The Snake and the Mirror Class 9 Question Answer
Textbook Questions:
Thinking about the Text
I. Discuss in pairs and answer each question below in a short paragraph (30-40 words).
30-40 शब्दों में इन प्रश्नों का उत्तर दें।
Question 1.
“The sound was a familiar one. What sound did the doctor hear? What did he think it was? How many times did he hear it? (Find the places in the text.) When and why did the sounds stop?
‘ध्वनि परिचित थी।’ डॉक्टर ने कौन-सी आवाज सुनी ? उसने क्या सोचा? उसे वह कितनी बार सुनाई पड़ी? वह ध्वनि कब और क्यों बन्द हो गई?
Answer:
The rats made a lot of noise as they ran to and fro the beam. It was a familiar sound. The doctor thought the rats were making that noise. He heard this sound three times. The sound stopped when the doctor sat down on the chair. Perhaps the rats too had stopped running about due to the fear of the snake.
Question 2.
What two ‘important’ and ‘earth-shaking decisions did the doctor take while he was looking into the mirror?
डॉक्टर ने दर्पण में देखते हुए कौन-से दो महत्त्वपूर्ण निर्णय लिए?
Answer:
The doctor decided to look handsome. He decided to shave daily and grow a thin moustache. The second earth-shaking decision was to keep smiling always.
Question 3.
‘I looked into the mirror and smiled,” says the doctor. A little later he says, ‘I forget my danger and smiled feebly at myself.’ What is the doctor’s opinion about himself when (i) he first smiles, and (ii) he smiles again? In what way do his thoughts change in between, and why?
‘मैं दर्पण में देखकर मुस्कराया’, डॉक्टर कहता है। कुछ देर पश्चात वह कहता है, “मैं खतरा भूलकर फिर हल्के से अपने ऊपर मुस्कराया।” डॉक्टर की अपने बारे में क्या राय है जब वह (1) पहली बार मुस्कराया और (ii) वह दूसरी बार मुस्कराया’? इस बीच उसके विचार कैसे और क्यों बदल गए?
Answer:
When the doctor looked into the mirror he smiled because he thought he was an attractive bachelor and doctor. The next time he smiled at himself because he felt he was a poor, stupid doctor.
His vanity had changed into humility.
II. This story about a frightening incident is narrated in a humorous way. What makes it humorous ? (Think of the contrasts it presents between dreams and reality.)
यह कहानी हास्यप्रद ढंग से सुनाई गई है। यह किस कारण हास्यप्रद है?
Answer:
1. (i) The story is humorous because a poor doctor has big dreams. He is a homeopath. He has no money. He has just started his practice. He lives in a small rented room infested with rats. His vest is dirty. He has only one coat.
(ii) The doctor is a bachelor. Probably, he has ordinary looks.
2. (i) He wants to be wealthy by marrying a wealthy doctor with good practice. But he wants to marry a fat woman. He knows that a wealthy wife will have an upper hand. If he makes a mistake and runs away, the fat wife will not be able to catch him. What a funny idea!
(ii) Presumably, he never became rich.
He could not marry a doctor. He could marry a slim woman who could run faster than him.
3. (i) When he looks in the mirror, he feels he can look more handsome if he shaves daily, grows a thin moustache and keeps smiling all the time.
(ii) As the poor doctor was lost in such fantasy, he had a terrifying experience. A snake fell from the beam above, and fell on him. In no time the snake wound itself round his arm. The doctor was petrified. All his vanity left him. He felt he was a poor stupid person. He prayed to God to help him. Luckily the snake was attracted to its own image in the mirror. It left the doctor and slithered on to the table. The doctor heaved a sigh of relief.
He ran to a friend’s house to save his life. Next day the poor doctor found that whatever he had, was stolen in the night. Only his dirty vest was left behind. It was a reminder to him what he actually was. Thus the story is made humorous by presenting a contrast between dream and reality.
Thinking about Language
I. Here are some sentences from the text.
Say which of them tell you that the author (1) was afraid of the snake (2) was proud of his appearance (3) had a sense of humour (4) was no longer afraid of the snake.
इनमें से कौन-से वाक्य बताते हैं कि लेखक (1) सांप से भयभीत था। (2) अपने रूप पर गर्व था (3) उसमें हास्य का भाव था (4) अब सांप से भयभीत न था।
Answer:
- was afraid of the snake
- was no longer afraid of the snake
- was afraid of the snake
- was afraid of the snake but had a sense of humour
- was afraid of the snake
- was proud of his appearance
- was no longer afraid of the snake
- had a sense of humour
- had a sense of humour
- had a sense of humour
II. Expressions used to show fear Can you find the expressions in the story that tell you that the author was frightened ? Read the story and complete the following sentences :
कहानी में वे शब्द खोजो जिससे पता चलता है कि लेखक भयभीत था।
Answer:
- I was turned to stone.
- I sat there holding my breath.
- In the light of the lamp I sat there like a stone image in the flesh.
III. Match the meanings with the words/ expressions in italics, and write the appropriate meaning next to the sentence. The first one has been done for you.
कौन-से शब्द क्या दर्शाते हैं?
Answer:
- happens suddenly
- very frightened
- frightened by something that happens suddenly.
- makes someone feel frightened
- too scared to move
- too frightened to move.
IV. Reported questions Report these questions, using if/whether or why/when/where/how/which/what. Remember the underlined verbs change into the past tense.
Answer:
- Meena asked her friend if she thought her teacher would come that day.
- David asked his colleague where he would go that summer.
- He asked the little boy why he was studying English.
- She asked me when I was going to leave.
- Pran asked me if I had finished reading the newspaper.
- Seema asked her how long she had lived there.
- Sheila asked the children if they were ready to do the work.
IV. Very Important Examination Questions:
I. Extract-based Objective Type Questions
Read the extracts given below carefully and answer the questions with the help of the given options :
Question 1.
The doctor replied, “I ram and ran till I reached a friend’s house. Immediately I smeared oil all over myself and took a bath. I changed into fresh clothes. The next morning at about eight-thirty I took my friend and one or two other to my room to move my things from there. But we found we had little to carry. Some thief had removed most of my things. The room has been cleaned out ! But not really, the thief had left behind one as a final insult.” “What was that ?” I asked. The doctor said, “My vest, the dirty one.”
(i) The doctor ran and ran since __________.
(a) a thief was after him
(b) his wife was after him
(c) he was afraid of snake
(d) he wanted to win a race
Answer:
(c) he was afraid of snake
(ii) At his friend’s home the doctor __________.
(а) applied oil on his body
(b) took a bath
(c) changed clothes
(d) all the three
Answer:
(d) all the three
(iii) The doctor went to his room with three people because __________.
(а) he still feared the snake
(b) he wanted to bring his belongings from his room
(c) both (a) and (b)
(d) none of these
Answer:
(c) both (a) and (b)
(iv) The thief had left the doctor’s vest since __________.
(а) it was very dirty
(b) it was old fashioned
(c) a snake has worn it
(d) it was worn out
Answer:
(а) it was very dirty
Question 2.
I didn’t jump. I didn’t tremble. I didn’t cry out.
(i) Whom does the word ‘I’ refer to in the above lines?
(ii) What quality of speaker is reflected in the above lines?
(iii) What happened to the doctor while he was sitting in his chair?
(iv) What did ‘I’ see?
Answer:
(i) The author.
(ii) It shows how brave and unaffected he is.
(iii) When the doctor was sitting in the chair, a snake landed on his shoulders. It coiled around his left arm. Its hood was 3-4 inches away from his face.
(iv) He saw a snake.
Question 3.
It was a hot summer night; about ten o’clock. I had my meal at the restaurant and returned to my room. I heard a noise from above as I opened the door. The sound was a familiar one.
(i) At 10 p.m. the narrator had come from :
(a) his clinic.
(b) his friend’s house.
(c) a meeting.
(d) a restaurant.
Answer:
(d) a restaurant.
(ii) The narrator lived in :
(a) a hostel.
(b) a rented house.
(c) his own house
(d) his friend’s house.
Answer:
(b) a rented house.
(iii) The familiar sound that the narrator hears was of:
(a) children playing.
(b) machines being operated.
(c) rats squeaking.
(d) dogs fighting.
Answer:
(c) rats squeaking.
(iv) The noun form of ‘returned’ is :
(a) return
(b) returning
(c) returner
(d) returnable
Answer:
(c) returner
(v) Where had the narrator come from and when?
Answer:
The narrator had come from a restaurant at 10 p.m.
(vi) Where did the narrator live?
Answer:
The narrator lived in a rented house.
(vii) What was the familiar sound he heard of?
Answer:
The familiar sound he heard of rat’s squeaking.
(viii) Name the lesson and the author.
Answer:
The Snake and the Mirror by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer.
Question 4.
The snake unwound itself from my arm and slowly slithered into my lap. From there it crept onto the table and moved towards the mirror. Perhaps it wanted to enjoy its reflection at closer quarters.
(i) After uncoiling the writer’s arm the snake settled :
(а) into his lap.
(b) on the arm of the chair.
(c) on the table.
(d) in front of the mirror on the table.
Answer:
(а) into his lap.
(ii) According to the narrator, the snake moved towards the mirror to :
(a) have a closer look of its image in it.
(b) attack the snake that it saw in the mirror (thinking it to be another snake).
(c) meet the other snake in the mirror.
(d) see what sort of object was the mirror.
Answer:
(a) have a closer look of its image in it.
(iii) The aspect in which the snake and the narrator were alike was that :
(a) both were fascinated by the mirror.
(b) both seemed to like their own looks.
(c) both sat before the mirror for quite sometime.
(d) both created humour.
Answer:
(b) both seemed to like their own looks.
(iv) The word ‘slithered’ means :
(a) slipped
(b) crept
(c) jumped
(d) moved
Answer:
(b) crept
(v) What will the’ narrator never know?
Answer:
He would not know about the gender of the snake.
(vi) Towards what did the snake move after unwinding itself?
Answer:
The snake moved towards the mirror.
(vii) After uncoiling the writer’s arm, where did the snake settle?
Answer:
After uncoiling the writer’s arm, the snake settled into the narrator’s lap and then slid to the table closer to the mirror.
(viii) What do you mean by ‘slithered into my lap’?
Answer:
The snake ‘slipped down’ into the narrator’s lap.
Question 5.
One feels tempted to look into a mirror when it is near one. I took a look. In those days, I was a great admirer of beauty and I believed in making myself look handsome. I was unmarried and I was a doctor. I felt I had to make my presence felt. I picked up the comb and ran it through my, hair and adjusted the parting so that it looked straight and neat.
(i) What was the narrator tempted to?
(ii) What did the author believe in?
(iii) What important decisions did the doctor take while he was looking into the mirror?
(iv) What did the narrator do with the comb?
Answer:
(i) The narrator was tempted to look into the mirror.
(ii) The author believed in making himself look handsome.
(iii) The doctor decided to look handsome. He decided to shave daily and grow a thin moustache. The second earth-shaking decision was to keep smiling always.
(iv) He picked up the comb and ran it through his hair and adjusted the parting to look it straight and neat.
Question 6.
opened the two windows in the room. It was an outer room with one wall facing the open yard. It had a tiled roof with long supporting gables that . rested on the beam over the wall. There was no ceiling. There was a regular traffic of rats to and from the beam. I made my bed and pulled it close to the wall. I lay down but I could not sleep. I got up and went out to the veranda for a little air, but the Wind God seemed to have taken time off.
(i) What is the profession of ‘I’ in the lesson?
(a) Writer
(b) Doctor
(c) Builder
(d) Engineer
Answer:
(b) Doctor
(ii) What was the condition of the room?
(a) Tiled room
(b) Bad condition
(c) Beamed ceiling
(d) Airy room
Answer:
(b) Bad condition
(iii) Why could the narrator not sleep?
(a) Due to rats
(b) Due to no ceiling
(c) Due to hot weather
(d) Due to uncomfortable bed
Answer:
(c) Due to hot weather
(iv) Which word in the passage means – ‘long piece of wood used for building support’?
(a) Beam
(b) Gables
(c) Tiled
(d) Yard
Answer:
(a) Beam
Short Answer type Questions
II. Answer the following questions in about 30-40 words :
Question 1.
Is there a similarity between the doctor and the snake? If so, what is it?
क्या चिकित्सक और साँप में कोई समानता है? यदि हाँ तो वह क्या है?
Answer:
Yes, both the doctor and the snake have one thing in common. Both of them are fascinated by their reflections in the mirror. The doctor was young and unmarried those days. He looked into the mirror. He hoped that if he saved everyday and grew a thin moustache he would look more handsome. The snake too was like the doctor. It happened to see its reflection in the mirror. It fell in love with it at the first sight. It unwound itself and crept to the mirror to enjoy its beauty at closer quarters. Indeed both the doctor and the snake were narcissists.
