full of grass to greet it, as if it were an important guest.
Passage:
There is another episode associated with our Abhi. She and another Abhi from our community
went to see a film. It was their first film and will probably be their last one. With their weak eyesight the moving images on the screen held no more truth for them than a dream. They watched the film less and complained more of headaches and nausea. Shortly, with my elder sister’s help, they understood that one of the important themes in the film was about a mother-in-law’s harassment of her daughter-in-law. The next day saw both Abhis sitting on the roof tops of their houses spewing venom on the mothers-in-law of the world. God save us from their wrath! Incidentally, a girl from our neighbourhood had been married into a household where she did not get along with her mother-in-law.
Word Meanings:
nausea (n): sickness of the stomach with a desire to vomit
associated (adj.): connected
harassment (n): behavior that annoys or upsets someone
spewing (v): to be angry and resentful
incidentally (adv): used about something that is connected to the main subject but is not as important
Explanation: Abhi and another woman from the community, also named Abhi, went to watch a movie together for the first time. Because their eyesight wasn’t good, they couldn’t see the pictures clearly and found it difficult to enjoy the film. Instead of watching, they mostly complained about feeling sick and having headaches. With some help from the narrator’s older sister, they learned that the movie was about a mother-in-law being unkind to her daughter-in-law. The next day, both Abhis were on the rooftops of their houses, angrily talking about how terrible mothers-in-law could be. They seemed very upset, especially since a girl from their neighborhood had problems with her mother-in-law.
Passage:
So from then on, whenever anyone mentioned the film, the two Abhis would immediately start rebuking all mothers-in-law bitterly.
Word Meanings:
rebuking (v): to speak angrily to someone because you disapprove of what they have said or done
bitterly (adv.): in a way that shows strong negative emotion such as anger or disappointment
Explanation: Every time someone talked about the film, both Abhis would get upset and start complaining about all mothers-in-law. The movie had made them feel strongly against mothers-in-law, and they expressed their anger whenever the film was mentioned.
Passage:
The neighbouring Abhi is of the same age as our Abhiley. She is a frightening woman indeed. When she is annoyed, she roars like a lioness. She has her own style of relaying all matters ranging from politics to domestic tales. A few months ago, when I was leaning on the staircase, reading a book, I heard the two Abhis telling each other their stories, the same everyday talks with which my ears were familiar. “Surely, it’s an omen signalling that the day of judgement is near.” They must have been referring to a fatal accident or to the simultaneous death of two men. Or “Demon! Disgrace! Ignoramus!” all aimed at chastising a well dressed woman.
Word Meanings:
frightening (adj.): making you feel fear
fatal (adj.): very serious and having an important bad effect in the future
simultaneous (adj.): happening or being done at exactly the same time
roars (v): to make a long, loud, deep sound
ignoramus (n): a person who knows nothing
chastising (v): to criticize someone severely
Explanation: The neighbor, who is also named Abhi and is the same age as the narrator’s grandmother Abhiley, is also quite scary. When she gets angry, she can be very loud, like a lioness. She has a special way of talking about different topics, from politics to personal stories. A few months ago, while the narrator was sitting on the stairs reading, they heard both Abhis chatting. They were sharing their usual stories, which the narrator had heard many times before. One of them said something about a bad sign that meant the end of the world might be near, probably talking about a serious accident or the death of two men happening at the same time. They also criticized a well-dressed woman, calling her harsh names like “Demon!” and “Disgrace!”
Passage:
During the conversation, the next door Abhi asked about Rukshana’s well-being and before Abhiley could reply, she informed her that there were severe floods in Srinagar. I closed the book I was reading in dismay, and awaited Abhiley’s reaction.
Word Meanings:
dismay (n): a feeling of unhappiness and disappointment
awaited (v): to wait for or be waiting for something
Explanation: During the conversation, the neighbor Abhi asked about Rukshana’s well-being. Before Abhiley could respond, the neighbor informed her that there were severe floods in Srinagar. The narrator closed the book they were reading, feeling worried, and waited to see how Abhiley would react to the news.
Passage:
“La,” screamed Abhiley. “Floods. Where did you hear this news, Hajira?”
“It was on the reldi yesterday.” The next door Abhi always referred to the radio as Reldi.
“Wallah, no one told me about this.”
“Didn’t Bashir tell you?”
Abhiley sighed, “You don’t know how my sons are.”
