The Eyes Have It Questions and Answers

Mark-1

Q.1 The narrator was the sole passenger of his compartment upto ?

ns The narrator was the sole passenger upto Rohana where a girl got into it.

Q.2 What instruction did the couple give to the girl?

Ans The couple instructed the girl how to remain in safe and secure during her journey all by herself )in the train.

Q.3 Who did start the conversation in the compartment and how ?

ns The narrator started the conversation by asking the girl what was her destination.

Q.4 “If I would be able to prevent……..” What would the author be able to prevent and how ?

Ans The author would be able to prevent the only other passenger-agirl knowing his blindness by remaining strictly in his own seat.

Q.5 Where would the girl get down and who would come to receive her ?

ns The girl would get down at the Saharanpur station where her aunt would come to receive her.

Q.6 Where was the narrator going to ?

ns The narrator was going to Dehradun and thereafter to Mussoorie.

Q.7 What was according to the narrator the best time to visit Mussoorie and why?

ns According to the narrator, October was the best time to visit Mussoorie because of plentiful hilly flowers, wild dahlias, pleasant sunlight, quiet and lonely roads there at that time.

Q.8 “It was a safe remark.”—What was the safe remark and who made it and about whom ?

ns The narrator made the safe remark about the girl, his only co-passenger in the compartment, that she had an interesting face.

Q.9 What did the narrator think of the girl’s hair?

Ans The narrator could not see the girl’s hairstyle, but guessed that her hair might be in bun, or plaited, hanging loosely, or cut very short.

Q.10 Did the girl impress the narrator and how ?

Ans Yes, the girl impressed the narrator with the lingering fragrance of her hair and her sparkling voice.

Q.11 Who is the writer of the story ‘The Eyes Have It’?

Ans Ruskin Bond is the writer of the story entitled ‘The Eyes Have It’.

Q.12 What type of writing ‘The Eyes Have It’ is? [The Eyes Have It

Ans The writing ‘The Eyes Have It’ is a short story with all its characteristic features.

Q.13 Where was the narrator sitting in the compartment ?

Ans The narrator was sitting in a dark corner of the compartment.

Q.14 pg Who first got into the compartment of the narrator ?

Ans A blind girl travelling to Saharanpur got into the narrator’s compartment first.

Q.15 Where was the narrator going to?

Ans The n narrator was going to Mussoorie via Dehradun.

Q.16 When was the narrator going to Mussoorie ?

Ans The narrator was going to Mussoorie in the month of October.

17.Who came to the station to see the girl off? Q.17

Ans The narrator guessed that perhaps the girl’s parents had come to the station to see her off.

Q.18 Where did the blind girl board the train? Or, At which station did the blind girl get into the train ?

Ans The blind girl boarded (got into) the train at the station Rohana.

Q.19 Where did the girl get down from the train?

Ans The girl alighted from the train at Saharanpur.

Q.20 Upto which station did the narrator travel alone in the train?

Ans The narrator was travelling alone in the train upto Rohana.

Q.21 Who would receive the girl at Saharanpur? Or, Who would receive the blind girl at her destination?

Ans The aunt of the girl would receive her at Saharanpur, her destination.

Q.22 How did the world appear to the narrator and why?

Ans The world appeared to the narrator to be almos dark as he was completely blind.

Q.23 When did the hills of Mussoorie look beautiful after the girl?

Ans According to the girl the hills of Mussoorie looked beautiful in October.

24 Why was the girl startled at the voice of the narrator?

The girl startled because she was completely blind and could not, as such, see or feel the narrator’s presence in the compartment.

26 .Of what was the narrator afraid ?

ns The narrator was afraid of the girl’s knowledge of his (narrator’s) blindness.

Q.27 “Her next question removed my doubt.”What was the next question?

Ans The girl asked him (the narrator) why he did not look outside the window.

Q.28 What sort of train journey was comfortable for the girl?

ns A short train journey was comfortable for the girl.

0.29 What was the game that the narrator played with the girl?

Ans The narrator was pretending that he could see though he was completely blind.

Q.30 Who broke the reverie of the narrator? Or, Who broke into the narrator’s reverie ?

Ans The third passenger who boarded the train after the girl had alighted at Saharanpur broke the reverie of the narrator.

Q.31 What did the narrator ask the new passenger about the girl?

Ans The narrator asked the new passenger how the hair-style of the departing girl was.

Q.32 What did the new passenger notice in the girl?

Ans The new passenger noticed that the girl had beautiful eyes but she was completely blind.

Q.33 What was the best time in Mussoorie ?

Ans In Mussoorie, October was the best time.

Q.34 “She was silent.”-When was the girl silent ?

Ans The girl was silent when the narrator was talking about the charming natural beauty of Mussoorie in October.

35.How did the girl’s voice appear to the narrator?

Ans The voice of the girl appeared to the narrator to be the sparkle of a mountain stream.

Q.36 “The perfume from her hair was tantalising.” -What did the narrator want to do?

Ans The narrator wanted to raise his hand and touch her hair.

Q.37 “The man stammered an apology.”Why did the man stammer an apology ?

Ans The man stammered an apology for his entry into the compartment in place of that lovely young girl.

Q.38 “She was completely blind. Didn’t you notice?”—Why did the speaker ask that question ?

Ans The speaker asked that question because he failed to understand that the narrator of the story was himself completely blind.

Q.39 What does it happen with the people of good eyesight?

Ans The people of good eyesight often fail to see (notice) what is just in front of them.

Q.40 it could be a fascinating game…….” To whom and what could be a fascinating game? “

Ans To the narrator, a blind person, it was a fascinating game to guess what was happening outside.

Q.41 Who entered the compartment at Rohana?

ns At Rohana a blind girl entered the compartment of the narrator of the short story ‘The Eyes Have It’.

Q. 42 Who did come to Rohana to give farewell (to see off) to the girl?

Ans A couple, probably the parentrs of the girl came to Rohana to see her off.

Q.43 What prompted the narrator think that the couple who had come to see the girl off were her parents?

Ans The narrator felt so because the couple who had come to Rohana to see the girl off were very much worried about her well-being.

Q.44 Who gave the girl the detailed instructions at the moment of seeing her off?

Ans At the moment of seeing the girl off the woman probably the girl’s mother gave her the detailed instructions.

Q.45 Why were the narrator’s eyes sensitive to light and darkness?

Ans The narrator was completely blind. So his eyes were sensitive only to light and darkness.

Q.46 How did the blind narrator realise that the girl was putting on slippers ?

Ans The blind narator understood that the girl put on slippers from the sound of the girl’s slipperes slapping against her heels.

Q4 The girl did not notice the narrator. What argument did the narrator give for this?

Ans The girl did not notice the narrator in the same compartment in which the girl took her seat. The narrator showed reason for this that he must have been sitting in the dark corner of the compartment.

What is Bond’s observation on people having good eyesight?

Q.48

Ans Through the eyes of the narrator of the short story ‘The Eyes Have It’ Ruskin Bond observes that the people with good eyesight often fail to notice what is right in front of them. This happens as they have to pay attention to a lot of things.

Q.49 What do blind people take in?

Ans In accordance with the narrator of the short story, ‘The Eyes Have It’, blind people take in only the essentials, whatever registers most significantly on their senses except vision.

50 Why is October the best time in the hills?

Ans According to narrator of the story ‘The Eyes Have It’ the hills in Mussoorie look very beautiful in the month of October. During this time the hills are covered with wild dahlias. Then the sun is delicious. The roads are free and quiet. This is why October is the best time in the hills.

Q.51 What was heard outside when the train drew slowly into Saharanpur?

Ans When the train drew slowly into Saharanpur station, the shouting of porters and vendors along with a high-pitched female voice was heard.

Q.52 How do the narrator answer confidently that he did not see any animal?

Ans The narrator knew that there were hardly animals left in the forests near Dehra. So he answered confidently that he saw no animals.

Q.53 “That always happens.” ―What always happens?

Ans It always happens that the passengers feel to be standing still in the moving train while the trees, lamp posts etc. outside seem to be moving.

Q.54 Why was the narrator prepared to sit in the train for any length of time?

Ans The narrator of the story ‘The Eyes Have It’ was very impressed by the sweet voice of the girl, his copassenger. This is why he was prepared to sit there for almost any length of time.

Q. 55 What is the surprise at the end of the story?

Ans At the end of the story the narrator came to know that the girl, his co-passenger was also blind though he tried his best to conceal his own blindness from the girl all through the journey.

0.56 What, according to the narrator, wastheimpact of the brief encounter on both of them?

ins According to the narrator, the girl, his co-passenger, might forget their brief encounter (conversation) immediately after the end of her journey but it would stay with him even after his journey was over.

