SUP.UNIT - 3 - Iswaran the Storyteller ENGLISH - SUP.UNIT - 3 - Iswaran the Storyteller

Can you think of some other ending for the story?

Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits a figment of the imagination. What happens to him on a full-moon night?

How does he narrate the story of the tusker? Does it appear to be plausible?

Haw, does Iswaran describe the uprooted tree on the highway? What effect does he want to create in his listeners?

By the time he had got up in the morning, had a bath and come out to have his breakfast, the horror of the previous night had faded from his memory. Iswaran greeted him at the door with his lunch packet and his bag. Just as Mahendra was stepping out Iswaran grinned and said, "Sir, remember the other day when I was telling you about the female ghost with a foetus in its arms, you were so angry with me for imagining things? Well, you saw her yourself last night. I came running hearing the sound of moaning that was coming from your room..."
A chill went down Mahendra's spine. He did not wait for Iswaran to complete his sentence. He hurried away to his office and handed in his papers, resolving to leave the haunted place the very next day!
Question :
Q.1. How did Iswaran remind Mahendra of the ghost story the next morning?
Q.2. What decision did Mahendra make after Iswaran's reminder about the ghost?

One night, Mahendra was woken up from his sleep by a low moan close to his window. At first he put it down to a cat prowling around for mice. But the sound was too guttural for a cat. He resisted the curiosity to look out lest he should behold a sight which would stop his heart. But the wailing became louder and less feline. He could not resist the temptation any more. Lowering himself to the level of the windowsill he looked out at the white sheet of moonlight outside. There, not too far away, was a dark cloudy form clutching a bundle. Mahendra broke into a cold sweat and fell back on the pillow, panting. As he gradually recovered from the ghastly experience he began to reason with himself, and finally concluded that it must have been some sort of auto suggestion, some trick that his subconscious had played on him.
Question :
Q.1. What woke Mahendra up from his sleep one night?
Q.2. What did Mahendra see when he looked out of his window?

Mahendra shivered at the description and interrupted rather sharply, "You are crazy, Iswaran. There are no such things as ghosts or spirits. It is all a figment of your imagination. Get your digestive system examined are talking nonsense." and maybe your head as well. You
He left the room and retired for the night, expecting Iswaran to sulk for a couple of days. But the next morning he was surprised to find the cook as cheerful and talkative as ever.
From that day on Mahendra, for all his brave talk, went to bed with a certain unease. Every night he peered into the darkness outside through the window next to his bed, trying to make sure that there was no movement of dark shapes in the vicinity. But he could only see a sea of darkness with the twinkling lights of the factory miles away.
Question :
Q.1. How did Mahendra react when Iswaran talked about ghosts and spirits?
Q.2. How did Mahendra's behavior change after dismissing Iswaran's claims?

"I knew on the first day itself when I saw a human skull lying on the path. Even now I come across a number of skulls and bones," Iswaran continued.
He went on to narrate how he sometimes saw ghosts at night. "I am not easily frightened by these things, sir. I am a brave fellow. But one horrible ghost of a woman which appears off and on at midnight during the full moon... It is an ugly creature with matted hair and a shrivelled face, like a skeleton holding a foetus in its arms."
Question :
Q.1. What did Iswaran discover on his first day at the factory area?
Q.2. What supernatural phenomenon did Iswaran claim to witness at night?

One morning when Mahendra was having breakfast Iswaran asked, "Can I make something special for dinner tonight, sir? After all today is an auspicious day - according to tradition we prepare various delicacies to feed the spirits of our ancestors today, sir."
That night Mahendra enjoyed the most delicious dinner and complimented Iswaran on his culinary skills. He seemed very pleased but, unexpectedly, launched into a most garish account involving the supernatural.
"You know, sir, this entire factory area we are occupying was once a burial ground," he started. Mahendra was jerked out of the pleasant reverie he had drifted into after the satisfying meal.
Question :
Q.1. What special occasion prompted Iswaran to prepare a special dinner?
Q.2. How did Iswaran unexpectedly change the conversation after dinner?

He went on to narrate how he sometimes saw ghosts at night. “I am not easily frightened by these things, sir. I am a brave fellow. But one horrible ghost of a woman which appears off and on at midnight during the full moon… It is an ugly creature with matted hair and a shrivelled face, like a skeleton holding a foetus in its arms.” Mahendra shivered at the description and interrupted rather sharply, “You are crazy, Iswaran. There are no such things as ghosts or spirits. It is all a figment of your imagination. Get your digestive system examined — and maybe your head as well. You are talking nonsense.”
Questions:
Q.1. What is ‘it’ here?
Q.2. Why was ‘it’ ugly?
Q.3. Who had seen ‘it’, when and where?

One morning when Mahendra was having breakfast Iswaran asked, “Can I make something special for dinner tonight, sir? After all today is an auspicious day — according to tradition we prepare various delicacies to feed the spirits of our ancestors today, sir.” That night Mahendra enjoyed the most delicious dinner and complimented Iswaran on his culinary skills. He seemed very pleased but, unexpectedly, launched into a most garish account involving the supernatural.
Questions:
Q.1. What permission is the speaker seeking here?
Q.2. Why was the day auspicious?
Q.3. What tradition was followed on this day?

“Well, a veterinary doctor was summoned to revive the animal,” Iswaran would shrug casually. “Two days later it was led away by its mahout to the jungle.” “Well, how did you manage to do it, Iswaran — how did you bring down the beast?” “It has something to do with a Japanese art, I think, sir. Karate or jiu-jitsu it is called. I had read about it somewhere. It temporarily paralyses the nervous system, you see.” Not a day passed without Iswaran recounting some story packed with adventure, horror and suspense.
Questions:
Q.1. Who speaks these lines and to whom?
Q.2. What is the topic of discussion here?
Q.3. List the two martial arts mentioned here.

Iswaran also had an amazing capacity to produce vegetables and cooking ingredients, seemingly out of nowhere, in the middle of a desolate landscape with no shops visible for miles around. He would miraculously conjure up the most delicious dishes made with fresh vegetables within an hour of arriving at the zinc-sheet shelter at the new workplace.
Questions:
Q.1. Who is ‘he’ in the above lines?
Q.2. Why is he being appreciated here?
Q.3. What was a zinc-sheet shelter?

He was a bachelor. His needs were simple and he was able to adjust himself to all kinds of odd conditions, whether it was an ill-equipped circuit house or a makeshift canvas tent in the middle of a stone quarry. But one asset he had was his cook, Iswaran. The cook was quite attached to Mahendra and followed him uncomplainingly wherever he was posted. He cooked for Mahendra, washed his clothes and chatted away with his master at night. He could weave out endless stories and anecdotes on varied subjects.
Questions:
Q.1. Who is “he” in the above extract?
Q.2. List two characteristics of this person.
Q.3. What kind of places did he have to live in?