Notes For All Chapters English Moments Class 9
Mahendra’s job
Mahendra was a junior supervisor in a firm. The firm offered on hire supervisors at construction sites, factories, bridges, dams, etc. Mahendra’s job was to keep an eye on the activities at the work site. He had to go from one place to another. He was a bachelor. He could adjust himself to all conditions.
Iswaran, Mahendra’s amazing cook
Mahendra had a cook named Iswaran. Iswaran had an amazing capacity. He could produce vegetables and cooking things from nowhere. He would conjure up the most delicious dishes made with fresh vegetables within an hour or so. Mahenflra would go to work early in the morning with some food.
Iswaran’s job
After Mahendra’s departure, Iswaran would make up the shed. He washed the clothes. He would take a bath praying. He used to read a Tamil thriller to doze off after lunch. He had a strange method of narrating stories. His stories had the effect of the thriller.
Iswaran’s method of narrating stories
Iswaran had a strange way of narrating even the smallest incident. He would work up in suspense. He would add a surprising end. This was because he was very imaginative. Mahendra would listen to him uncritically.
Iswaran narrates the story of a tusker
One day Iswaran told a story of a tusker. One day a tusker escaped from the timber yard. It roamed here and there. It tore up creepers and broke branches. Iswaran would get so affected with the story that he would jump about here and there.
The tusker creates panic among the people
The tusker reached a town. It smashed all the stalls of fruits .’People ran here and there. The students hid themselves in the classrooms. The streets were empty. Iswaran was then a junior student. He didn’t know what happened to him. He got a cane and followed the elephant.
How Iswaran concludes the story
The elephant grunted and stamped its feet. The people were hypnotised. Then Iswaran struck the elephant’s toenail. It shivered from head to foot and fell down. A veterinary doctor was called. After two days the tusker was taken by the mahout. Iswaran was asked how he did that. He told that he did so with a Japanese art, karate or ju-jitsu etc.
Iswaran’s other story of a ghost
One day Iswaran told Mahendra something about the place. That factory area was once a burial ground. He himself once came across a human skull lying on the path. He also saw ghosts at night. He was not frightened as he was brave. But there appeared a horrible ghost of a woman. It had matted hair and dried-up face. It was ugly. It held a foetus in its arms.
Mahendra’s reaction
Hearing Iswaran, Mahendra shivered. He called Iswaran crazy. He told him that there were no ghosts. These were the product of the mind. He asked Iswaran to get himself medically examined. Mahendra then retired for the night.
Mahendra was affected
From that time Mahendra had unease every night. Every night he peered into the darkness to see if there was any movement. He always liked to admire the sky on full-moon nights. But after Iswaran’s story he avoided looking out of the window.
Mahendra sees a ghost
One night Mahendra was awakened up from his sleep by a moan. It was near his window. He resisted to look out. But the wailing became louder. He looked out. He saw a dark cloudy form. It was clutching a bundle. He perspired and panted. Later, he thought that it might h&ve been some trick from his sub-conscious mind.
Mahendra decides to leave the place
Next morning, Mahendra was ready to go to office. The horror of the night had faded. But Iswaran came to him. He told him about the ghost. He told Mahendra that he also heard the moan the previous night. He saw him (Mahendra) see the ghost himself. A chill went down Mahendra’s body. He went to office the next morning. He handed in his papers. He had determined to leave the haunted place the very next day.
pretty useful