Word Meanings:
wallah (v): (Arabic) By God
Explanation: Abhiley was very surprised and worried when she heard about the floods. She asked her neighbor, Hajira, where she got this information. Hajira said she heard it on the radio, which she calls “Reldi.” Abhiley was upset that no one had told her about the floods. When Hajira asked if her son Bashir had mentioned it, Abhiley was disappointed that her sons often forget to share important news with her.
Passage:
After a few moments, she said, “I will go down, Hajira. My heart is thumping loudly.” heard the
echo of her footsteps. Now calamity has befallen us, I thought and sped down, leaping across the stairs. The echo of Abhi’s weak footsteps could soon be heard on that part of the staircase where I had been reading a few moments ago. As soon as she came down, she stormed at us, “Did I not say not to send Rukshana to Kashmir? But no one paid heed to my words.”
Word Meanings:
thumping (adj.): If your heart thumps, it beats more strongly and quickly than usual, because of exercise, fear, or excitement
stormed (v): to express anger in a loud and often uncontrolled way
heed (v): to pay attention to something, especially advice or a warning
Explanation: After a short time, Abhiley said she was going downstairs because she was feeling very anxious. The narrator heard her footsteps and thought something bad had happened, so they rushed down the stairs. Abhiley’s steps were weak, and when she reached the bottom, she angrily complained that she had told them not to send Rukshana to Kashmir, but no one listened to her. This passage shows how worried she was about Rukshana’s safety because of the floods.
Passage:
“What’s the matter?” asked Kaga.
“There are floods in Srinagar. Floods!” Abhiley waved her hands in agitation.
“So what?” Kaga was irritated. “It’s a big city. Floods come. Storms come. Fire blaze.”
“Enough, enough. I have heard enough.” She placed both her hands on her ears. Her eyes brimmed with tears.
Word Meanings:
brimmed (v): to be full of something
agitation (n): worry and anxiety
Explanation: Kaga asked what was wrong, and Abhiley, feeling very upset, explained that there were floods in Srinagar. She waved her hands to show how worried she was. Kaga, however, seemed annoyed and responded that floods, storms, and fires happen in big cities and that it’s nothing unusual. This irritated Abhiley even more, and she covered her ears with her hands, leaving her on the verge of crying.
Passage:
For several days, Abhiley’s doubts did not abate and she became very quiet.
She decided to accompany Kaga and I on a trip to Srinagar. On the way, she was very uncomfortable with vomiting and dizziness. We spent the night in Kargil and reached Srinagar the next day. Kaga said, “Abhi, you were worried about Rukshana. See how hale and hearty she looks. Her face is fair and her cheeks have turned red.”
Word Meanings:
abate (v): to put an end to; to lessen
Explanation: Abhiley was worried for several days and didn’t talk much. Finally, she decided to go with Kaga and the narrator to Srinagar. On the way, she felt sick and kept vomiting and feeling dizzy. They spent the night in Kargil and reached Srinagar the next day. When they arrived, Kaga tried to comfort Abhiley by saying that Rukshana looked healthy and happy, with a fair face and rosy cheeks.
Passage:
Abhiley clung to Rukshana and wept a lot. After resting for two days, Rukshana took her for a tour around Srinagar. “Abhi, look what a big and beautiful city Srinagar is! This is the Dal Lake. This is Nishat Bagh. These are the Shalimar Gardens, Nehru Park. Char Chinar….. .”
Word Meanings:
clung (v): to stay close or near
Explanation: Abhiley hugged Rukshana and cried a lot. After they rested for two days, Rukshana took Abhiley to see Srinagar. She pointed out all the beautiful places and told Abhiley how big the city was. They visited Dal Lake, Nishat Bagh, the Shalimar Gardens, Nehru Park, and Char Chinar.
Passage:
Four days passed without incident. On the fifth day, Abhiley declared, “I will return to Leh. I miss the children. I miss my daughter Jamila. My granddaughter Halima. I miss little Javed.”
Word Meanings:
incident (n): an event that is either unpleasant or unusual
Explanation: Four days went by without anything happening. On the fifth day, Abhiley said she wanted to go back to Leh because she missed her children, her daughter Jamila, her granddaughter Halima, and little Javed.
Passage:
She insisted on this in such a manner that on the very same evening we had to purchase return
tickets to Leh for ourselves and our Abhiley.
Word Meanings:
insisted (v): to say firmly or demand forcefully, especially when others disagree with or oppose what you say
Explanation: Abhiley really wanted to go back home because she missed her family. She was so set on returning that the narrator and Kaga had to buy tickets for all of them to go back that same evening.