9. Explanation of paragraphs 17-19

Explanation:

She did not want to miss even a second with her beloved bear, and does not even move from the cage. She acts in a way a mother would when she visits her son, who stays in a hostel. She takes all his favourite items like chocolates, ice- creams, lemonades, tea and cake. She spent the day with him until it was closing time and they were in a desperate situation to extend their time with each other. But unfortunately for them, it was time to leave and they could not control their emotions. Both the wife and the bear cried bitterly. The curators and the keepers who are generally hardened and drained of emotions, because of working with animals in the zoo, were also depressed.

 

 

The narrator, who witnesses all these scenes, explains that he knew what was in stock for him. He knew his wife well enough to know that his wife would not have the mindset to go back home after this emotional reunion. His wife asks the curator if she could take her bear back with her. The curator who was already in a depressed mood, after witnessing her plight, understands her situation. He tells her that since the bear was in a zoo, which was a government property, he did not have the rights to do so. But he gives her a relief as he says he might help her if the superintendent who resides in Bangalore agrees to her request.

 

They immediately return to Bangalore, in a hope to convince the curator's boss, the superintendent, to give the bear back to them. She pleaded with him with tearful eyes, as she could not bear to lose her beloved bear again. She appealed to him to give him back to her as both the animal and herself were worried and depressed by the separation. The superintendent understands that the bear shares a special bond with her, as she was the one who had taken care of him as a cub. He did not want to carry the guilt of separating the meek animal from his caretaker. He also realizes that the bear was tamed and there was no visible threat to anyone in letting him go. He was kind hearted and sent a letter to the curator asking him to allow her to spend around three hours next to his cage, to shower him with all the love he had missed in the days of separation. He also orders for a cage to transport him from the zoo to the narrator's house.

 

 

Meaning of difficult words: