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When Ranji got home, he found it difficult to explain the cuts and bruises that showed on his face, leg and arms. It was difficult to conceal the fact that he had been in an unusually violent fight, and his mother insisted on his staying at home for the rest of the day. That evening, though, he slipped out of the house and went to the bazaar, where he found comfort and solace in a bottle of vividly coloured lemonade and a banana leaf full of hot, sweet jalebis. He had just finished the lemonade when he saw his adversary coming down the road. His first impulse was to turn away and look elsewhere, his second to throw the lemonade bottle at his enemy. But he did neither of these things. Instead, he stood his ground and scowled at his passing adversary. And the warrior said nothing either but scowled back with equal ferocity.
Explanation:
After the fight, Ranji returned home. While he reached home, he found himself in a difficult situation where he couldn't explain all of the cuts, scratches, and injuries on his body to his mother. Also, he thought it was not good to reveal that he had been involved in a fierce fight with a stranger. The reason behind the statement was that when his mother learnt about his fight with an unknown person in the new town, she would not allow him to go outside. After seeing the injuries on his face and body, his mother asked him to stay at home.
On the other hand, Ranji disobeyed his mother's orders and walked out of the house unnoticed. Later, he went to the bazaar in the evening. From the bazaar, he ordered the lemonade and hot jalebis. The bazaar's brightly coloured lemonade and hot, sweet jalebis served on a banana leaf provided him with warmth and pleasure. It implies that the lemonade and tasty jalebis gave him comfort to get rid of his sadness or pain.
Lemonade and Jalebis
Later, Ranji saw his enemy approaching down the road as he finished his lemonade. While seeing the boy, Ranji's mind wandered with different thoughts. His first thought was to spin around and look in the opposite direction. Secondly, he had the notion of throwing the lemonade bottle at his approaching enemy. However, he resisted and did not act on his foolish thoughts. Ranji made the statement because he knew it was not a good act. As a result, Ranji remained silent in the bazaar.
On the other hand, Ranji stared angrily at his enemy. Later, the Warrior walked straight past Ranji, giving him angry glances accompanied by equal aggressiveness. It implies that they were expressing their hatred and vengeance towards one another.
Meanings of the difficult words:
| S.No | Words | Meanings |
1 | Bruise | An injury or mark where the skin has not been broken but is darker in colour, often as a result of being hit by something |
2 | Conceal | To prevent something from being seen or known about |
3 | Solace | Comfort or consolation in a time of distress or sadness |
4 | Scowl | To look at someone or something with a very annoyed expression |
5 | Adversary | An enemy |
6 | Ferocity | The state of being frightening and violent |
7 | Bazaar | An area of small shops and people selling things, especially in West and South Asia, or any group of small shops or people selling goods of the same type |
Reference:
National Council of Educational Research and Training (2008). It so happened. The Fight- Ruskin Bond (pp. 45-54). Published at the Publication Division by the Secretary, National Council of Educational Research and Training, Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi.
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