{"id":6995,"date":"2018-01-17T19:46:44","date_gmt":"2018-01-17T19:46:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hindi\/?p=6995"},"modified":"2018-01-24T19:59:03","modified_gmt":"2018-01-24T19:59:03","slug":"more-reading-comprehension-hindi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hindi\/more-reading-comprehension-hindi\/","title":{"rendered":"More Reading Comprehension in Hindi"},"content":{"rendered":"

This week, let’s continue to work on our reading comprehension skills with the third part of Mahadevi Varma’s (\u092e\u0939\u093e\u0926\u0947\u0935\u0940 \u0935\u0930\u094d\u092e\u093e) short story, “Sister-in-Law” (Bhabhi\/\u092d\u093e\u092d\u0940) from her collection of stories in Glimpses of the Past<\/em> (\u0905\u0924\u0940\u0924 \u0915\u0947<\/em> \u091a\u0932\u091a\u093f\u0924\u094d\u0930<\/em>) (read parts 1<\/a> and 2<\/a> here). Like last time, try to read only the Hindi text first and make sense of the passage with the vocabulary I’ve provided in parentheses. Then, once you’ve figured out the general contours of what’s going on, complete the reading comprehension questions at the bottom. Lastly, read the English translation to see if your answers were correct.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Rajasthani women dressed in traditional lehengas, similar to that worn by “Bhabhi” in this story; image by Fulvio Spada on Flickr, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.<\/p><\/div>\n

Hindi Text<\/h2>\n

\u092a\u0930\u0928\u094d\u0924\u0941 \u0915\u0932\u094d\u0932\u0942 \u0915\u0940 \u092e\u093e\u0901 \u0915\u094b \u091a\u093e\u0939\u0947 \u0909\u0928 \u0906\u0901\u0916\u094b\u0902 \u0915\u0940 \u0938\u094d\u0935\u093e\u092e\u093f\u0928\u0940 (mistress) \u0938\u0947 \u092e\u0947\u0930\u093e \u092a\u0930\u093f\u091a\u092f \u0928 \u092d\u093e\u0924\u093e \u0939\u094b; \u092a\u0930 \u0909\u0938\u0915\u0940 \u0915\u0925\u093e \u0938\u0941\u0928\u093e\u0928\u0947 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0909\u0938\u0947 \u0905\u0935\u0936\u094d\u092f \u0930\u0938 \u092e\u093f\u0932\u0924\u093e \u0930\u0939\u093e \u0964 \u0935\u0939 \u0905\u0928\u093e\u0925\u093f\u0928\u0940 \u092d\u0940 \u0939\u0948 \u0914\u0930 \u0905\u092d\u093e\u0917\u0940 (ill-fated) \u092d\u0940 \u0964 \u092c\u0942\u0922\u093c\u0947 \u0938\u0947\u0920 \u0938\u092c\u0915\u0947 \u092e\u0928\u093e \u0915\u0930\u0924\u0947 \u0915\u0930\u0924\u0947 \u092d\u0940 \u0907\u0938\u0947 \u0905\u092a\u0928\u0947 \u0907\u0915\u0932\u094c\u0924\u0947 \u0932\u0921\u093c\u0915\u0947 \u0938\u0947 \u092c\u094d\u092f\u093e\u0939 \u0932\u093e\u092f\u0947 \u0914\u0930 \u0909\u0938\u0940 \u0938\u093e\u0932 \u0932\u0921\u093c\u0915\u093e \u092c\u093f\u0928\u093e \u092c\u0940\u092e\u093e\u0930\u0940 \u0915\u0947 \u0939\u0940 \u092e\u0930 \u0917\u092f\u093e \u0964 \u0905\u092c \u0938\u0947\u0920\u091c\u0940 \u0915\u093e \u0907\u0938\u0915\u0940 \u091a\u0902\u091a\u0932\u0924\u093e (volatility) \u0915\u0947 \u092e\u093e\u0930\u0947 \u0928\u093e\u0915 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0926\u092e \u0939\u0948 (to be plagued or worried to death) \u0964 \u0928 \u0907\u0938\u0947 \u0915\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u091c\u093e\u0928\u0947 \u0926\u0947\u0924\u0947 \u0939\u0948\u0902, \u0928 \u0915\u093f\u0938\u0940 \u0915\u094b \u0905\u092a\u0928\u0947 \u0918\u0930 \u0906\u0928\u0947 \u0964 \u0915\u0947\u0935\u0932 \u0905\u092e\u093e\u0935\u0938-\u092a\u0942\u0928\u094b (night of new moon) \u090f\u0915 \u092c\u094d\u0930\u093e\u0939\u094d\u092e\u0923\u0940 \u0906\u0924\u0940 \u0939\u0948, \u091c\u093f\u0938\u0947 \u0935\u0947 \u0905\u092a\u0928\u0947-\u0906\u092a \u0916\u0921\u093c\u0947 \u0930\u0939\u0915\u0930 \u0938\u0940\u0927\u093e \u0926\u093f\u0932\u0935\u093e \u0915\u0930 \u0935\u093f\u0926\u093e \u0915\u093e \u0926\u0947\u0924\u0947 \u0939\u0948\u0902 \u0964<\/p>\n

\u0935\u0947 \u092c\u0947\u091a\u093e\u0930\u0947 \u0924\u094b \u091c\u093e\u0924\u093f-\u092c\u093f\u0930\u093e\u0926\u0930\u0940 (caste community) \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u092d\u0940 \u0907\u0938\u0915\u0947 \u0932\u093f\u092f\u0947 \u092c\u0941\u0930\u0947 \u092c\u0928 \u0917\u092f\u0947 \u0939\u0948\u0902 \u0914\u0930 \u0907\u0938\u0915\u0940 \u0928\u093f\u0930\u094d\u0932\u091c\u094d\u091c\u0924\u093e \u0926\u0947\u0916\u094b-\u0938\u0938\u0941\u0930 (father-in-law) \u0926\u0941\u0915\u093e\u0928 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0917\u092f\u0947 \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0915\u093f \u0935\u0939 \u092a\u0930\u0926\u0947 \u0938\u0947 \u0932\u0917\u0940 \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0964 \u0918\u0930 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0915\u094b\u0908 \u0926\u0947\u0916\u0928\u0947\u0935\u093e\u0932\u093e \u0939\u0948 \u0939\u0940 \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0964 \u090f\u0915 \u0928\u0928\u0926 (sister-in-law) \u0939\u0948, \u091c\u094b \u0936\u0939\u0930 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0938\u0938\u0941\u0930\u093e\u0932 (father-in-law\u2019s family) \u0939\u094b\u0928\u0947 \u0915\u0947 \u0915\u093e\u0930\u0923 \u091c\u092c \u0924\u092c \u0906 \u091c\u093e\u0924\u0940 \u0939\u0948 \u0914\u0930 \u0924\u092c \u0907\u0938\u0915\u0940 \u0916\u0942\u092c \u0920\u0941\u0915\u093e\u0908 (beating) \u0939\u094b\u0924\u0940 \u0939\u0948, \u0907\u0924\u094d\u092f\u093e\u0926\u093f-\u0907\u0924\u094d\u092f\u093e\u0926\u093f \u0938\u0942\u091a\u0928\u093e\u090f\u0901 \u0915\u0932\u094d\u0932\u0942 \u0915\u0940 \u092e\u093e\u0901 \u0915\u0940 \u0935\u093f\u0936\u0947\u0937 \u0936\u092c\u094d\u0926\u093e\u0935\u0932\u0940 \u0914\u0930 \u0935\u093f\u091a\u093f\u0924\u094d\u0930 \u092d\u093e\u0935-\u092d\u0902\u0917\u093f\u092e\u093e\u0913\u0901 (peculiar or idiosyncratic behavior) \u0915\u0947 \u0938\u093e\u0925 \u092e\u0941\u091d\u0947 \u0938\u094d\u0915\u0942\u0932 \u0924\u0915 \u092e\u093f\u0932\u0924\u0940 \u0930\u0939\u0924\u0940 \u0925\u0940\u0902 \u0964<\/p>\n

