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Short Summary of the chapter: A Short Monsoon Diary
The chapter A Short Monsoon Diary is written by Ruskin Bond. It tells about his experiences during the monsoon in Mussoorie.
On June 24, the first mist of monsoon covers the hills. The forest becomes silent. Only Bijju’s voice is heard, but he is not seen.
On June 25, warm and humid rain falls. A cobra lily plant appears. The mist gives a feeling of privacy. Ruskin calls the valley “a paradise that might have been.”
On June 27, a leopard attacks a dog and tries to catch a cow but fails. Leeches, scarlet minivets, and drongos also appear.
On August 2, rain falls the whole night. Ruskin hears the rain on the tin roof and feels peaceful.
On August 3, the rain stops. A crow shakes off water. A whistling thrush sings sweetly from the valley.
On August 12, it rains endlessly. Everything becomes wet and soggy. Flowers like wild balsam and begonias bloom.
On August 31, the cobra lily’s seeds turn red. This shows the monsoon is ending. Ferns stay green. Flowers like ground orchids and dahlias cover the slopes. A shrew enters the house. The grandmother says shrews bring luck, and Ruskin receives a cheque.
On October 3, monsoon ends and winter rain begins. Snow falls on higher mountains. After a hailstorm, the sky looks golden.
On January 26, during winter rain, Ruskin feels lonely. The trees look grey and scary in the mist.
On March 23, winter ends with a big hailstorm. After that, a rainbow appears in the sky.
Throughout the diary, Ruskin Bond shows love for nature and finds beauty in every season.
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Detailed Summary of the chapter: A Short Monsoon Diary
1. The Beginning of the Monsoon (June 24) :On 24th June, the first mist of the monsoon covers the hills of Mussoorie. The forest becomes completely silent. Before the mist came, the trees were full of birds singing. Now everything becomes very quiet. Ruskin Bond feels the mist makes the hills look sad. He hears Bijju calling out to his sister but cannot see him because the mist is very thick.
2. Warm Rain and Cobra Lily (June 25) :On 25th June, real monsoon rain falls. It is warm and humid, not cold like before. The plants seem happy, and a cobra lily plant shows its head among the ferns. The mist gives a feeling of privacy, as it hides everything around. A schoolboy asks Ruskin Bond to describe the hill station. Ruskin says it is “a paradise that might have been,” showing its beauty and sadness at the same time.
3. A Leopard and Leeches (June 27) :On 27th June, new visitors come because of the rain. A leopard takes away a dog from near the servants’ quarters. It also tries to attack one of Bijju’s cows but runs away when Bijju’s mother screams at it. Leeches also come in large numbers. Ruskin gets used to them and their bloodsucking. Colourful birds like scarlet minivets (red males and yellow females) appear in the trees. But drongos, aggressive black birds, chase them away. A tree creeper is also seen climbing an oak tree and eating insects.
4. Rainy Nights and Sweet Sounds (August 2 and 3) :On 2nd August, it rains heavily all night. The rain falls on the tin roof and makes a soft drumming sound. Ruskin enjoys reading and sleeping with this sound. On 3rd August, the rain stops. The sun shines a little. Ruskin hears the sad cawing of a crow. Then he hears the beautiful song of a whistling thrush from deep inside the valley, making him happy.
5. Endless Rain and Flower Bloom (August 12) :By 12th August, it has been raining without stopping for eight or nine days. Everything is wet and soggy. Ruskin cannot go outside, so he watches umbrellas moving on the street. Though the rain is endless, it is not cold. The hills are now lush and green. Flowers like wild balsam, begonias, dahlias, and ground orchids start blooming, covering the hills with colour.
6. The End of Monsoon Signs (August 31) :On 31st August, the monsoon is almost ending. The seeds of the cobra lily turn red, which shows that the rains are going to finish. Ferns are still fresh and green but will soon start turning yellow. Many beautiful flowers like ground orchids, lady’s slippers, and white butterfly orchids are blooming. Wild dahlias grow out of rocks with red, yellow, and magenta colours. Because of flooding, snakes and rodents come out of their holes and hide in houses. A shrew comes into Ruskin’s house, and the grandmother says that shrews bring good luck. Soon after, Ruskin receives a cheque by mail.
7. Winter Rain Begins (October 3) :On 3rd October, without much warning, winter rain starts. Snow falls on the higher mountains. After a hailstorm, the sky and the hills glow with a beautiful golden light. It looks magical and different from the rainy season.
8. Lonely Feelings During Winter Rain (January 26) :On 26th January, it rains again in winter. Ruskin is alone in the house. The rain falls steadily on the leaves, lemons, roof, and windows. The mist surrounds the house like a soft touch. Ruskin feels very lonely and sad. The trees look grey and scary. The silence inside the house makes him feel even more alone.
9. End of Winter and Rainbow (March 23) :On 23rd March, winter finally ends with a strong hailstorm. The sky turns dark, and hailstones fall like marbles. After the storm, the sky clears up quickly. Ruskin sees a bright and beautiful rainbow forming in the sky, which makes him happy.
10. The Beauty of Nature Throughout the Year :Throughout the diary, Ruskin Bond shares how every change in weather brings new beauty. Whether it is rain, winter, or spring, nature always has something lovely to show. He teaches us to enjoy and find happiness in these small, natural changes.
Pointwise Summary of the chapter: A Short Monsoon Diary
1. The first mist of monsoon covers Mussoorie on 24th June, making the hills silent and hiding Bijju from view.
2. Warm rain falls on 25th June, and a cobra lily plant appears happily among the green ferns.
3. On 27th June, a leopard lifts a dog, attacks a cow but runs away when Bijju’s mother shouts; leeches and colourful birds like minivets and drongos are also seen.
4. Heavy rain on 2nd August falls all night on the tin roof, making a soft sound that helps Ruskin read and sleep.
5. On 3rd August, after rain stops, the sun appears and the sweet song of a whistling thrush is heard.
6. On 12th August, it rains endlessly for eight or nine days, making everything damp, but many flowers like balsam and dahlias bloom.
7. On 31st August, the cobra lily’s seeds turn red, showing the end of the monsoon; snakes and rodents take shelter in houses.
8. On 3rd October, winter rain starts suddenly, and after a hailstorm, the sky glows golden.
9. On 26th January, during winter rain, Ruskin feels very lonely as trees turn grey and mist surrounds the house.
10. On 23rd March, a strong hailstorm clears the sky, and a rainbow appears, bringing joy at the end of winter.