Q.57 What, according to the narrator of Ruskin Bond’s story The Eyes Have It’ is the best time to visit the hills? [XII’16] ‘The Eyes Have It’

Ans According to, the narrator of Ruskin Bond’s story ‘The Eyes Have It’, October is the best time to visit the hills.

Q.58 What were the eyes of the narrator in ‘The Eyes Have It’ sensitive to ?

Ans The eyes of the narrator in ‘The Eyes Have It’ were sensitive only to light and darkness.

Q.59 How did the narrator in ‘The Eyes Have It’ describe the voice of the blind girl?

ns The narrator in ‘The Eyes Have It’ described the voice of the blind girl as a sparkle of a mountain stream.

Q.1 Or, Bring out the appropriateness of the title of ‘The Eyes Have It.’ [6]

Explain the title of the short story ‘The Eyes Have It.’

Ans Ruskin Bond’s short story is titled here as “The Eyes Have it’.

The situation is the presence of only two blind passengers in the compartment of a train. The narrator was first all alone there. A girl boarded next at Rohana.

What is more that either passenger tried to conceal his or her blindness to the other. They behaved and talked in such a way as to show that he or she could see normally.

Thus two persons, unaware absolutely of the blindness of the other, talked and behaved in a way to indicate that they had eyes to see. But the grim tragedy was the utter blindness of them both. The title of the story seems here suggestive and justly appropriate. [122 words]

2 Ruskin Bond’s ‘The Eyes Have It’ is described as a short story. What features of a good short story are found herein ?

Ans The short story, as the term ‘short’ suggests is short. Ruskin Bond’s The Eyes Have It is surely a very short story. It is less than four normal pages. Its brief plot is complete in itself with the revelation of the girl’s blindness to the blind narrator.

Again, as a short story, this has actually two characters two blind passengers of a railway compartment.

Bond’s story also has a single situation. This is a railway compartment in which the entire action is enacted

Finally, there is the impressiveness of a good short story. Bond’s story remains impressive in its account of two blind persons as the only passengers of a railway compartment. The ironic ignorance of one blind passenger about the blindness of his fellow passenger is too deep and touching. [131 words ]

Q.3 Bond’s story ‘The Eyes Have It presents an ironic situation in human life. Discuss. Or, Discuss how the tragic irony of fate in human life is brought out in Bond’s story ‘The Eyes Have It. [6]

The situation of Bond’s story is ironic enough. The story centres round the presence of the solely two passengers in a compartment of arunning train. Both of them happened to be blind. Yet, neither of them knew that the other one was blind. In fact, either of them seemed to believe that the other one could see, more fortunate than he or she.

Naturally, each of the two blind persons tried to conceal his or her own blindness to the other one. The irony of the situation is here two. First, both of them were blind, yet neither of them knew the blindness of the other. Second, each of them tried to hide his or her blindness from the other one. But the hard tragic truth came out through a newly boarded passenger finally. [135 words ]

Q.4 Bring out briefly the encounter (a sudden meeting) between the narrator and the girl in compartment of a running train.

Or, Summarise the conversation between the narrator and the second passenger (the blind girl) in the train compartment as described in Ruskin Bond’s short story ‘The Eyes Have It’. [6]

Ans Ruskin Bond’s short story The Eyes Have It begins with an interesting situation. The narrator was travelling all alone in a compartment. At Rohana, a girl boarded.

The narrator was fully blind. He could not see the girl at all. But he could hear the sound of her slippers. He started the talk by asking her of her destination. She was initially surprised, for she, too, was blind. She informed him that she would get down at Saharanpur. The narrator and that girl gradually grew familiar. They began to talk freely about a good many things. The narrator complimented the girl as possessing an ‘interesting face’. The girl also praised him as a gallant young man’.

Finally, their happy journey came to an end. The girl got down at Saharanpur. Bidding farewell to him, she went away with her aunt.

That was the end of the encounter between the narrator and the girl. The interesting thing in the encounter was that both of them were blind, but did not know that hard truth of each other. (177 words )

Q5 Is there any anticipation of the ironical twist in the end during the course of the narrative? Discuss with appropriate instances. [6]

Bond’s short story is a fascinating tale of two blind persons in a lone compartment of a running train. One of the passengers is the narrator, while the other one is a girl, boarding the compartment at Rohana. Both of them, as implied earlier, are stark blind . But none of them has any knowledge or idea of the other’s blindness. Either of them believes that his or her co-passenger has a clear eyesight . What is more, each of them tries to conceal his or her blindness from the other. But this ironic shock at the end, however, has not been left without any hint earlier in the narrative.