Question 2.
What does the doctor think of when snake is quite close to his face?
डॉक्टर ने सोचा जब साँप उसके चेहरे के बहुत करीब था?
Or
When does the narrator finally realize that he was a “poor, foolish and stupid young man ?”
लेखक अंतिम रूप से कब यह महसूस किया कि वह गरीब, मूर्ख और बेतुका नौजवान है?
Answer:
He thought what medicine he would take if the snake bit him. He called himself a poor, foolish and stupid doctor because he had no anti-venom medicine with him at that time.
Question 3.
In the story ‘The snake and the mirror’ the snake has been compared to three objects. What are they?
कहानी में साँप की तीन चीजों से तुलना की गई है। वे कौन-सी हैं?
Answer:
The three objects with which the snake has been compared are – a rubber tube, a thick leaden rod and a rod made of molten fire. It has been compared to rubber tube because of its elastic long body, to a thick leaden tube because it was fat and a rod of molten fire because it seemed hot to the doctor.
Question 4.
When the snake landed on the shoulder of the narrator he did not react. Why?
जब साँप वाचक के कंधे पर आकर बैठा तो वह नहीं हिला। क्यों?
Answer:
When the snake landed on the doctor’s shoulder and then coiled round his left arm, its hood was spread out and its head was hardly three or four inches from his face. The slightest movement on the part of the doctor could have provoked the snake to bite him, so he sat like a statue.
Question 5.
Give some features of the room the doctor lived in.
डॉक्टर जिस कमरे में रहता था उसकी कुछ विशेषताएँ बताओ।
Answer:
It was a small rented room with one wall facing an open yard. It had a tiled roof with long supporting gables resting on the beams over the wall. There was a regular traffic of rats to and fro the beam. The room was not electrified.
Question 6.
What kind of a girl did the doctor want to marry and why?
डॉक्टर किस प्रकार की लड़की से शादी करना चाहता था और क्यों?
Answer:
The doctor wanted to marry a rich and fat girl.
This is because, he wants to be wealthy and marrying a wealthy doctor with good practice. Also, if he makes a mistake and runs away, the fat wife will not be able to catch him.
Question 7.
It is said, ‘The Snake and Mirror’ is a frightening story told in the most humorous way. Do you agree? Justify.
ऐसा कहा जाता है कि ‘द स्नेक एण्ड मिरर’ एक डरावनी कहानी है जिसे बड़े ही हास्यपूर्ण तरीके से कहा गया है। क्या आप सहमत हैं? उचित ठहराएँ।
Answer:
Yes, I agree with this statement.
A doctor came very close to death. A full- blooded cobra crept up to his shoulder and coiled itself round his arm. Even then he does not lose his sense of humour. When he sees the snake looking into the mirror, he wonders if it is admiring its own beauty.
Question 8.
What kind of house did the narrator reside in? (The Snake and the mirror)
किस प्रकार के घर में लेखक रहता था? (द स्नेक एण्ड द मिरर)
Answer:
The narrator resided in a small rented room. This was an outer room with one wall facing the open yard. This had a tiled roof but no ceiling. It has no electricity facility. The rats ran freely in it.
Question 9.
What was the doctor’s reaction when the snake coiled around his arms?
जब साँप ने चिकित्सक की बाँहों के पास कुंडली मार ली तो उसकी क्या प्रतिक्रिया हुई?
Or
Why did the narrator smile even when death lurked just four inches away from him?
वक्ता क्यों मुस्कराया जबकि मृत्यु उससे केवल चार इंच दूर थी?
Answer:
The doctor became a statue of granite. Then, he smiled to feebly at himself for his stupidity of not keeping any anti-venom medicine with him. He thought himself a poor, foolish and stupid doctor.
Question 10.
Did the doctor find his incident humorous or frightening or both? Give reasons.
क्या डॉक्टर को उसकी घटना हास्यप्रद लगी या डरा देने वाली लगी या दोनों? कारण बताओ।
Answer:
The doctor found the incident more frightening than humorous. He came very close to death. A full-blooded cobra crept up to his shoulder and coiled itself round his arm. Its hood was stretched and its fangs were very close to the doctor’s face. The doctor was too terrified to move or shout.
Question 11.
What thoughts came to the narrator’s mind about the snake when he saw it looking into the mirror?
वाचक के मन में क्या विचार आए जब उसने साँप को शीशे में देखा?
Answer:
The doctor wondered if the snake admired its image in the mirror. Was it trying to make an important decision about growing moustaches or using eye shadow or mascara or wearing a vermilion spot on its forehead? He did not know what sex this snake was – a male or a female.
Question 12.
The narrator in the lesson ‘The snake and the mirror’ felt pain in his left arm. What was the cause of the pain and what kind of pain it was?
वाचक को अपने बाएँ हाथ में दर्द क्यों महसूस हो रहा था और वह किस प्रकार का दर्द था?
Answer:
The narrator felt a pain in his left arm as if a thick leaden rod – a rod made of molten fire was slowly crushing his arm. The arm was beginning to be drained of all strength. This was because the snake was tightening its coil around his arm.
Question 13.
How was the narrator saved from the snake?
साँप से लेखक की रक्षा कैसे हो पाई?
Or
How was the doctor saved from the snake?
What did he do?
डॉक्टर साँप से कैसे बचा? उसने क्या किया?
Answer:
The snake became fascinated with the mirror. As soon as the snake left him to settle in front of the mirror, the doctor heaved a sigh of relief. He moved cautiously and ran for his life to his friend’s house.
Long Answer type Questions
III. Answer the following questions in about 100-150 words :
Question 1.
Did the doctor find this incident humorous or frightening or both? Give reasons.
डॉक्टर को यह घटना विनोदपूर्ण लगी या डरावनी या दोनों? कारण दो।
Or
Narrate a humorous incident from the story ‘The snake and the mirror’.
‘द स्नेक एंड द मिरर’ कहानी के आधार पर एक विनोदपूर्ण घटना का वर्णन करें।
Answer:
The doctor found this incident both frightening and humorous. As the snake landed on the doctor’s shoulder, he got so frightened that he could neither jump nor tremble. Nor could he utter a cry. He found himself turned into a stone. He felt that death was hardly 3 or 4 inches away from him. He was too frightened to move lest the snake should strike him. The only element of humour in this incident was that once the doctor smiled at himself feebly but foolishly for not keeping any medicine of snake-bite. As the snake crept onto the table and moved towards the mirror, the doctor thought humorously that the snake wanted to enjoy its reflection at close quarters, making decision to keep moustache or use eye make-up.
Question 2.
How did the doctor save himself from being bitten by the snake?
डॉक्टर ने अपने आप को साँप से काटे जाने से कैसे बचाया?
Answer:
The snake had landed on the doctor’s shoulder. It coiled around his left arm above the elbow. Its hood was hardly 3-4 inches away from his face. Petrified, he became a statue in granite. It was wise on his part not to make the slightest movement for that would have infuriated the snake and it would have bitten him.
Again, when the snake released him and settled in front of the mirror on table, he moved cautiously and silently to the door, without distracting the snake and only then ran for his life.
Question 3.
What was the doctor’s condition and feelings during his encounter with a poisonous snake?
डॉक्टर का जब एक विषैले सांप से सामना हुआ तो उसकी क्या हालत तथा भावनाएँ थीं?
Answer:
One hot night the doctor sat on the chair. Just then he heard a thud sound. He wasn’t afraid but curious to know what it could be. As he turned back a thick snake landed on his shoulder, and coiled round his left upper arm. It’s hood,was spread hardly 3-4 inches, away from his face.
He did not jump, cry or tremble with fear. There was no time to do such a thing. He simply sat still like a granite image in flesh. He remembered God. A slightest movement could have provoked the snake to bite. Supposing the snake bit him. He was a doctor, still had no medicine for such an emergency. He smiled at his foolishness and helplessness. Just then the snake happened to see its reflection in the mirror. It seemed to be fascinated by it. To have a closer look, it uncoiled the doctor’s arm, landed in his lap, then sat in front of the mirror on the table.
Still holding his breath, very quietly, without disturbing the snake, the doctor slipped out of the room and ran at full speed to his friend’s house. It was a frightening experience for him.
Question 4.
Did the doctor keep his presence of mind intact when he saw the snake?
क्या डॉक्टर ने जब साँप को देखा, तब अपना दिमागी संतुलन कायम रखा?
Answer:
When the doctor saw the snake he remained very calm and balanced. He did not jump out of panic. He sat still on the chair without any sort of movement. Rather holding his breath, he sat like a statue. He did not lose his presence of mind at all.
The snake had coiled around his left arm. He felt the presence of God, the creator of this world and the universe. He imagined he would write in bright letters outside his heart the words, ‘Of God’. When the snake was looking into the mirror, he asked himself whether the snake was admiring its own beauty. Finally the snake unwound itself from his arm. Then he very quietly went out through the veranda. Thereafter, he ran very fast. All that time the doctor neither lost his presence of mind nor his sense of humour.
Question 5.
The doctor smiles two times in the story. But each for different reasons. Explain.
डॉक्टर कहानी में दो बार मुस्कराया। परंतु दोनों बार अलग कारणों से। व्याख्या करो।
Answer:
The doctor smiles twice in the story. Once when he is looking into the mirror and takes earth shaking decisions, to keep thin moustache, shave daily and always keep a smile on his face – these will make him look handsome, after all, he is a bachelor. That also brings the thought of marrying a fat, rich, doctor girl who should not be able to chase him if he runs after committing a folly.
Second time he smiles feebly, helplessly, when he sees death lurking four inches away from him. Suppose the snake bites, what medicine for snake¬bite he has in the room, the feeble smile spreads on his face. What a poor, foolish, stupid doctor he is !’
Question 6.
What thoughts were going on in the mind of the doctor when the snake landed on him?
साँप जब डॉक्टर के ऊपर बैठा, तब उसके मन में क्या विचार चल रहे थे?
Answer:
When the snake landed on doctor’s shoulders and coiled round his left arm, he could neither jump nor move or utter a cry. That could provoke the snake to bite him. He became a statue. He felt then the presence of great Creator of this world and the Universe. Suppose he said something and He did not like it. He tried in his imagination to write in bright letters outside his heart the words – ‘O God’.
Death lurked four inches away from him. Suppose the snake struck! He was a poor, foolish, stupid doctor as he had no medicine with him for anti-snakebite.
Question 7.
The doctor was quite fond of himself. He was concerned about his looks and appearance and was a great admirer of beauty. Do you think the doctor was right in doing so? Is it good to think or feel good about one’s own self? Why/ Why not? Give reasons to support your answer.
चिकित्सक स्वयं को बहुत चाहता था। वह अपने रूप और शक्ल के विषय में सजग रहता था तथा सुंदरता का प्रशंसक था। क्या आप समझते हैं कि चिकित्सक के लिए ऐसा करना सही था? क्या यह उचित है कि कोई स्वयं को अच्छा सोचे और महसूस करे। क्यों। क्यों नहीं? अपने उत्तर को उचित ठहराने के लिए तर्क उपस्थित करें।
Answer:
(1) Really, the doctor was quite fond of himself. Also, he says, “In those days, I was a great admirer of beauty and I believed in making myself handsome.” He was a bachelor. He wanted to look handsome. So, he keeps on smiling. Wanted to keep a thin moustache and shave daily. He combed carefully and adjusted the parting so that it looked straight and neat. All these facts show that he was a simple and jolly person.
(2) Yes, I think the doctor was right in doing so.
(3) Undoubtedly, it is good to think or feel good about one’s own self. This is because, it builds up our confidence and enhances our personality. It looks disciplined and makes us happy. But we should not feel proud on ourself to such an extent that it becomes arrogance. ‘
Question 8.
What do you think was not right about the doctor’s dream of marrying a fat woman doctor who had a lot of money and good medical practice? Was it wrong to have a dream or was it the way it was shaping itself ? Elucidate.
चिकित्सक का यह सपना कि वह एक मोटी महिला चिकित्सक जिसके पास बहुत पैसा है तथा जिसका चिकित्सा में खूब नाम है, से विवाह करे, के संबंध में आप क्या ठीक नहीं समझते? क्या सपना गलत था या फिर वह तरीका जैसे वह आकार ले रहा था? वर्णन करें।
Answer:
The doctor dreamed to marry a fat woman doctor who had a lot of money and good medical practice. She had to be fat for a valid reason. It the doctor made some silly mistake and needed to run away, she should not be able to run after him and catch him. This shows his greediness and money- mindedness.
This was not wrong to have a dream. But, it was the way that was wrong. His making fun of fatty people cannot be accepted. In this way, it is not having the dream that was wrong, it was the thought behind the dream that causes some displeasure.