\u092a\u0930\u0928\u094d\u0924\u0941 \u0909\u0938 \u0938\u092e\u092f \u0935\u0947 \u0938\u0942\u091a\u0928\u093e\u090f\u0901 \u092e\u0947\u0930\u0947 \u0928\u093f\u0915\u091f \u0909\u0924\u0928\u093e \u0939\u0940 \u092e\u0939\u0924\u094d\u0924\u094d\u0935 \u0930\u0916\u0924\u0940 \u0925\u0940\u0902 \u091c\u093f\u0924\u0928\u0940 \u0928\u093e\u0928\u0940 \u0938\u0947 \u0938\u0941\u0928\u0940 \u0939\u0941\u0908 \u092c\u0947\u0932\u093e (jasmine) \u0930\u093e\u0928\u0940 \u0915\u0940 \u0915\u0939\u093e\u0928\u0940 \u0964 \u0915\u0925\u093e \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u092c\u0947\u091a\u0948\u0928 (uneasy) \u0915\u0930 \u0926\u0947\u0928\u0947 \u0935\u093e\u0932\u093e \u0938\u0924\u094d\u092f \u0907\u0924\u0928\u093e \u0939\u0940 \u0925\u093e \u0915\u093f \u0915\u0939\u093e\u0928\u0940 \u0915\u0940 \u0930\u093e\u091c\u0915\u0941\u092e\u093e\u0930\u0940 \u0915\u0940 \u0906\u0901\u0916\u0947\u0902 \u092a\u0941\u0930\u093e\u0928\u0947 \u091f\u093e\u091f \u0915\u0947 \u092a\u0930\u0926\u0947 \u0938\u0947 \u0938\u0941\u0928\u0928\u0947\u0935\u093e\u0932\u0940 \u092c\u093e\u0932\u093f\u0915\u093e \u0915\u094b \u0928\u093f\u0924\u094d\u092f \u0924\u093e\u0915\u0924\u0940 (gaze at, stare\/peep) \u0930\u0939\u0924\u0940 \u0925\u0940\u0902 \u0964 \u092f\u0939 \u0938\u094d\u0925\u093f\u0924\u093f \u0924\u094b \u0915\u0941\u091b \u0938\u0941\u0916\u0926 (pleasant) \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0915\u0939\u0940 \u091c\u093e \u0938\u0915\u0924\u0940 \u0964 \u092f\u0926\u093f \u0938\u0941\u0928\u0940 \u0939\u0941\u0908 \u0915\u0939\u093e\u0928\u0940 \u0915\u0947 \u0938\u092c \u0930\u093e\u091c\u093e, \u0930\u093e\u0928\u0940, \u0930\u093e\u091c\u0915\u0941\u092e\u093e\u0930, \u0930\u093e\u091c\u0915\u0941\u092e\u093e\u0930\u0940, \u0926\u0948\u0924\u094d\u092f (giant, monster), \u0926\u093e\u0928\u0935 (demon) \u0906\u0926\u093f \u0938\u0941\u0928\u0928\u0947\u0935\u093e\u0932\u094b\u0902 \u0915\u094b \u0907\u0938 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u0915\u093e\u0930 \u0926\u0947\u0916\u0928\u0947 \u0932\u0917\u0947\u0902, \u0924\u094b \u0915\u0939\u093e\u0928\u0940 \u0938\u0941\u0928\u0928\u0947 \u0915\u093e \u0938\u092c \u0938\u0941\u0916 \u091a\u0932\u093e \u091c\u093e\u0935\u0947, \u092f\u0939 \u0915\u0932\u094d\u0932\u0942 \u0915\u0940 \u092e\u093e\u0901 \u0915\u0940 \u0915\u0939\u093e\u0928\u0940 \u0914\u0930 \u092a\u0930\u0926\u0947 \u0915\u0947 \u091b\u0947\u0926 \u0938\u0947 \u0926\u0947\u0916\u0928\u0947 \u0935\u093e\u0932\u0940 \u0906\u0901\u0916\u094b\u0902 \u0928\u0947 \u092e\u0941\u091d\u0947 \u0938\u092e\u091d\u093e \u0926\u093f\u092f\u093e \u0925\u093e \u0964<\/p>\n

\u092d\u0942\u0930\u0947 \u091f\u093e\u091f \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u091c\u0921\u093c\u0940-\u0938\u0940 \u0935\u0947 \u0915\u093e\u0932\u0940 \u0906\u0901\u0916\u0947\u0902 \u092e\u0947\u0930\u0940 \u0915\u0932\u094d\u092a\u0928\u093e \u0915\u093e \u0935\u093f\u0937\u092f \u0939\u0940 \u092c\u0928\u0940 \u0930\u0939\u0924\u0940\u0902, \u092f\u0926\u093f \u090f\u0915 \u0926\u093f\u0928 \u092a\u093e\u0928\u0940 \u092c\u0930\u0938\u0928\u0947 \u0938\u0947 \u0915\u0932\u094d\u0932\u0942 \u0915\u0940 \u092e\u093e\u0901 \u0930\u0941\u0915 \u0928 \u0917\u092f\u0940 \u0939\u094b\u0924\u0940, \u092a\u093e\u0928\u0940 \u0925\u092e\u0924\u0947 \u0939\u0940 \u092e\u0948\u0902 \u0938\u094d\u0915\u0942\u0932 \u0938\u0947 \u0905\u0915\u0947\u0932\u0947 \u0939\u0940 \u0928 \u091a\u0932 \u0926\u0940 \u0939\u094b\u0924\u0940 \u0914\u0930 \u0917\u0940\u0932\u0940 \u0938\u0921\u093c\u0915 \u092a\u0930 \u0909\u0938 \u092a\u0930\u0926\u0947 \u0915\u0947 \u0938\u093e\u092e\u0928\u0947 \u0939\u0940 \u092e\u0947\u0930\u093e \u092a\u0948\u0930 \u0928 \u092b\u093f\u0938\u0932 (slip) \u0917\u092f\u093e \u0939\u094b\u0924\u093e \u0964 \u092c\u091a\u094d\u091a\u0947 \u0917\u093f\u0930 \u0915\u0930 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u093e\u092f: \u091a\u094b\u091f \u0915\u0947 \u0915\u093e\u0930\u0923 \u0928 \u0930\u094b\u0915\u0930 \u0932\u091c\u094d\u091c\u093e \u0938\u0947 \u0939\u0940 \u0930\u094b\u0928\u0947 \u0932\u0917\u0924\u0947 \u0939\u0948\u0902 \u0964 \u092e\u0947\u0930\u0947 \u0930\u094b\u0928\u0947 \u0915\u093e \u092d\u0940 \u0915\u0926\u093e\u091a\u093f\u0924\u094d \u092f\u0939\u0940 \u0915\u093e\u0930\u0923 \u0930\u0939\u093e \u0939\u094b\u0917\u093e, \u0915\u094d\u092f\u094b\u0902\u0915\u093f \u091a\u094b\u091f \u0924\u094b \u092e\u0941\u091d\u0947 \u092f\u093e\u0926 \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0906\u0924\u0940 \u0964<\/p>\n

\u0915\u0939 \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0938\u0915\u0924\u0940 \u0915\u093f \u092a\u0930\u0926\u0947 \u0938\u0947 \u0928\u093f\u0915\u0932 \u0915\u0930, \u0915\u092c \u0909\u0928 \u0906\u0901\u0916\u094b\u0902 \u0915\u0940 \u0938\u094d\u0935\u093e\u092e\u093f\u0928\u0940 \u0928\u0947 \u092e\u0941\u091d\u0947 \u0906\u0901\u0917\u0928 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0916\u0940\u0902\u091a \u0932\u093f\u092f\u093e; \u092a\u0930\u0928\u094d\u0924\u0941 \u0938\u0939\u0938\u093e \u0935\u093f\u0938\u094d\u092e\u092f (astonishment, dismay) \u0928\u0947 \u092e\u0947\u0930\u0940 \u0930\u0941\u0932\u093e\u0908 (crying) \u0930\u0941\u0915 \u0917\u092f\u0940 \u0964 \u090f\u0915 \u0926\u0941\u0930\u094d\u092c\u0932 \u092a\u0930 \u0938\u0941\u0915\u0941\u092e\u093e\u0930 \u092c\u093e\u0932\u093f\u0915\u093e-\u091c\u0948\u0938\u0940 \u0938\u094d\u0924\u094d\u0930\u0940 \u0905\u092a\u0928\u0947 \u0905\u0902\u091a\u0932 \u0938\u0947 \u092e\u0947\u0930\u0947 \u0939\u093e\u0925 \u0914\u0930 \u0915\u092a\u0921\u093c\u094b\u0902 \u0915\u093e \u0915\u0940\u091a\u0921\u093c \u092e\u093f\u0932\u093e \u092a\u093e\u0928\u0940 \u092a\u094b\u0902\u091b (wipe) \u0930\u0939\u0940 \u0925\u0940 \u0914\u0930 \u092d\u0940\u0924\u0930 \u0926\u093e\u0932\u093e\u0928 (hallway, corridor) \u0938\u0947 \u0935\u0943\u0926\u094d\u0927 \u0938\u0947\u0920 \u0915\u093e \u0915\u0941\u091b \u0935\u093f\u0938\u094d\u092e\u093f\u0924 (astonished, taken aback) \u0938\u094d\u0935\u0930 \u0915\u0939 \u0930\u0939\u093e \u0925\u093e —“\u0905\u0930\u0947 \u092f\u0939 \u0924\u094b \u0935\u0930\u094d\u092e\u093e \u0938\u093e\u0939\u092c \u0915\u0940 \u092c\u093e\u0908 \u0939\u0948!”<\/p>\n

