Iswaran the Storyteller

Think about it

Question 1. In what way is Iswaran an asset to Mahendra?

Answer: Iswaran is an asset to Mahendra in many ways:

i. He cooks delicious dishes, washes his clothes and chats away with his master.

ii. The cook being quite attached to Mahendra follows him wherever he is posted.

iii. He can weave endless stories and anecdotes on varied subjects.

Question 2. How does Iswaran describe the uprooted tree on the highway? What effect does he want to create in his listeners?

Answer: Iswaran describes the uprooted tree on the highway with eyebrows suitably arched and hands held out in a dramatic gesture. He says that the road was deserted and he was all alone; that he Suddenly spotted something that looked like an enormous bushy beast lying sprawled across the road; and that he was half inclined to turn and go back, but as he came closer he saw that it was a fallen tree, with its dry branches spread out.

He wants to create suspense in his listeners.

Question 3. How does he narrate the story of the tusker? Does it appear to be plausible?

Answer: He narrates the story of the tusker in an elaborate way. He says that once a tusker escapes from the timber yard and begins to stamp on bushes, tear up wild creepers and break branches as it wishes. After that It comes  into the main road, and smashes all the stalls selling fruits, mud pots and clothes. It then enters a school ground, where it pulls out the football goal-post, tears down the volleyball net, kicks and flattens the drum kept for water, and uproots the shrubs. Teachers climb up the terrace of the school building and continues to watch the depredations of the elephant.

Iswaran, who also remains there, grabs a stick from the hands of one of his teachers and goes into the open field. He moves forward and mustering all his courage hits its third toenail quickly, which makes it shiver from head to toe and then it collapses on the ground.

It does not appear to be plausible because it is almost impossible for a child to control a mad elephant as even the adults climb up to the terrace of the school building

Question 4. Why does the author say that Iswaran seemed to more than make up for the absence of a TV in Mahendra’s living quarters?

Answer: The author says that Iswaran seemed to more than make up for the absence of a TV in Mahendra’s living quarters because he told his master some story packed with adventure, horror and suspense everyday. Whether the story was credible or not, Mahendra enjoyed listening to it because of the unique way in which it was told.

Question 5. Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits a figment of the imagination. What happens to him on a full-moon night?

Answer: Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits a figment of the imagination when he himself gets shivered by the description of a horrible ghost of a woman with matted hair and shrivelled face, like a skeleton holding a foetus in its arm.

On a full-moon night, Mahendra gets awaken from his sleep by a low moan close to his window. He first thinks it to be a cat prowling around for mice. But the sound seems so guttural that it can’t be of a cat. He resists his curiosity to look outside lest he should behold a sight which would stop his heart. But the wailing becomes louder and less feline. He then lowers himself to the level of windowsill and looks out at white sheet of moonlight outside. He finds a dark cloudy form clutching a bundle, which makes him frightened and sweat, and he falls back on the pillow, panting.

Question 6. Can you think of some other ending for the story?

Answer: The story, as per text, ends with Mahendra leaving the haunted place the very next day when he gets too much frightened.

The story could have ended in another way. As per my opinion, Mahendra could have exposed Iswaran’s fake stories by proving him that he had been quite wrong whatever he had described. So instead of leaving the job by submitting a resignation letter in the office, he should have faced the situation bravely.