Question 9.
Give the doctor’s character sketch. (The Snake and the Mirror)
डॉक्टर का चरित्र-चित्रण करो।
Answer:
The doctor was a simple joyful but sensible person. He narrated a frightening story. ‘The Snake and the Mirror’ in the most humorous way. The doctor had a meagre income as he had just started his practice after getting his degree. So, he lived in a small rented room. It had no electricity. He used the kerosene lamp to read the books. The rats moved freely to and fro from the beam. Appreciating his looks, he took a resolve to keep moustache, shave daily and keep smiling to look more handsome. Then, he took another resolve to marry rich and fat doctor girl. The reason was that a fat wife would not be able to follow him if he ran after committing a folly. Most importantly, when a snake coiled around his left arm and death was so near to him, he didn’t lose his sense of humour. But he always remained sensible. The slightest movement on the part of the doctor could have provoked-the snake to bite him, so he sat like a statue.
Question 10.
How did the author get rid of the snake? Where did he go after his escape from the snake’s clutches? What did he do?
लेखक ने साँप से कैसे छुटकारा पाया? साँप से छूटकर लेखक कहाँ गया? उसने तत्पश्चात् क्या किया?
Answer:
The author who was a doctor was sitting -comfortably on the chair in his room. He then took out a book, from the box beneath the table, of materia medica to read. He was soon tempted to look into the large mirror on his table. Soon he faced another distraction and got embroiled into deep thoughts about himself and his life. With such thoughts in the mind he resumed his seat in the chair in front of the table. It was all silent before he heard a dull thud. He turned around to take a look and found a fat snake wriggled over the back of the chair and landed on his shoulder. The snake then slithered along his shoulder and coiled around his left arm above the elbow. The doctor was turned to stone.
He soon felt that a rod of molten fire was crushing his arm. He decided to remain still as the least movement would have made the snake strike him with its fangs. The snake then turned its head and looked into the mirror. While the author was busy in thoughts about the snake it slowly unwound itself from the doctor’s arm and slithered into his lap. From there it crept onto the table and moved towards the mirror. Still holding his breath, he got up from the chair. He quietly then went out through the door into the veranda. From there he leapt into the yard and ran. On being asked by one of his friends whether the snake followed the doctor after he ran away, he replied that he ran and ran till he reached a friend’s house. He then smeared oil all over himself and took a bath and changed into fresh clothes.
I. Summary In English:
Discussion about Snakes: Once a group of friends was discussing about snake. A doctor among the group relates his first hand experience of a cobra coiling around his arm.
The Doctor’s room: The doctor had just started his practice after getting his degree. With his meagre income he could afford only a small room with no electricity facility. The rats ran freely in it. He had become used to their sounds.
One Summer Night: It was very hot one summer night. After dinner the doctor came in his room, took out his book – “Materia Medica’ to study but instead started looking at his image in the mirror on the table.
Resolves taken: Appreciating his looks, he took a resolve ‘to keep moustache’ shave daily and keep smiling to look more handsome. Then he took another resolve to marry a rich, fat doctor. A fat wife would not be able to follow him if he ran after committing a folly.
Encounter with Snake: Just then there was a thud sound. As he turned to look, a cobra snake landed on his shoulder and coiled around his left arm. Its hood was hardly 3-4 inches away from his face.
Statue of Granite: He became a statue of granite. Any little movement could bring death to him. He realised that though a doctor, he had no medicine for snake-bite. He was a poor, foolish doctor. He laughed at himself.
Snake and the Mirror: Just then the snake happened to turn. It looked at its image in the mirror. Perhaps to have a closer look, it left the doctor and crept onto the table in front of the mirror.
Doctor Escapes: The doctor heaved a sigh of relief. He moved cautiously and ran for his life to his friend’s house. He spent the night there.
Theft in Doctor’s room: Next morning when he went to his room to collect his things and shift to a safer place, he found that all his things were stolen except for his dirty vest.
II. Complete Text with Hindi Translation:
Text (Page 56): “Has a snake ever coiled itself round any part of your body? A full-blooded cobra?”’ All of us fell silent. The question came from the homeopath. The topic came up when we were discussing snakes. We listened attentively as the doctor continued with his tale.
Vocabulary : full-blooded (फुल ब्लडिड) fully grown and strong भरा-पूरा और जीवित; Cobra (कोबरा) a kind of poisonous snake with a hood फनियर जहरीला सांप।
अनुवाद : क्या कभी एक सांप ने आपके शरीर के किसी भाग के ‘चारों ओर कुण्डली डाली हैं, एक बहुत बड़े जिन्दा काले नाग ने?” हम सभी शान्त हो गए। यह प्रश्न एक होम्योपैथ ने किया था। यह विषय तब आरम्भ हुआ जब हम सांपों की बातें कर रहे थे। जब डॉक्टर ने अपनी कहानी सुनानी शुरू की तो हमने उसे ध्यान से सुना।
Text (Page 56) : It was a hot summer night; about ten o’clock. I had my meal at the restaurant and returned to my room. I heard a noise from above as I opened the door. The sound was a familiar one. One could say that the rats and I shared the room. I took out my box of matches and lighted the kerosene lamp on the table.
Vocabulary : familiar (फेमीलियर) quite known जाना पहचाना।
अनुवाद : ग्रीष्म ऋतु की गर्म रात थी। लगभग दस बजे थे। मैंने रेस्टोरेंट में भोजन किया तथा अपने कमरे पर लौट आया। जैसे ही मैंने दरवाजा खोला, : उसी समय ऊपर से एक आवाज़ आई। यह एक परिचित आवाज़ थी। हम कह सकते हैं कि चूहे और मैं कमरे में इकट्ठे रहते थे। मैंने माचिस की डिब्बी निकाली और मेज़ पर रखा हुआ मिट्टी के तेल का लैम्प जला दिया।
Text (Page 56) : The house was not electrified; it was a small rented room. I had just set up medical practice and my earnings were meagre. I had about sixty rupees in my suitcase. Along with some shirts and dhotis, I also possessed one solitary black coat which I was then wearing.
