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Question 1., , Why are women compared to matchboxes?, , Answer:, , They are compared to matchboxes because like, matchboxes they too contain enough gun powder to make, a hundred Lankas burn. But they sit around meek and, innocent in the kitchen, in the pantry, in the bedroom, in, fact in any place., , Question 2., , What makes Nomita furious?, , Answer:, , Ajit’s habit of reading letters addressed to her makes her, furious. Sometimes he does not even show her the letters., She tried many things to stop him from that habit. She, showed anger, took offence, tried to shame him and used, sarcasm. Nothing worked. He just laughs it away., , Question 3., , What is the suspicion in Nomita’s mind?, , Answer:, , The suspicion in Nomita’s mid is that Ajit does not give, her all the letters that are addressed to her., , Question 4., , What is called an ‘ugly habit’? Why?, , Answer:, , The habit of Ajit opening and reading the letters, addressed to Nomita is called the ugly habit. He says that
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he does it because he wanted to make sure that someone, does not send her love letters. She tried many things to, stop him from this habit. But nothing worked., , Question 5., , How does Ajit react when Nomita mentions about his, ugly habit?, , Answer:, , When Nomita mentions about his ugly habit he tries to, laugh it away and if the laughter does not get him out of, trouble, he scolds her., , Question 6., What are the expectations of Nomita’s mother?, , , , Nomita’s mother needs money from Nomita and Ajit. In, her letters she complains of the problems in her house. In, the last letter she wrote that the ceiling of her room is, cracked and the rainwater falls in. If this is not remedied, she may die as the roof comes crashing down. She does, not mind death. Herdaughter is a queen and her son-inlaw is high minded and large-hearted. In short she wanted, money to get the ceiling repaired., , Question 7., , Comment on Ajit’s attitude towards his mother-in-law., Answer:, , He has only contempt for her. How can a woman go on, asking for help from her son-in-law? She always asks for
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money and then says her daughter is a queen. Ajit says, Nomita’s mothen’a dung-picker. He says whenever, letters come from her, there is no need to read them, but, just go to the post office and fill in the moncy-order form!, Question 8., , What makes Nomita call Ajit a liar? Is her action, justifiable?, , Answer:, , When Nomita asked Ajit why her letter was not given to, her, he says he had just forgotten it. This makes Nomita, call him a liar. Her action is justifiable. Nobody has a, right to read the letter addressed to another person without, his/her knowledge. Here Ajit not only reads the letters, addressed to Nomita, he does not even give her the letters., , Question 9., , Comment on the simile in ‘Nomita hisses like a snake’., Answer:, , It is a fine simile. Nomita is very angry with Ajit for not, showing her letter to her. She calls him a liar when he, says he was planning to give it to her later. A snake hisses, when it is very angry and when it is about to strike. Here, Nomita hisses the word ‘liar’ as if a snake was hissing., , Question 10., How do you think Ajit would react if Nomita reads the
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letters addressed to him?, , Answer:, , Ajit would be angry. If there is perfect love and, understanding between the husband and wife, there is no, harm in one reading the letters addressed to the other., However, etiquette forbids it. Moreover such perfect love, can be found only in books!, , Question 11., , What is the ‘poisonedknife’?, , Answer:, , The poisoned knife is the anger Nomita has shown. She, calls him a common, vulgar man., , Question 12., , How does Nomita frighten Ajit?, , Answer:, , Nomita frightens Ajit by picking up a matchbox lying, near and lighting a matchstick and touching it to her sari., The sari flares up., , Question 13., , What is the plight of Nomita in the family?, , Answer:, , Her plight is bad. He often fights with her husband Ajit., Her other sisters-in-laws tease her for spending too much
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time with her husband, instead of helping them in the, household chores., , Question 14., , Comment on the expression ‘forest of people’. What does, it tell us about the structure of Indian joint families?, Answer:, , The author has used a very good metaphor in calling the, joint family where Nomita and Ajit live as a forest of, people. There are 26 members in that family. The writer, has said Ajit gets the key to the letter box through the, gaps among 52 hands! In a forest, some trees grow very, tall but some get choked! There is no sufficient space for, everyone to grow properly., , THINK AND WRITE, , Question 1., , Sketch the character of Nomita. You may analyze the, sentences given below:, , Why, why does she keep on begging like this?, , “Stop it! What a common, vulgar man you are!”, , Nomita laughs a laugh that can bring an attractive flush to, a white face., , Answer:, , Nomita is the wife of Ajit. They live in a joint family., Altogether there are 26 members in that family. Nomita
