The Fight
1. In what way is the forest pool different
from the one which Ranji knew in the Rajputana desert?
Answer: The pool which Ranji was
familiar with in the Rajputana desert was full of muddy water. It was the
favourite watering hole for buffaloes and the washboard for women. It was
filthy at its best. The forest pool was having crystal clear water and one
could see the pebbles at the bottom of the pool.
2.
The other boy asked Ranji to โexplainโ himself.
(i)
What did he expect Ranji to say?
Answer: The other boy expected
Ranji to confirm that Ranji was from some nearby village.
(ii)
Was he, in your opinion, right or wrong to ask this question?
Answer: He was wrong as asking the identity of strangers is not a
bad thing, but the way the other boy was asking it was part of ill manners. One
cannot claim ownership on public places.
3.
Between Ranji and the other boy, who is trying to start a quarrel? Give a
reason for your answer.
Answer:
When the other boy arrived at the scene Ranji wanted to make friends with him.
It was the other boy who insisted on fighting to prove his fiefdom on the pool.
4.
โThen we will have to continue the fight,โ said the other.
(i)
What made him say that?
Answer: He conceded defeat but was
not mentally prepared to show that he accepted the defeat. He wanted to leave
the place without loss of face. So, he said that he would resume the fight the next
day.
(ii)
Did the fight continue? If not, why not?
Answer: The way Ranji gave a
befitting reply to the other boy was enough to shake the confidence of the
other boy. These type of people are big cowards, so chances are he may not have
returned to the place at all. The way Ranji shows his willingness to make
friends initially indicates towards the possibility of the beginning of a
friendship between them if they happen to meet in future.
5.
What is it that Ranji finds difficult to explain at home?
Answer:
It was difficult for Ranji to explain the cuts and bruises which he had because
of fighting with the boy. Anybody of Ranjiโs age will try to hide fights with
his parents.
6.
Ranji sees his adversary in the bazaar.
(i)
What does he wish to do?
Answer: On seeing his adversary in
the bazaar first of all Ranji wanted to turn his face and later wanted to throw
his lemonade on his adversariesโ face.
(ii)
What does he actually do, and why?
Answer: But instead he stood his
ground and passed comments on the other boy. This was his way of showing that
he did not concede defeat and was ready for another fight. This was to show
that he was a real courageous boy.
7.
Ranji is not at all eager for a second fight. Why does he go back to the pool,
then?
Answer:
Ranjit did not want to miss the joy of swimming in the pool. So, he went back
to the pool.
8.
Who was the better swimmer? How do you know it?
Answer:
The way the boy was surprised after seeing the swimming skill of Ranji tells
that Ranji was a better swimmer.
9.
What surprises the warrior?
Answer:
Ranjiโs diving skills surprise the warrior.
10.
Now that they are at the pool, why donโt they continue the fight?
Answer:
Before resuming their fight they started the usual exchange of war cries. Once
Ranji established his superiority in swimming it all boiled down to the warrior
accepting Ranjiโs superiority which resulted in their friendship.
11.
Ranjiโs superiority over the other boy is evident in the following: physical
strength, good diving, his being a fighter, sense of humour, swimming under
water, making a good point, willingness to help.
Underline
the relevant phrases.
Answer:
All except physical strength as the wrestling ended in a draw.
12.
What according to you, makes the two adversaries turn into good friends within
a matter of minutes?
Answer:
It was a combination of many factors. The first was the realization of warriorโs
part that Ranji was more than a match for him in terms of physical strength and
mental strength. The next was Ranjiโs show of superior swimming and diving
skills. And the final factor is Ranjiโs willingness to befriend people and his
willingness to share things.