Vocabulary : meagre (मीगर) not enough बहुत कम, अपर्याप्त; solitary (सोलीट्री) only one एकमात्र।
अनुवाद : घर में बिजली नहीं थी। यह एक छोटा-सा किराए का कमरा था। मैंने थोड़े दिन पहले ही डॉक्टरी का काम करना आरम्भ किया था तथा मेरी कमाई बहुत कम थी। मेरे सूटकेस में लगभग साठ रुपए थे तथा कुछ कमीजें और धोतियाँ। मेरे पास केवल एक काला कोट था जो मैंने उस समय पहन रखा था।
Text (Page 56): I took off my black coat, white shirt and not-so-white vest and hung them up. I opened the two windows in the room. It was an outer room with one wall facing the open yard. It had a tiled roof with long supporting gables that rested on the beam over the wall.
Vocabulary : vest (वेस्ट) undergarment बनियान; gables (Tea) Three cornered/triangular upper part of wall below a sloping roof टेढ़ी छत के नीचे दीवार का ऊपरी तिकोना भाग; beam (बीम) long horizontal piece of iron or timber used to carry the weight of the building कड़ी, शहतीर।
अनुवाद : मैंने अपना काला कोट सफेद कमीत तथा बनियान जो इतनी सफेद नहीं थी उन्हें उतार कर लटका दिया। कमरे की दो खिड़कियाँ मैंने खोल दीं। यह बाहर वाला कमरा था जिसकी एक दीवार खुले मैदान के सामने थी। इसकी छत पर टाइलें लगी हुई थी तथा कोनिया छत दीवार पर रखे बीम का सहारा लिए हुए थी।
Text (Pages 56-57): There was no ceiling. There was a regular traffic of rats to and from the beam. I made my bed and pulled it close to the wall. I lay down but I could not sleep. I got up and went out to the veranda for a little air, but the wind God seemed to have taken time off.
Vocabulary : taken time off (टेकन टाईम ऑफ) taken leave for sometime छुट्टी ले रखी थी अर्थात् हवा बंद थी।
अनुवाद : अन्दर की छत नहीं थी। वहाँ पर बीम से इधर-उधर नियमित रूप से चहे चलते रहते थे। मैंने बिस्तर लगा कर उसे दीवार के पास खींचा। मैं लेट गया पर सो नहीं सका। मैं उठकर बरामदे में कुछ हवा लेने के लिए गया परन्तु ऐसा लग रहा था कि हवा के देवता ने छुट्टी कर ली थी।
Text (Page 57): I went back into the room and sat down on the chair. I opened the box beneath the table and took out a book, the Materia Medica. I opened it at the table on which stood the lamp and a large mirror, a small comb lay beside the mirror.
अनुवाद : मैं वापस कमरे में गया तथा कुर्सी पर बैठ गया। मैंने मेज़ के नीचे रखे बक्से को खोला तथा उसमें से एक पुस्तक निकाली जिसका नाम था ‘मैटिरिया मैडिका’। मैंने उसे उस मेज पर रख कर खोला जिस पर लैम्प तथा एक बड़ा दर्पण पड़ा था। दर्पण के बराबर में एक छोटा-सा कंधा पड़ा था।
Text (Page 57): One feels tempted to look into a mirror when it is near one. I took a look. In those days I was a great admirer of beauty and I believed in making myself handsome. I was unmarried and I was a doctor. I felt I had to make my presence felt. I picked up the comb and ran it through my hair and adjusted the parting so that it looked straight and neat.
Vocabulary: tempted (टैम्पटिड) induced लालच आ जाना; admirer (एडमायरर) one who admires/praises प्रशंसक, सराहने वाला।
अनुवाद : जब शीशा समीप हो तो उसमें देखने को मन करता है। मैंने एक बार देखा। उन दिनों में सुन्दरता का बड़ा प्रशंसक था तथा स्वयं को सुन्दर दिखने में मेरा विश्वास था। मैं अविवाहित था तथा एक डॉक्टर था। मैं सोचता था कि मुझे अपनी उपस्थिति अनुभव करनी चाहिए। मैंने कंधे को उठा कर अपने बालों में चलाया तथा मांग को संवारा ताकि यह सीधी व साफ-सुधरी लगे।
Text (Page 57) : Again I heard that sound from above. I took a close look at my face in the mirror. I made an important decision- I would shave daily and grow a thin moustache to look more handsome. I was after all a bachelor and a doctor!
Vocabulary : moustache (मुसटॉच) hair on upper lip मूंछे; bachelor (बेचलर) unmarried कुंआरा।
अनुवाद : फिर मुझे ऊपर से वही आवाज सुनाई दी। मैंने अपने चेहरे को दर्पण में ध्यान से देखा। मैंने एक महत्त्वपूर्ण निर्णय
किया-मैं प्रतिदिन दादी बनाऊँगा तथा अधिक सुन्दर लगने के लिए पतली मूठे विकसित करूंगा। आखिर मैं एक कुंआरा तथा डॉक्टर था।
Text (Page 57) : I looked into the mirror and smiled. It was an attractive smile. I made another earth-shaking decision. I would always keep the attractive smile on my face….to look more handsome. I was after all a bachelor, and a doctor too on top of it!
Vocabulary : earth-shaking (अर्थ-शेकिंग) important महत्त्वपूर्ण।
अनुवाद : मैं दर्पण में देख कर मुस्कराया। यह एक आकर्षक मुस्कान थी। मैंने एक और जमीन हिला देने वाला फैसला किया। मैं सदा वह आकर्षक मुस्कान अपने चेहरे पर रखुंगा-अधिक सुन्दर लगने के लिए। आखिर मैं एक कुंआरा था तथा इससे बढ़कर एक डॉक्टर भी था।
Text (Page 57) : Again came that noise from above. I got up, lit a beedi and paced up and down the room. Then another lovely thought struck me. I would marry. I would get married a woman doctor who had plenty of money and a good medical practice. She had to be fat; for a valid reason. If I made some silly mistake and needed to run away she should not be able to run after me and catch me!
Vocabulary : pacing up and down (पेसिंग अप एण्ड डाऊन) walking to and fro इधर से उधर चहलकदमी करना; struck me (स्ट्रकमी) came into my mind दिमाग में सूझा; valid (वेलिड) appropriate उचित silly (सिल्ली ) careless/ foolish वेबकूफी/लापरवाही।
अनुवाद : फिर ऊपर से वही आवाज आई। मैंने उठकर बीड़ी सुलगाई तथा कमरे में इधर-उधर चलने लगा। फिर एक सुन्दर विचार मुग्ने सूझा। मैं शादी करुंगा। मैं एक महिला डॉक्टर से शादी करूँगा जिसके पास बहुत धन हो तथा जिसका डॉक्टरी का कार्य अच्छा चल रहा हो। उसे मोटी होना चाहिए; एक उचित कारण से। यदि मैंने कोई मूर्खतापूर्ण गलती की और भागना पड़ा तो वह मेरे पीछे भाग कर मुझे पकड़ न सके।
Text (Pages 57-58) : With such thoughts in my mind, I resumed my seat in the chair in front of the table. There were no more sounds from above. Suddenly there came a dull thud as if a rubber tube had fallen to the ground….surely nothing to worry about. Even so I thought I would turn around and take a look. No sooner had I turned than a fat snake wriggled over the back of the chair and landed on my shoulder. The snake’s landing on me and my turning were simultaneous.
