An Old Grudge

Ans 1- Ramesh’s mule was in the habit of kicking and did so very hard. That is why he has been described as the ‘ Kicking Mule’.

Ans 2- Ramesh told naresh that the mule could kick a fly off a man without hurting and he was taking him down to he market for betting purpose.

Ans3- ramesh bet naresh five thousand rupees that the mule could kick a fly off his shoulder without hurting. Naresh was fooled easily and readily stood behind the mule for him to kick a fly off his shoulder. As a result , he was kicked violently and rose high up in the air to land on all fours against a rail fence.

Ans 4- naresh exclaimed as he rose in a towering passiohn from his fall that he knew ramesh would lose the bet as his mule could not kick somebody without hurting them. He had told naresh a pack of lies and would have to pay him the sum of the bet which was five thousand rupees.

Ans5- ramesh was sharp and cunning. He had a grudge against his neighbour and fooled him with a clever play of words. He used language skillfully to suit his own purpose and hurt naresh physically and even extorted five thousand rupees from him. Naresh liked to brag and bet. He was a foolish man who could be duped easily by ramesh. Even after being hurt violently by the mule, he does not realize that ramesh has made a fool of him.

                                                Think and Answer

1.     1.  Ramesh encouraged naresh to bet in such a silly manner because he knew that naresh would not be able to resist an opportunity to bet if he could win easilys. He wanted to take revenge as he hekld an old grudge against naresh.

2.    2.   Ramesh chose to be at the mule’s head to instruct him to be completely clear of the  danger of being kicked by the mule.

3.   3.     The bet was misinterpreted with the play of words. Naresh thought the bet meant the mule could kick a fly off a person’s shouldwer without hurting that person. Ramesh claimed it meant  the mule would not be hurt in the whole process.

4.   4.    Naresh described ‘my fault’ as his fault that he had not understood the fact.

5.   5.    Bragging and betting are described as naresh’s weakness as he could not resist a chance to bet on the kicking mule to earn a quick buck. He bragged that it was usual for him to take on such bet very often.

Reference

1 (a) naresh is the speaker.

(b) Ramesh is referred to as “you”

© naresh asked ramesh to try getting a fly kicked off his shoulder by the mule without hurting.

(d) Ramesh said he had to stand at the head of the mule to instruct him. He asked naresh to stand behind the mule. The mule kicked naresh violently into the air.