What, according to the writer, would have been churlish and why?

The story is told from the point of view of

1. the narrator’s daughter
2. the author
3. the Kabuliwallah
4. One of the characters in the story

The story seems to be about

1. The relationship between Mini and the Kabuliwallah
2. the relationship between the narrator and the Kabuliwallah
3. the marriage of Mini
4. The difficulties faced by the Kabuliwallah in a strange country far from his home.

Read the story again and find these significant details.

1. The name of the narrator’s daughter
2. The Kabuliwallah’s Name
3. The Kabuliwallah’s home country
4. The Kabuliwallah’s occupation
5. How old the narrator’s daughter was when she first met the kabuliwallah
6. Three words/phrases to describe the physical size of the Kabuliwallah
7. The City in which the story is set
8. The season of the year in which the girl’s marriage took place
9. The name of the Kabuliwallah’s daughter
10. What was on the piece of paper which the Kabuliwallah carried close to his heart

… but she would not be tempted, and only clung the closer to me, with all her doubts increased. This was their first meeting.

1. Describe the first meeting between Rahmun and Mini.
2. Why do you think she was frightened of him? How did the Kabuliwallah overcome the girl’s fear and make friends with her?
3. How did Mini’s mother react to this friendship? How did her husband respond to her fears?

We, being a little new-fangled, had kept these things from our child ....

1. What does the narrator mean by ‘a little new-fangled’?
2. What had he ‘kept’ from his child?
3. What does this tell you about the narrator and his wife?

When the Kabuliwallah told Mini that he would thrash his father-in-law, both of them laughed at the joke. Did both of them laugh for the same reason, however? Explain.

Describe the two other occasions when the ‘father-in-law’ joke was repeated. In what way were the circumstances at these times different from the first time the joke was shared between the two? 

What is the narrator’s first reaction when Rahmun, newly released from Jail, comes to visit him? What was his initial reaction when Rahman asked to see Mini? What makes him change his mind?

The Kabuliwallah looked a little staggered at the apparition. He could not revive their old friendship. At last he smiled and said: ‘Little one, are you going to your father-in-law’s house?’ But Mini now understood the meaning of the word ‘father-in-law’, and could not reply to him as of old.

1. Describe the apparition seen by the Kabuliwallah. What does the author mean by saying that the Kabuliwallah was staggered? Why did he feel this way?
2. What do you think are the feelings of Rahmun at this time? Explain clearly why he would be experiencing these feelings.
3. What are the feelings of Mini’s father for Rahmun at this time? What does he go on to do?

Select from the three options that follow each of the sentences given below, the phrase or word that means the same as the highlighted portions of the sentences

The man accepted the money without demur, and slipped in into his pocket.

1. eagerly
2. hesitantly
3. In a matter-of-fact manner

Select from the three options that follow each of the sentences given below, the phrase or word that means the same as the highlighted portions of the sentences

The man’s face fell. He was

1. disappointed
2. angry
3. frightened

Select from the three options that follow each of the sentences given below, the phrase or word that means the same as the highlighted portions of the sentences

... but I found he was returning of his own accord.

1. because he had been called back
2. voluntarily
3. eagerly

Select from the three options that follow each of the sentences given below, the phrase or word that means the same as the highlighted portions of the sentences

Mini came, and stood bashfully before me.

1. Sadly
2. in a shy manner
3. aggressively

Select from the three options that follow each of the sentences given below, the phrase or word that means the same as the highlighted portions of the sentences

I had to curtail some of the festivities...

1. reduce
2. increase
3. cancel

Select the phrase or word that means the opposite of the highlighted words in the sentences below.

Mini would go off into peals of laughter, in which her formidable friend would join.

1. comical
2. fierce-looking
3. tiny and harmless

Select the phrase or word that means the opposite of the highlighted words in the sentences below.

He held up his fettered hands.

1. bloody
2. free
3. bound

Select the phrase or word that means the opposite of the highlighted words in the sentences below.

After the rains, there was a sense of ablution in the air, and the sun-rays looked like pure gold.

1. pollution
2. purification
3. freshness

Select the phrase or word that means the opposite of the highlighted words in the sentences below.

From early morning noise and bustle had pervaded the house.

1. disappeared from
2. filled
3. entered

Select the phrase or word that means the opposite of the highlighted words in the sentences below.

... the ladies of the house were despondent at it

1. happy
2. disappointed
3. angry

I forgot that he was a poor Kabuli fruit-seller, while I was – but no, what was I more than he? He also was a father.

1. Mini’s father recognizes that, in spite of the difference in their respective social positions, both he and the Kabuliwallah share the common bond of fatherhood. How does the author show this in the story? In what way are the two fathers similar to one another and in what way are they different?
2. How important is it, in the 21st century, for people to overcome their prejudices, built on differences of nationality, race, culture and religion and to recognize that all people share a common humanity?

How important is it, in the 21st century, for people to overcome their prejudice, built on differences of nationality, race, culture and religion and to recognise that all people share a common humanity?

Write a letter from the Kabuliwallah to his daughter telling her that he is coming home, describing the circumstances that have made this possible and expressing his impressions of Mini’s father.