Vocabulary : resumed (foqs) took up again फिर से लेना; thud (घड) dull heavy sound धम्म की आवाज wriggled (free) make about by twisting/turning the body शरीर को टेढ़ा-मेढ़ा करके चलना; simultaneously (साइमुलटेनियसली) happening at the same time एक ही समय पर साथ होने वाला।
अनुवाद : मन में इस प्रकार के विचार लिए मैने मेज के पास कुर्सी पर अपना स्थान ले लिया। ऊपर से कोई आवाजें नहीं आ रहीं थीं। अचानक एक धम्म की आवाज़ आई जैसे कि एक रबड़ की नली जमीन पर गिरी हो। निश्चय ही चिन्ता की कोई बात नहीं थी। फिर भी मैंने सोचा कि मुड़ कर देखना चाहिए। जैसे ही मैं मुड़ा, एक मोटा सर्प मेरी कुर्सी की पीठ पर टेढ़ा-मेदा चलता हुआ मेरे कन्धे पर आ गया। सर्प का मेरे ऊपर आना तथा मेरा मुड़ना दोनों कार्य एक ही समय पर हुए।
Text (Page 58): I didn’t jump. I didn’t tremble. I didn’t cry out. There was no time to do any such thing. The snake slithered along my shoulder and coiled around my left arm above the elbow. The hood was spread out and its head was hardly three or four inches from my face !
Vocabulary : tremble (un) shaking of body कीपना; slithered (स्लिदर्ड) slide/slip unsteadily खिसकता हुआ; elbow (एलबो) कुहनी।
अनुवाद : मैं उछला नहीं, लड़खड़ाया नहीं, न ही चिल्लाया। इस प्रकार का कोई भी कार्य करने का समय ही नहीं था। सांप ने मेरे कंधे से फिसलते हुए मेरी बाई भुजा पर कुहनी के ऊपर कुण्डली बना ली। उसका फन फैला हुआ था तथा उसका सिर मेरे चेहरे से मुश्किल से तीन या चार इन्च दुर
Text (Page 58): It would not be correct to say
Vocabulary : surrounded (सरॉउण्डिड) encircled घिरा हुआ।
अनुवाद : केवल यह कहना ठीक नहीं होगा कि मैं अपनी साँस रोककर बैठा रहा। मैं पत्थर बन गया था। परन्तु मेरा मन बहुत सावधान था। दरवाजा अंधेरे में खुलता था। कमरे के चारों ओर अंधेरा था। लैम्प के प्रकाश में मैं मांस में पत्थर की मूर्ति की भाँति बैठा था।
Text (Page 58): I felt then the great presence of the creator of this world and this universe. God was there. Suppose I said something and he did not like it. I tried in my imagination to write in bright letters outside my little heart the words ‘OGod’.
Vocabulary : creator (क्रिएटर) maker, God पैदा करने वाला, सृजनहार, परमात्मा; universe (यूनीवर्स) world दुनिया; Imagination (इमैजीनेशन) power of thinking कल्पना शक्ति।
अनुवाद ! उस समय मुझे इस संसार व ब्रह्माण्ड के महान् निर्माता की उपस्थिति का अनुभव हुआ। भगवान विद्यमान हैं। मान लो मैंने ऐसा कुछ कह दिया जो उसे अच्छा नहीं लगा। अपनी कल्पना में मैंने चमकीले शब्दों में अपने छोटे-से हृदय के बाहर ‘हे भगवान’ शब्दों को लिखने का प्रयत्न किया।
Text (Page 58) : There was some pain in my left arm. It was as if a thick leaden rod….no, a rod made of molten fire….was slowly but powerfully crushing my arm. The arm was beginning to be drained of all strength. What could I do?
Vocabulary : molten (मोल्टन) melted पिघला हुआ; erushing (af) breaking a thing into pieces by putting too much pressure on it कुचलना, तोड़ना drained (ड्रेन्ड) flow off बहा ले गई; strength (स्ट्रेंथ) power शक्ति।
अनुवाद : मेरी बाई भुजा में कुछ दर्द हुआ। ऐसा लगा जैसे कि एक मोटी सीसे की छड़ी, नहीं, पिघली हुई आग की छड़ी धीरे-धीरे परन्तु जोर से मेरी भुजा को कुचल रही हो। भुजा की सारी शक्ति बाहर निकलने लगी थी। मैं क्या कर सकता था?
Text (Page 58): At my slightest movement, the snake would strike me! Death lurked four inches away. Suppose it struck, what was the medicine I had to take? There were no medicines in the room. I was but a poor, foolish and stupid doctor. I forgot my danger and smiled feebly at myself.
Vocabulary : slightest (स्लाइटेस्ट) very small मामूली; strike (स्ट्राइक) hit/bit मारना/काटना; lurked (लर्ड) lie or wait in concealment/wait under cover ready to hit घात लगाकर बैठना; feebly (फीवली) weakly/faint दुर्बल, अस्पष्ट।
अनुवाद : यदि मैं हल्का-सा भी हिला तो सांप मुझे काट लेगा। मृत्यु चार इन्च दूर घात लगाये खड़ी थी। मान लो यह काट लेता है तो मुझे क्या दवाई लेनी पड़ेगी। कमरे में दवाएँ नहीं थीं। मैं तो एक छोटा-सा मूर्ख डॉक्टर था। मैं अपना खतरा भूल गया तथा अपने ऊपर हल्का -सा हँस दिया।
Vocabulary : appreciated (एप्रीशियेटिड) praised, admired सराहा; reflection (रिफलैक्शन) image प्रतिबिम्ब claim (क्लेम) put one’s right दावा करना; certain (सन) definite निश्चित; admiring (एडमायरिंग) appreciating सराहा रहा था; mascara (मस्कारा) cosmetic material for eye make-up आँखों के श्रृंगार का प्रसाधन; Vermilion (वर्मिलियन) dark red colour गहरा लाल रंग, सिन्दूर।
अनुवाद : ऐसा प्रतीत हुआ जैसे भगवान ने इसे सराहा। सांप ने अपना सिर मोड़ लिया। उसने शौशे में अपनी परछाई देखी। मैं यह दावा नहीं करता कि यह पहला सांप रहा होगा जिसने शीशे में कभी अपनी परछाई देखी होगी। पर यह बात निश्चित थी कि सांप शीशे में देख रहा था। क्या यह अपनी सुन्दरता की प्रशंसा कर रहा था? क्या यह मूछों को विकसित करने का महत्त्वपूर्ण निर्णय लेने का प्रयत्न कर रहा था? या फिर सौन्दर्य प्रसाधन आई-शैडो, मस्कारा या फिर अपने मस्तक पर सिन्दूर की बिन्दी लगाने के बारे में सोच रहा था।
Text (Page 59): I did not know anything for certain. What sex was this snake, was it male or female? I will never know; for the snake unwound itself from my arm and slowly slithered into my lap. From there it crept onto the table and moved towards the mirror. Perhaps it wanted to enjoy its reflection at closer quarters.