First, narrator’s first address leads the girl, to exclaim. “I didn’t know anyone else was here.” Her word is not ‘look’ or ‘see’ but rather ‘know’. Again, on a specific occasion, these two blind persons are found to sit silently facing each other, without any reaction. This implies their blindness. Her question-“Do you see any animals ?”, is equally anticipatory. [168 words]

Q.6 How was the blind narrator impressed by the girl? Did he know of her actual state? [5+1=6]

Ans Ruskin Bond’s short story The Eyes Have It presents an interesting situation. Two blind persons happened to be the sole passengers of a compartment of a running train. The narrator of the story, then completely blind, was the first passenger. A young girl equally blind, boarded the compartment at Rohana afterwards .

The narrator was to go to Mussoorie via Dehradun. But the young girl would get down at Saharanpur. The two passengers remained together for some time. They talked and got familiar with each other.

At Saharanpur, the girl departed, after bidding him adieu (). The narrator wanted to have a single touch of her hair. But she moved away. Only the perfume of her hair remained and lingered a pleasant impression. [122 words]

7 What difference does the narrator of ‘The Eyes Have It’ indicate between a man with eyesight and a blind man ? [6]

Ans Ruskin Bond’s short story The Eyes Have It is about two blind persons. They were the sole passengers in a railway compartment. The narrator himself, then stark blind sat in one corner of the compartment. A young woman next boarded at Rohana.

The second passenger did not note the first passenger. That was mainly because she was blind. But the narrator had no knowledge of her blindness. He regarded her a person, with a clear eyesight, who is capable of seeing everything fully. The range () of his/her vision was naturally much wider . So he or she might omit to observe all things around or close to him or her. A blind person, on the other hand, according to the narrator, could see nothing but possessed an acute power of perception to compensate well the loss of eyesight. [137 words ]

Q.8 “But I liked the sound of her voice, and even the sound of her slippers.”-Bring out and explain the situation. [6]

ns In Ruskin Bond’s short story The Eyes Have It, two blind passengers have a meeting in the compartment of a running train. They are the sole passengers of the compartment for a certain period.

The blind narrator is unable to see the young woman. But he is able to hear her voice, while talking with her guardians outside. He also hears the sound of her moving slippers.

He finds in her voice and movement a rhythmic sound . He is distinctly and deeply impressed by that unseen woman’s presence. [88 words ]

Q.9 How the narrator try to conceal his blindness to the girl? Discuss with instances.

Or, Is the narrator conscious enough not to reveal too much about himself to the girl? Answer with instances. [6]

Ans Bond’s short story The Eyes Have It presents an interesting account of the meeting of two blind persons exclusively in the compartment of a running train. The narrator, a totally blind person, has been present in the compartment from the beginning. At Rohana, a girl boards. She, too, is blind, but the narrator has no idea of the same. He takes her as a person with the eyesight. Naturally, he feels inclined to conceal his blindness from her. He is sitting in a corner.

He expects that the girl can hardly realize him as a blind person. He makes poses to keep up the show of a person with eyesight. He plans to prevent her from discovering his blindness by keeping to his seat and talking cautiously lest she should detect his blindness ). He cannot see her. Yet, he ( compliments her for possessing an interesting face. He is aware that this is a ‘safe’ and pleasing remark for a young woman.

He even moves along his own berth to touch the window ledge. This is, too, for the purpose of concealing his blindness. But the irony of situation is that the second passenger also is blind like him. [198 words]

0.10 How far is Ruskin Bond’s story ‘The Eyes Have It’ has the theme of (or Comment on) ‘seeing’? Discuss with illustrations. [6]

Ans Ruskin Bond’s story presents two passengers exclusively in a compartment of a running train. What is interesting is that both of them are blind. They get familiar and talk freely without knowing that the other one cannot see.

Again, each of them tries to conceal from the other that he or she cannot see. In fact, they take every caution to maintain the pose of seeing, despite complete blinding.

‘Seeing’ is, thus, the vital issue of the narrative. Deprivation from ‘seeing’ is a grave misfortune. The power of seeing is of the utmost importance to those unfortunate blind persons. The end of the story brings out that emphatically through the new passenger’s comment on the girl’s blindness.

