Q1: Why did Grandpa dislike living in the city with his daughter?
Ans: Grandpa had spent most of his life in a small, quiet town and disliked the noise and bustle of city life. He missed his brick house with its large mango tree and peaceful evenings. The cramped flat felt suffocating, and his daughter’s insistence that he not go out alone made him feel like a prisoner, which deeply wounded his sense of dignity as someone who had lived self-sufficiently for decades.
Q2: Why did Vidya not want her father to go out alone?
Ans: Vidya had genuine reasons to worry. Grandpa had recently taken a double dose of medicine due to forgetfulness, which resulted in a hospital admission. He had also once forgotten the way home during a walk and had slipped and fallen in his garden at night, remaining there until morning without assistance. These incidents convinced Vidya that Grandpa could not safely go out alone. Her restriction was motivated entirely by love and concern for his safety.
Q3: Was Ravi in favour of his mother treating Grandpa like a child? How can you say so?
Ans: No, Ravi was not in favour. He winced at his mother’s overly loud, patronising tone when speaking to Grandpa. He felt embarrassed because he respected his grandfather’s intelligence and dignity. When Grandpa accused his mother of treating him like a baby and a prisoner, Ravi quickly responded, “Of course not, Grandpa. Mamma would never treat you like a baby … or a prisoner,” which shows he was aware of the issue and tried to protect his grandfather’s feelings.
Q4: Would Ravi be able to keep up his promise to his mother?
Ans: Ravi faced a difficult dilemma. He could not force Grandpa to stay without making him feel like a prisoner, so he followed him secretly. However, this plan failed; Ravi encountered several embarrassing situations and ultimately lost track of Grandpa on the bus. Although his intention was sincere, he was not fully able to keep his promise. Fortunately, Grandpa returned home safely on his own.
Q5: Was Grandpa lost as feared by Ravi’s mother?
Ans: No, Grandpa was not lost. Despite Ravi’s frantic searching, Grandpa made his way home entirely on his own and was peacefully asleep when Ravi arrived. This demonstrated that Grandpa was far more capable and resourceful than his family had believed. He navigated the city, enjoyed his outing, returned safely, and even had gifts prepared.
Q6: How would Ravi feel after seeing Grandpa?
Ans: Ravi would feel an enormous wave of relief and joy. After a day of anxiety, embarrassment, and finally losing Grandpa on a bus, finding him sleeping soundly would have lifted a tremendous burden. The story states that Ravi was “overcome with affection” and hugged his grandfather, resting his cheek against the old man’s wrinkled face, which reveals not only relief but also deep love and renewed appreciation.
Q7: Do you think Ravi’s mother will get to know about what had happened?
Ans: Grandpa revealed just enough to expose Ravi’s absence by saying, “I had a quiet morning, but I don’t know about Ravi. He just disappeared instead of staying at home to look after me,” without disclosing his own adventure. Vidya learned that Ravi had left the house but was not told the full story. The gift of a detective story book was Grandpa’s witty private signal to Ravi, a secret shared only between the two of them.
Q8: Describe how Ravi’s emotional reaction upon finding Grandpa safe at home reveals his feelings towards his grandfather. Ans: Ravi knelt beside the bed and gently pressed his cheek against his grandfather’s wrinkled face, taking in the familiar smell of eucalyptus ointment. He was “suddenly overcome with affection” and hugged Grandpa. This instinctive, tender behaviour reveals a profound emotional bond. After a day of frantic worry, the relief transformed instantly into an outpouring of love, showing that Ravi’s feelings for his grandfather are warm, genuine, and deep.
Q9: What might be the significance of Grandpa’s habit of giving gifts to everyone on his birthday rather than receiving them?
Ans: This habit reveals a generous, giving spirit. Grandpa derives greater pleasure from making others happy than from being celebrated himself. It also shows he still considers himself the patriarch and caretaker, challenging the story’s premise that he is frail and dependent. Most notably, it turns the tables on Vidya: Grandpa remembered his own birthday tradition perfectly while she had forgotten it entirely.
Q10: Why do you think Grandpa gave Ravi a detective story book as a gift? What might this suggest about Grandpa’s awareness of Ravi’s actions earlier in the day?
Ans: The gift of The Best Detective Stories, along with the pointed remark about picking up “tips on how to avoid getting fooled when trailing a suspect,” is Grandpa’s sly, affectionate way of telling Ravi he knew he was being followed all along. The “twinkle” in Grandpa’s eye confirms he was being mischievous, not oblivious. He had likely spotted Ravi at one or more stops and had deliberately given away his cap in the barber shop to mislead him.
Q11: Why was Ravi worried about what Grandfather had at the tea stall?
Ans: Grandpa consumed several things specifically forbidden by the doctor, including sugary tea, two bananas (“another banned item”), and an ice cream. Ravi knew his mother would be alarmed, since these items were prohibited due to Grandpa’s health condition. Watching his grandfather gleefully indulge in everything he was not supposed to have, while hiding behind a car, Ravi could only think of his mother’s likely reaction.
Q12: ‘Ravi is a good detective’. Give one argument in favour of and against the given statement.
Ans:
- In favour: Ravi shows persistence and resourcefulness — despite numerous setbacks, he never gave up, always found new hiding spots, and tracked Grandpa through multiple locations with genuine commitment.
- Against: In practice, Ravi drew far too much attention to himself, was removed from multiple locations, and was fooled into chasing the wrong person. Grandpa knew he was being followed and evaded him entirely, which clearly indicates that Ravi failed as a detective.
Q13: Was Grandfather aware that Ravi was following him? How do you know?
Ans: Yes, Grandpa was certainly aware. The clearest evidence is the gift of The Best Detective Stories with the pointed remark about “tips on how to avoid getting fooled when trailing a suspect,” which directly references the day’s events. The narrator notes a “twinkle” in Grandpa’s eye, which the context makes clear was mischievous. He had likely spotted Ravi at one or more stops and deliberately given away his cap in the barber shop to mislead him.
Q14: In your opinion, who needs Vitamin-M? And why?
Ans: Metaphorically, the person who most needs Vitamin-M is Ravi’s mother, Vidya. She has forgotten the most important things: that Grandpa is an intelligent, dignified human being who managed his own life for 75 years; that his “failing memory” does not define his entire personhood; and that her own memory of his cherished traditions was itself faulty. The story gently reminds us that caring for the elderly must include caring for their dignity, and that memory is not the only measure of a person’s worth.
Q15: Why did Grandpa come to the city despite his dislike for city life?
Ans: Grandpa came to the city because his family felt it was no longer safe for him to live alone. He had slipped and fallen in his garden one evening and remained there all night without help. This alarmed Vidya, who locked up the town house and brought him to live with the family. This decision was made out of concern for his safety, not his own choice.
Q16: State one advantage and one disadvantage of the Grandfather living in the house in town.
Ans:
- Advantage: The town house gave Grandpa peace, independence, and surroundings he loved, such as the garden, mango tree, and quiet life that reflected his identity. He was mentally and emotionally happiest there.
- Disadvantage: Living alone was physically dangerous because there was no one to help him in an emergency, as the incident of his fall proved. This situation could have had serious consequences.
Q17: Why did Grandpa say he didn’t know what kind of morning Ravi might have had?
Ans: Grandpa said this with mischievous, knowing composure. He was fully aware that Ravi had been trailing him all morning. By contrasting his own “quiet” morning with Ravi’s unknown one, Grandpa was being deliberately ironic, subtly exposing Ravi’s chaotic adventure to his mother while maintaining an innocent calm.