Vocabulary : closer quarters (क्लोजर क्वाटर्रस) from near समीप से।
अनुवाद : मुझे निश्चित रूप से कुछ भी पता नहीं था। इस सांप का लिंग क्या था-नर या मादा? यह मुझे कभी पता नहीं चलेगा क्योंकि सांप ने मेरी भुजा से अपनी कुण्डली खोली तथा धीरे-धीरे वह रेंग कर मेरी गोद में आ गया। वहाँ से वह मेज़ पर दर्पण की ओर चला गया। शायद वह नजदीक से अपने प्रतिबिम्ब का आनन्द लेना चाहता था।
Text (Page 59) : I was no more image cut in granite. I was suddenly a man of flesh and blood. Still holding my breath I got up from the chair. I quietly went out through the door into the verandah. From there I leapt into the yard and ran for all I was worth.
Vocabulary : mere (मियर) only केवल; granite (ग्रेनाइट) hardstone कंकरीट: worth (वर्थ) capable के योग्य।
अनुवाद : मैं केवल ग्रेनाइट पत्थर में कटी हुई मूर्ति नहीं था। मैं अचानक हाड़-मांस का व्यक्ति बन गया। अभी साँस रोके हुए मैं कुर्सी से खड़ा हुआ। मैं चुपचाप दरवाजे से होकर बरामदे में गया। वहाँ से मैं उछल कर आंगन में गया तथा यथाशक्ति भागा।
Text (Page 59) : ‘Phew! Each of us heaved a sigh of relief. All of us lit beedies. Somebody asked, ‘Doctor, is your wife very fat?’
No, the doctor said, ‘God willed otherwise. My life companion is a thin reedy person with the gift of a sprinter.’
Someone else asked, ‘Doctor, when you ran did the snake follow you?’
Vocabulary : heaved (हीड) breathed साँस ली; heaved a sigh of relief (हीव्डअ साई ऑफ रिलीफ) to feel relaxed चैन की साँस ली; reedy (रीडी) stalk of a marshy plant सरकंडा; sprinter (स्त्रिन्टर) runner, one who can run fast for a short distance धावक; willed (विल्ड) wished इच्छा थी।
अनुवाद : “आह!” हम में से प्रत्येक ने चैन की सांस ली। हम सभी ने बौड़ियाँ सुलगाई। किसी ने पूछा, डॉक्टर, क्या तुम्हारी पत्नी मोटी है ?”
डॉक्टर ने कहा ‘नहीं’। भगवान की इच्छा दूसरी थी। मेरी जीवन साथी बहुत पाली तथा तेज भागने के गुण वाली है। किसी दूसरे व्यक्ति ने पूछा, ‘डॉक्टर, जब तुम भागे तो क्या सांप ने तुम्हारा पीछा किया था?”
Text (Page 60): The doctor replied, ‘I ran and ran till I reached a friend’s house. Immediately I smeared oil all over myself and took a bath I changed into fresh clothes. The next morning at about eight thirty I took my friend and one or two others to my room to move my things from there. But we found we had little to carry. Some thief had removed most of my things. The room had been cleaned out! But not really, the thief had left behind one thing as a final insult!
Vocabulary: smeared (स्मीयर्ड) covered with oil लेप लगाया; insult (इन्सल्ट) disregard अपमान।
अनुवाद : डॉक्टर ने उत्तर दिया, “कि मैं तब तक भागता रहा जब तक कि अपने मित्र के घर नहीं पहुंच गया। तुरन्त मैंने अपने सारे शरीर पर तेल लगा कर स्नान किया। मैंने नए कपड़े पहने। अगले दिन प्रात: लगभग साढ़े आठ बजे मैं अपने मित्र तथा एक दो और लोगों को लेकर कमरे से सामान इटाने गया। पर ले जाने के लिए कुछ भी नहीं मिला। एक चोर द्वारा कमरा साफ कर दिया गया था। पर वास्तव में नहीं क्योंकि चोर अपने पीछे (मेरे) अपमान के रूप में अन्तिम चीज़ छोड़ गया था।
Text (Page 60): ‘What was that?” I asked.
The doctor said, “My vest. The dirty one. The fellow had such a sense of cleanliness…! The rascal could have taken it and used it after a rinse in soap and water.
Did you see the snake the next day doctor?
The doctor laughed, I’ve never seen it since. It was a snake which was taken with its own beauty !
Vocabulary : rascal (रास्कल) a base, dishonest बदमाश; rinse (रिन्स) to wash out with water, to wash off soap from cloth पानी में डुबोकर कपड़े से साबुन निकालना; taken with its own beauty (टेकन विद इट्स ओन ब्यूटी) अपनी सुन्दरता पर मोहित होना।
अनुवाद : “वह क्या थी?” मैंने पूछा।
डॉक्टर ने कहा, “मेरी बनियान, वह गंदी-सी। उसमें.सफाई की इतनी समझ थी। वह बदमाश उसे ले जा सकता था तथा साबुन और पानी में धोकर प्रयोग कर सकता था।”
“डॉक्टर, क्या तुमने अगले दिन सांप देखा ?”
“डॉक्टर हँस दिया, “मैंने उसके बाद उसे नहीं देखा। यह ऐसा साँप था जो अपनी सुन्दरता पर मोहित हो गया था।”