Unfortunately he speaks to one who is equally stark blind. It is the question of ‘seeing’ that, matters much in the story. [136 words]

Q.11 Narrate precisely Ruskin Bond’s story The Eyes Have It’. {6}

a Ans Ruskin Bond’s short story ‘The Eyes Have It’ is of two young blind persons none of whom, however, knew that the other one was blind. The story has dramatic beginning in a railway compartment. One passenger, the narrator himself, was already sitting in a coner of the compartment.

Then came the second passenger-a young girl to board.

Soon the two young passengers got familiar and began to talk freely. The girl would get down at Saharanpur, whereas the narrator’s destination was Dehradun and then to Mussoorie. The two talked of the natural beauty of their surroundings and of Musoorie. The two, indeed, had a happy companionship (no doubt, for a short while .

Finally the train reached Saharanpur, the girl’s destination. She got down and bade him goodbye. A new passenger hurriedly entered into the compartment. It was from that new passenger that the narrator, a blind person came to know the hard truth of the blindness of the girl. [121 words]

Q.12 Write a note on Ruskin Bond’s art of characterization in his short story “The Eyes Have It”.

Or, What role do the characters play in the short story ‘The Eyes Have It’ of Ruskin [6] Bond?

ns The short story maintains a strict economy of expression. It is less explanatory, more suggestive . Naturally, its characterization is bound to be sketchy and shadowy. There are only three characters in the story ‘The Eyes Have It’. The narrator, the hero who appears to be outspoken, indulges in a little flattery and is overwhelmed in the warmth of the girl’s companionship.

The girl appears to be full of life, though a little tired of the flattery of the narrator. Both these blind characters, of course, reveal their psychological complexes in hiding their blindness from each other. The third passenger is found to be a casual observer. He, of course, appears like a flash to report the blindness of the girl, concluding the mysterious interest of blindness in the story. [129 words ]

Q.13 Write in brief the narrative technique of Ruskin Bond’s short story ‘The Eyes Have It‘.

Ans The structure used in Ruskin Bond’s short story The Eyes Have It’ bears the spirit of the modern short story perfectly. Here the first person narrative style has been used. The style reveals the narrator as he is, lends credibility To the incidents that took place in the train compartment.

The structure of the story mainly follows sequential progress of time. There is only a short feedback on the author’s visit to the hills of wild dahlias at Mussoorie in October. There is, of course, an ironic twist at the end. The narrator’s attempt at hiding his own blindness from the girl proves ironical when he, along with the readers, come to know the girl’s blindness at the end. The author’s technique of holding the attention and interest of the readers until the end is noteworthy. [136 words ]

Q.14 “I had the train compartment to myself upto Rohana.” -Who was in the train compartment? What was Rohana? What did happen at Rohana? [1+1+4=6]

Ans The narrator of the story, The Eyes Have It, Ruskin Bond had the train compartment to himself.

Rohana was a railway station in the route to Dehra Dhun.

The narrator was all alone in a compartment of the train bound for Derhadhun. Then a gril got in the compartment at the station Rohana. She was accompanied by a couple, possibly his parents. They helped her to board and arrange her belongings. Then they instructed her in details how to be careful about herself and her luggage.

They actually came to see her off. The train soon resumed Its journey. It passed off the platform, leaving behind the couple. (107 words ]

Q 15 “Are you going all the way to Dehra ?” Who did ask and to whom? What did the speaker speak of his destination ? [1+1+4=6]

The question was asked by the narrator of the story, Ruskin Bond, to the second passenger of the compartment, a young girl.

In reply to her query, he said that he was going to Mussoorie. That was the month of October. He told her that that was the best time to visit Mussoorie. The hills there were all then decked with wild dahlias. The sunlight was then all pleasant and enjoyable. The night was cold and roads were lonely. To sit in front of alogfire and sip brandy must be a grand joy . [93 words ]

Q.16 “Then I made a mistake.”-Which mistake is referred to here? How did the speaker get rid of the mistake ? [2+4=6]

Ans The narrator in Ruskin Bond’s story “The Eyes Have It’, though blind, did not like to be known as blind to the girl, his co-passenger. Buthe mistakenly asked the girl about the happenings outside the window. After a moment it struck to his mind that a man having good eyesight should not ask such a question. The girl might suspect his blindness.

Apparently it was a mistake. If anyone puts such a question the listener would try to find out the truth behind this. But the girl, being blind herself, did notice it. On the other hand, the girl tried to keep the fact that she herself was blind away from the narrator by keeping silent. Probably she was also playing the same game. So there was no mistake on the part of the narrator in asking such a question. The girl was very prompt to help him to get rid of his doubt. She asked the narrator to look out of the window.

