The Journey (Summary and Comprehension Passages)

 Summary

This story is about how the human spirit can fight and survive all-natural and man-made troubles if there is support and trust in each other. The little girl named Tinula had been brought home by the brother two months ago. Now she was on her way back to school. Early morning the squeaks of a small pig had woke her up and now her brother was guiding her back. There was a group of which the two were a part. There were thick jungles, wild animals, rugged mountains, rivers, and the approaching night. The brother asked her, again and again, to walk faster. They came across footprints of elephants and hurried ahead. After covering large parts of rugged terrain on foot, they reached the railway station. The train was packed with people and the two had to struggle hard to find space to sit. They could not even buy tickets. On the way, they had some tea and eatables. They de-boarded  from train at the last station and traveled by car thereafter as they were offered seats in it. By the time they reached the school, it was very late in the night. The Superintendent was angry at the arrival of the two at that hour. She asked the little girl to sleep alongside another girl named Winnie. This idea was not liked by that girl who found this sudden arrival very intrusive. She told Tinula that her boyfriend had a new girlfriend now. This amazed the little girl as she had no such feelings towards that boy. She slept crying though after some years she might not attach any importance to such are mark.

Explain the following passages with reference to the context

1.       At the school, her brother first dropped the tin trunk over the top of the gate, then hoisted Tinula over it, and finally jumped in himself. He then proceeded towards the Superintendent’s bungalow. After much knocking, the lady herself opened the door to her office. She was annoyed at first for having been awakened at this unearthly hour but when she saw the shivering duo, she quietly went inside and came out with a torch saying to Temjenba, ‘You can go now.’ He merely nodded at his sister and without a word retraced his steps towards the gate and the dark night. 

Reference: These lines have been taken from the short story named “The Journey” written by Temsula Ao who is a writer from the North East. These lines describe the late-night scene when the two children arrive at the hostel where the girl studies.

Explanation: The brother helped his sister to get inside by carrying her up and placing her inside the school premises as the gate is shut. It is very late in the night and the in-charge seems unhappy at the late arrival. She ushers in the girl who is stricken with cold. Then she asks the boy to leave. There are no farewell words uttered and the boy goes away. The passage is very touching. The boy brings his sister to the school after a lot of trouble but has to leave unceremoniously.

 

2.     Soon after crossing the river, the road became steep, at first gradually but from a certain point, almost perpendicular. It was more than the girl could negotiate and she sat down on one of the stone steps and began to cry. The others had already gone quite far ahead, so they did not see this. But the brother was worried, he sat down with her for a while and soothed her, pointing to the sun moving towards the west and telling her once again of the dangers lurking in the jungle.

Reference: These lines have been taken from the short story named “The Journey” written by Temsula Ao. She is a writer from the North East. These lines describe the difficulties of the journey which the two children have to cover.

Explanation: Crossing the river, walking up the steep road, the fear of wild animals is some primary danger. The little girl feels tired and weak as the trials on this mountainous path are very demanding. However, the brother seems more practical and mature and coaxes his sister to keep moving as they have the fear of the wild animals in their minds as well. The passage gives an inside view into the life of the people from the hills who face all tests of nature but never give up on each other.

 

Comprehension Passage

Read the passage and answer the following questions

The winter sun was almost setting when Tinula and her brother reached the railway platform. There was no time to purchase tickets; so they simply jumped onto the train and immediately it chugged out of the station. It was one of those suburban trains which stopped at all kinds of stations, sometimes to take in a single passenger and once or twice it stopped even when there was no one. All this while she and her brother were standing, holding on to the window frames to keep from falling.

 

1.      What time was it when the two reached the station?

Ans: It was sunset time when the two reached the station.

2.       Did they purchase tickets? Why?

Ans: No they did not purchase tickets as they reached the station at the last moment when the train was about to leave.

3.      Where did the train halt on the way?

Ans: It halted at all the stations on the way.

4.      Did the two get a seat on the train?

 Ans: No they did not get a seat and had to keep on standing.

Question 1: Discuss the brother-sister relationship.

Ans: The brother-sister bond is very strong and withstands various vagaries of time. The brother is caring and considerate towards the sister and coaxes her to walk fast. He advises her not to waste food and also carries her atop his shoulders. He takes proper care of the sister all through the journey on foot and later by train and car. Although he is not communicative verbally, he takes pains to ensure safety and some comfort for his sister. He safely deposits her in the school and leaves quietly. The brother is mature beyond his years. He is brave and caring. The two share a silent understanding with each other. Their relationship is really strong.