Answer the following questions:
a)In what way was the Sri Krishna Eating House different from the restaurant in Thul?
The restaurant in Thul was open, airy, and had pictures on the wall. It was clean and pleasant. In
contrast, the Sri Krishna Eating House was dirty, dark, smoky, shabby, and unpleasant.
b) What kind of people came to eat at the Sri Krishna Eating House? Why did they come to this
particular restaurant?
The people who came to eat at the Sri Krishna Eating House were mainly poor labourers, coolies, taxi-
drivers, hawkers, beggars, and cart-pullers.
They came to this restaurant because it was the cheapest place in Bombay where they could get food at
a low price, even though the quality was poor.
c) Why was the restaurant in such a dilapidated condition?
The restaurant was in such a dilapidated condition because the owner was poor and careless. He was
busy making money and did not spend anything on cleaning, repairing, or decorating the place. As a
result, it looked dirty, shabby, and full of soot.
d. Why did the two boys in the kitchen not speak to Hari?
They did not speak to Hari because they did not know his language and Hari did not know Hindi or
Marathi. Also, they were too tired from working hard all day.
e.Why did Hari like talking to the old man in the watch shop?
Hari liked talking to the old man because he was kind, friendly, and willing to listen to him. He made Hari
feel less lonely in the big city.
f.What does the phrase ‘safe open-mouthed’ suggest?
It suggests that Hari was surprised, curious, and eager while looking at the clocks and watches in the
shop.
g. Why was the owner of the watch shop more likely to have a pen?
Because the owner had to write down addresses, make notes, and keep records, so having a pen was
part of his work.
HOTS (Higher-Order Thinking Skills)
h. What made Hari both frightened and happy?
Hari was frightened because the city was strange and difficult, but he was happy to find kindness and a
little hope through the old man at the watch shop.
i. In what ways was Jagu, the owner of the shop, kind? What do you think of the way he treated the boys
who worked for him?
Jagu gave Hari food and work even though his restaurant was poor. However, the boys working there
had very hard lives, no fixed working hours, and very little comfort. Jagu was kind to give them
employment, but the treatment was tough and exploitative.
2. Select the Best Answer
a. But the Sri Krishna Eating House did not have so much as a coloured picture of Krishna glued to the
wall. This means—
iii. it had no decoration on the wall.
b. The floor and the two long tables were all black, too, since they all got an even share of soot from the
open stoves. This means—
ii. everything in the place got the same amount of soot.
c. These people seemed to have no fixed working hours. This means—
iii. the people had fixed working hours.
d. They did not speak to each other as they worked. This means—
i. they worked so hard, they had no time to speak.
3. Answer the following with reference to context.
‘The Sri Krishna Eating House was the meanest and shabbiest restaurant Hari had ever seen.’
a. In what way was the restaurant ‘the meanest’? What does this mean?
The restaurant was the meanest because it was the cheapest and dirtiest. It means it had no decoration,
was full of soot, and served poor-quality food.
b. Why was Hari there?
Hari was there because he had come to Bombay in search of work to earn money for his poor family.
b. Then he said, ‘Yes, I can do with another boy in the kitchen.’
i. Who is speaking?
The owner of the Sri Krishna Eating House is speaking.
ii. What did he do just before giving this answer?
He looked the boy (Velu) up and down, noticing his condition.
iii. What was the question asked of him, and by whom?
Jaya asked the owner if he could give Velu a job.
iv. What did the speaker go on to say about the job?
He said that the job was in the kitchen where Velu had to wash dirty dishes.
c. ‘So, a new boy at the Sri Krishna Eating House,’ called the old gentleman.
i. Who was the old gentleman?
The old gentleman was a regular customer at the restaurant.
ii. To whom was the comment made?
The comment was made to Velu.
iii. What did the speaker do immediately after making this comment?
He smiled at Velu and went on to eat his food.
d. Suddenly remembered you had someone to write to, did you?
i. Who is speaking and to whom are the words addressed?
Jaya is speaking, and the words are addressed to Velu.
ii. What made the speaker ask the question?
Jaya noticed Velu holding a letter and staring at it.
iii. What is the letter the speaker refers to?
The letter refers to the one that Velu’s father had written to him.
iv. How did the speaker help?
Jaya helped by reading out the letter for Velu since he could not read it himself.