Q.17 ….. I faced it, making a pretence of studying the landscape.”-What did the speaker pretend? Why did he do so ? What did he actually do instead of studying the landscape outside ? [1+1+4=6] “6

Ans The narrator in Ruskin Bond’s short story ‘The Eyes Have It’ took every effort to conceal the fact that he was without eyesight.

So he took his seat in a dark corner in the compartment. He talked in such a way that nobody could guess that he was blind. But suddenly the narrator asked her about the condition outside the window. He thought that the girl would now easily come to know that he was blind. But the girl could not understand anything as she herself was blind. She told the narrator to look out of the window.

He faced the open window and pretended as if he was studying the landscape. Thus he wanted to avoid the chance of being suspected as a blind man by the girl.

Being completely blind, his eyes were only sensitive to light and darkness. He heard the panting of the engines and the numble of wheels. Though he could see nothing, his mind’s eye provided him with the images of telegraph posts passing by quickly. [173words ]

Q.18 “I wondered if my words had touched her, or whether she thought me a romantic fool.” When did the narrator doubt that he might be thought ‘a romantic fool’ ? [6] –

The narrator in Ruskin Bond’s short story ‘The Eyes Have It’ was alone in a railway compartment till a girl got into the compartment at Rohana. The narrator tried his best to hide from her that he was completely blind. He talked to the girl in such a way as if he was a man with perfect eyesight. When the narrator told the girl that his destination was Mussoorie, the girl showed her love and fascination for this place.

The narrator became very nostalgic about his happy days there. He began to describe the scenic beauty of the hills in October. Particularly his passionate love for the wild dahlias and the pleasant sun beams seemed to be very romantic. The girl remained silent. The narrator thereafter thought that this romantic description made her to take him as a romantic fool.

[138 words]

Q.19 How did the narrator and the girl talk about the scenic beauty of Mussoorie ? [6]

Ans The narrator of Ruskin Bond’s short story ‘The Eyes Have It’ was travelling in a solitary rail compartment with a girl co-passenger. The girl asked him about his destination. In reply the narrator let her know that he was going to Mussoorie via Dehra. With the name of Mussoorie the girl showed her deep love and attraction for the place. She loved the hills of Mussoorie. She thought that the hills there ought to be especially visited in October.

Then calling on his memories, the narrator also told that October was the best time to visit the hills. In October, Mussoorie is adorned with natural beauty. The tourists leave hills and the roads remain quiet and almost deserted. The place becomes calm and quiet. The hills decorate themselves with wild dahlias. The sun is also pleasant. Probably both of them become nostalgic and reflective of the lovely natural beauty of the place. [150 words]

10 20 How did the entry of the girl into the compartment react on the narrator ? What were his immediate guesses and reactions? [2+4=6]

Ans The narrator of Ruskin Bond’s short story had been travelling alone in a solitary train compartment upto Rohana. From there a girl passenger got into the same compartment. With the entrance of the girl passenger, the narrator became conscious about her presence.

The narrator was blind. So he could not see or know how the girl looked like. But the slapping of her slippers made him conscious about her movements. Of course, the narrator could guess about the things all around. He wanted to discover something about the girl’s look. Probably it was quite impossible for him to unfold the mystery. However, with the purpose of having a conversation with the girl, he asked if she was going to Dehra, [120 words ]

Q.21 “They seemed very anxious about her comfort.” – Who were anxious? Whose comfort is referred to here? State the context and say what did they suggest for her comfort [1+1+4=6]

Ans A couple (possibly parents) in the short story ‘The Eyes Have It’ by Ruskin Bond were anxious. The couple came to the Rohana railway station to see their daughter off for Saharanpur.

The comfort of the aforesaid girl as mentioned above, is referred to here.

The couple came to Rohana to see their daughter off They seemed to be the parents of the girl. The narrator of the story felt it from the parent-like care and anxiety of the couple. The parents, especially the mother offered detailed instructions for the girl’s safe journey. She advised her what she should do and what not during her journey in the train. She gave her instructions in respect of her keeping her luggage. She also told the girl when not to lean out of windows and how to avoid an unknown person.

Ans Here ‘she’ refers to the girl, who gets into the narrator’s lonely train compartment at Rohana.

The girl is quite blind. She is not able to see the narrator in her compartment. When the narrator asks the girl if she is going to Dehra, she naturally feels startled.

She expresses a little exclamation and tells that she has been unaware of anyone’s presence. But her exclamation is a little matter, as she seems, to have faced such situations often. [79 words ]

[Q 23 “It’s interesting to be told I have an interesting face. I’m tired of people telling me I have a pretty face.” – Who said this ? To whom and when? What was the reply of the person spoken to ? [XII15] [1+3+2=6]

This was said by the young girl, the second passenger of the narrator’s compartment.

She said the words to the narrator. In course of their talk, the former, thoroughly blind, said, in order to please the latter, that she had an interesting face. In such a context, the young woman made the above approval of the narrator’s remark.

• Of course, the narrator, as a blind person, had no idea of the young girl’s face. What he could do to please her was to add something in support of his observation. He loudly added that an ‘interesting face’ might be ‘pretty’ enough. [101 words]

Q.24 “You are a very gallant young man.” – Who said this and to whom? Why did the speaker say so ? [2+4=6]

Ans The girl, a co-passenger of the narrator in the short story ‘The Eyes Have It’ by Ruskin Bond, said this. She said this to the narrator of the story.

• In course of conversation with the girl, the narrator indulged in praising her for her ‘interesting face’. The narrator was quite aware that most girls preferred flattery. So that girl also would not be able to resist it. The girl heartily accepted his appreciation with a clear admiration for him. The girl took him as a very gallant young man for such a frank remark. While appreciating a girl the narrator did not hesitate any time. Nor did he ask permission. So he was a gallant young fellow. [117 words ]

Q.25 “I was becoming quite daring.”—In what way was the narrator becoming quite daring? How did the girl react? [3+3 =6]

Ans In course of conversation with the girl the narrator became quite frank and free. He was having a free and lively talk with her. His anxieties disappeared. He asked her questions quite daringly. He told her that she had an interesting face. He had a firm conviction that the girl would not be able to resist flattery as most girls were fond of it.

The girl felt quite amused by the remarks of the narrator. She expressed her satisfaction by giving her clear ringing laugh. Not unduly bothered by the remark, she said it was nice to be told that she had an interesting face. She further added that she was tired of people praising her pretty face. [115 words ]

Q 26 Describe how the girl left the train. What was the impact of her departure on the narrator ? [3+3=6]

ns The girl was destined to go upto Saharanpur. There her aunt would be waiting to receive her. So as the train approached Saharanpur, the girl became busy in putting her things together. When the train entered into the station a female voice shouted. The girl bade the narrator goodbye and got down from the train.

It was then the narrator realized how deeply he was charmed by the girl. He wondered if she wore her hair in bun or it was plaited. It might also be hanging loose over her shoulders or it could be short. The narrator was lost in the thoughts of her. The perfume from her hair lingered to indicate that she had been there. [117 words]

Q.27 “Yet I was prepared to sit there for almost any length of time……….”-Why was the narrator prepared to sit there and when ? [2+4=6]

Ans The narrator informed the girl, his co-passenger in

the lone compartment, that she would soon reach the station of her destination. The girl expressed relief that she could not bear to sit in a train compartment for more than two hours.

The narrator was disappointed to know that he would be deprived of her beautiful company. He expressed his desire to talk to her, listen to her ringing laugh and enjoy the sweet perfume of her hair. The girl might forget the brief encounter soon but her memory would remain in the mind of the narrator for long even after her departure. Therefore, the narrator was prepared to sit there for any length of time just to listen to her.

Q.28 “Yes, October is the best time.”-Who said this and to whom? When and what did the speaker say this ? [2+2+2=6] ”

Ans The narrator of the story said this. He said this to the girl, his only co-passenger.

In course of conversation the girl came to know that he was going to Mussoorie. The girl expressed her strong desire to visit Mussoorie and told that she loved the hills there especially in October. That was the occasion for the narrator’s remark.

Recalling the memories, the narrator said that the hills of Mussoorie were covered with wild dahlias in October and the sunlight was very pleasant. At night one could sit in front of the log fire and drink a little brandy. There was no crowd of the tourists. The roads were calm and quiet. That was the best time to go there. [120 words)

Q29 “I thought, then, I would try to laugh for her, but the thought of laughter only made me feel troubled and lonely.”-Who made this remark? Who is referred to as ‘her’? What does the remark reveal about the speaker’s attitude ? [1+1+4=6]

This was remarked by the narrator of the short story ‘The Eyes Have It’ by Ruskin Bond.

