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     The baker made his musical entry on the scene with the ‘jhang, jhang—sound of his specially made bamboo staff. One hand supported the basket on his head and the other banged the bamboo on the ground. He would greet the lady of the house with a “Good morning” and then place his basket on the vertical bamboo. We kids would be pushed aside with a mild rebuke and the loaves would be delivered to the servant. But we would not give up. We would climb a bench or the parapet and peep into the basket, somehow. I can still recall the typical fragrance of those loaves; loaves for the elders and the bangles for the children. Then we did not even care to brush our teeth or wash our mouths properly. And why should we? Who would take the trouble of plucking the mango leaf for the toothbrush? And why was it necessary at all? The tiger never brushed his teeth. Hot tea could wash and clean up everything so nicely, after all!
Explanation:
 
Usually, the baker would enter while making a 'jhang jhang' sound with a bamboo stick. Additionally, the baker would typically bang the bamboo stick on the ground with one hand while supporting his bread basket with the other. The baker would visit every home, say "good morning" to the ladies there, and sell his loaves. The narrator says that children would be warned to keep their distance while buying the loaves and that the servants would receive the purchased bread. Even still, the kids would not give up and would climb a bench or a parapet to see inside the baker's basket. The narrator says he still remembered the aroma of the loaves and bangle-breads the baker used to bring for elders and kids during his boyhood. He also claims to be able to recall the events.
 
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The Baker
 
The author once more shares with the readers his funniest memories from his childhood, including the mornings when kids didn't even bother brushing their teeth before eating those bread bangles because they thought it was a waste of time to do so. In those days, kids would pluck mango leaves from branches and use twigs as a brushing material. Additionally, the narrator once believed that brushing was unnecessary because hot tea could easily wash his mouth, and, in addition, creatures like tigers do not brush their teeth.
 
Meaning of difficult words:
 
S.No
Words
Meaning
1.
Rebuke To criticise or disapprove something
2.
Parapet A low protective wall along the edge of a roof, bridge etc.
3.
Fragrance A sweet or pleasant smell
4.
Peep To look quickly and secretly at something
Reference:
National Council of Educational Research and Training (2007). Glimpses of India - A Baker from Goa - Lucio Rodrigues (pp 85-89). Published at the Publication Division by the Secretary, National Council of Educational Research and Training, Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi.