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Suddenly, the wind sprang up again and brought the rain with a rush against her face. It was cold, stinging rain. She could hardly keep her eyes open.
The wind grew in force. It hummed and whistled. Usha did not have to fight against it. It was behind her now, and helped her along, up the steep path and on to the brow of the hill.
There was another flash of lightning, followed by a peal of thunder. The ruins looked up before her, grim and forbidding.
She knew there was a corner where a piece of old roof remained. It would give some shelter. It would be better than trying to go on. In the dark, in the howling wind, she had only to stay off the path to go over a rocky cliff edge.
Who – whoo – whooo, howled the wind. She saw the wild plum tree swaying, bent double, its foliage thrashing against the ground. The broken walls did little to stop the wind.
Usha found her way into the ruined building, helped by her memory of the place and the constant flicker of lightning. She began moving along the wall, hoping to reach the sheltered corner. She placed her hands flat against the stones and moved sideways. Her hand touched something soft and furry. She gave a startled cry and took her hand away. Her cry was answered by another cry – half snarl, half screech – and something leapt away in the darkness.
It was only a wild cat. Usha realized this when she heard it. The cat lived in the ruins, and she had often seen it. But for a moment she had been very frightened. Now, she moved quickly along the wall until she heard the rain drumming on the remnant of the tin roof.
Usha found her way into the ruined building, helped by her memory of the place and the constant flicker of lightning. She began moving along the wall, hoping to reach the sheltered corner. She placed her hands flat against the stones and moved sideways. Her hand touched something soft and furry. She gave a startled cry and took her hand away. Her cry was answered by another cry – half snarl, half screech – and something leapt away in the darkness.
It was only a wild cat. Usha realized this when she heard it. The cat lived in the ruins, and she had often seen it. But for a moment she had been very frightened. Now, she moved quickly along the wall until she heard the rain drumming on the remnant of the tin roof.
Explanation:
Again the wind started with rain and hit on her face. It was cold, and due to rain, she could hardly open her eyes.
Now the wind grew more, and it made a noise like a hum or a whistle. Usha was being pushed up towards the hill by the strong winds.
There was another thunder and lightning, and she could see the ruins unwelcoming and unsympathetic.
Usha knew there was a roof on one corner that can give her some shelter as it would be better than going on towards her village. It was dark, and she had to go through the rocky cliff.
Now the wind grew more, and it made a noise like a hum or a whistle. Usha was being pushed up towards the hill by the strong winds.
There was another thunder and lightning, and she could see the ruins unwelcoming and unsympathetic.
Usha knew there was a roof on one corner that can give her some shelter as it would be better than going on towards her village. It was dark, and she had to go through the rocky cliff.
The wind started to make noise again like who - whoo - whooo. Usha saw how the plum tree was swaying due to the heavy wind, and it almost bent to the ground.
Usha reached the ruins with the help of the lightning and some memory. She moved along the wall to reach the place to hide from the wind. She walked through the stones and slowly moved sideways. She touched something soft, and with a startle, she screamed and removed her hand. Someone answered her, it cried and went away.
It was none other than a wild cat. Usha was now clear after she heard the cry. That cat lived there, and Usha has often seen it there. But at that moment she was frightened. Now, she started walking quickly towards the roof. She heard the rain on the roof, making a noise like a drum.
Usha reached the ruins with the help of the lightning and some memory. She moved along the wall to reach the place to hide from the wind. She walked through the stones and slowly moved sideways. She touched something soft, and with a startle, she screamed and removed her hand. Someone answered her, it cried and went away.
It was none other than a wild cat. Usha was now clear after she heard the cry. That cat lived there, and Usha has often seen it there. But at that moment she was frightened. Now, she started walking quickly towards the roof. She heard the rain on the roof, making a noise like a drum.
Meanings of difficult words:
Numbers | Word | Meanings |
1. | Forbidding | Unwelcoming. |
2. | Peal | Reverberating sound of thunder. |
3. | Howling | Producing a cry sound. |
4. | Flicker | Glimmer. |
5. | Drumming | The action of playing a drum. |
6. | Remnant | Remains. |
Reference:
State Council of Educational Research and Training (2019). Term-1 English Standard-7. The Wind on Haunted Hill by Ruskin Bond (pp. 25-34). Published by the Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation.
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