●’Her’ refers to the girl, the only co-passenger of the narrator.

●The narrator was completely blind. Blind persons are very sensitive. So also was the case with the narrator of the short story. The thought of laughter was quite painful to him as it probably reminded him of his blindness.

In spite of it, rather than revealing his blindness to the girl, he preferred to laugh for her. It would be futile to cry over deformity that could not be helped. To him it would be fruitful if he would laugh for her and try to make her happy. But the thought of it only made him troubled because once the girl left, he would have nobody to laugh for him in his dark world. That thought ached him. [146 words]

Q.30 Comment on the thoughts of the narrator after the initial talks with the girl co-passenger. [6]

Ans At the initial stage the narrator broke the silence by asking the girl if she was travelling up to Dehra. The girl could not see him as she was completely without eyesight. On hearing an unknown voice, she was startled and replied that she did not know anyone else was there.

That set in motion to the narrator a thought on having eyesight. He said that it often happened that people with good eyesight was careless and failed to see what was right in front of them. The most possible reason for this was that people with good eyesight had too much to attend to and therefore, too much to take in. Naturally, they missed certain things. As against that, people who could not see had to absorb only the essentials that leave an indelible impression on their remaining senses. (140 words ]

Q.31 ‘She was silent.’-Who was silent? What did the narrator and the girl discuss about? What did the speaker guess about the girl being silent ? [1+3+2 =6]

Ans The co-passenger of the narrator was a blind girl. She was silent after having a discussion about the beauty of Mussoorie in October.

During conversation the narrator let his co-passenger, the girl, know that he was going to Mussoorie. As the girl spoke of the beauty of that place in October, the narrator agreed with her. He called up the memories of his past experience. He described how the hills were covered with wild dahlias, bright sun rays fell on the whole valley and at night sitting in front of a logfire one could drink a little brandy. At that time most of the tourists had gone and the roads became quiet, almost deserted.

• On hearing all these from the narrator, the girl remained silent. The narrator guessed perhaps she was touched by his words. He also thought that the silence of the girl meant something different. Perhaps she was thinking him as a romantic fool. [156 words ]

Q.32.Describe in brief the central character of the short story ‘The Eyes Have It’. [‘The Eyes Have It’ [6]

Ans The author Ruskin Bond himself is the main character of the story ‘The Eyes Have It’. The principal character is outspoken. He declares his blindness at the outset of the story. But he could not be truthful to the girl, his co-passenger in the solitary compartment of the train.

In reply to the girl’s query about the beauty of the hills of Mussoorie the blind protagonist calls up the memory of his earlier days. He does not allow her any scope to know about his blindness. This is a sort of psychological complex that the narrator reveals to the readers. In course of his conversation with the girl, he reveals his propensity to indulge into the world of fantasy and imagination.

Q.33 Write a short note on the ending of the short story ‘The Eyes Have It’ [6]

Ans The last sentence of the story consisting of only three words does not draw a conclusion but leaves one in suspense. This is the characteristic feature of a good short story. The actual story begins, as it were, with the last sentence. Different thoughts crowd in our mind. A note of exclamation filters through the interrogative intonation of the last sentence. The third passenger is surprised to know that the narrator did not notice the blindness of the girl.

Likewise the readers are surprised to know that the third passenger could not also come to know that the narrator was completely blind. The conclusion is also important because it leaves a message that all the characters in the story are similar in respect of the loss of eyesight-though from different perspectives. While the narrator and the girl are physically blind the third passenger suffered from being mentally handicapped. He did not have the ability to realize that the narrator was blind. [162 words ]

Q.34 Describe in brief how the girl tried to hide her blindness from the narrator?

ans The girl, the narrator’s only co-passenger in a solitary train compartment, was completely blind. She took every effort to hide her blindness from the narrator. When she heard that the narrator was going to Mussoorie, she got excited like a person having full vision. She asserted that the sights of Mussoorie especially in the month of October were very enchanting.

She could not help expressing her desire to go to Mussoorie in October. But when the narrator called up his memory for describing the October beauty of Mussoorie, the girl became silent. She kept mum intelligently to avoid speaking something which might reveal her blindness. When the narrator asked her about the scene outside the window, the girl intelligently hid her blindness. Instead of describing the scene outside the window she asked the narrator to look out of the window. In such a way the girl tried to hide her blindness from the narrator, as the latter did from her.

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