\u0909\u0938\u0940 \u0926\u093f\u0928 \u0938\u0947 \u0935\u0939 \u0918\u0930, \u091c\u093f\u0938\u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0928 \u090f\u0915 \u092d\u0940 \u091d\u0930\u094b\u0916\u093e (lattice window) \u0925\u093e \u0928 \u0930\u094b\u0936\u0928\u0926\u093e\u0928 (skylight), \u0928 \u090f\u0915 \u092d\u0940 \u0928\u094c\u0915\u0930 \u0926\u093f\u0916\u093e\u0908 \u0926\u0947\u0924\u093e \u0925\u093e, \u0928 \u0905\u0924\u093f\u0925\u093f \u0914\u0930 \u0928 \u090f\u0915 \u092d\u0940 \u092a\u0936\u0941 \u0930\u0939\u0924\u093e \u0925\u093e, \u0928 \u092a\u0915\u094d\u0937\u0940, \u092e\u0947\u0930\u0947 \u0932\u093f\u092f\u0947 \u090f\u0915 \u0906\u0915\u0930\u094d\u0937\u0923 \u092c\u0928\u0928\u0947 \u0932\u0917\u0947 \u0964 \u0909\u0938 \u0938\u092e\u093e\u0927\u093f (place of burial, tomb)-\u091c\u0948\u0938\u0947 \u0918\u0930 \u092e\u0947 \u0932\u094b\u0939\u0947 \u0915\u0947 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u093e\u091a\u0940\u0930 (rampart, hedge\/fence) \u0938\u0947 \u0918\u093f\u0930\u0947 \u092b\u0942\u0932 \u0915\u0947 \u0938\u092e\u093e\u0928 \u0935\u0939 \u0915\u093f\u0936\u094b\u0930\u0940 \u092c\u093e\u0932\u093f\u0915\u093e \u092c\u093f\u0928\u093e \u0915\u093f\u0938\u0940 \u0938\u0902\u0917\u0940-\u0938\u093e\u0925\u0940, \u092c\u093f\u0928\u093e \u0915\u093f\u0938\u0940 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u0915\u093e\u0930 \u0915\u0947 \u0906\u092e\u094b\u0926-\u092a\u094d\u0930\u092e\u094b\u0926 (diversion, pastime) \u0915\u0947, \u092e\u093e\u0928\u094b \u0928\u093f\u0930\u0928\u094d\u0924\u0930 \u0935\u0943\u0926\u094d\u0927 \u0939\u094b\u0928\u0947 \u0915\u0940 \u0938\u093e\u0927\u0928\u093e (accomplish, study\/learn) \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0932\u0940\u0928 (engrossed) \u0925\u0940 \u0964<\/p>\n

\u0935\u0943\u0926\u094d\u0927 \u090f\u0915 \u0939\u0940 \u0938\u092e\u092f \u092d\u094b\u091c\u0928 \u0915\u0930\u0924\u0947 \u0925\u0947 \u0914\u0930 \u0935\u0939 \u0924\u094b \u0935\u093f\u0927\u0935\u093e \u0920\u0939\u0930\u0940 \u0964 \u0926\u0942\u0938\u0930\u0947 \u0938\u092e\u092f \u092d\u094b\u091c\u0928 \u0915\u0930\u0928\u093e \u0939\u0940 \u092f\u0939 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u092e\u093e\u0923\u093f\u0924 (prove, confirm) \u0915\u0930 \u0926\u0947\u0928\u0947 \u0915\u0947 \u0932\u093f\u092f\u0947 \u092a\u0930\u094d\u092f\u093e\u092a\u094d\u0924 (sufficient) \u0925\u093e \u0915\u093f \u0909\u0938\u0915\u093e \u092e\u0928 \u0935\u093f\u0927\u0935\u093e \u0915\u0947 \u0938\u0902\u092f\u092e (abstinence)-\u092a\u094d\u0930\u0927\u093e\u0928 (consisting predominantly of) \u091c\u0940\u0935\u0928 \u0938\u0947 \u090a\u092c\u0915\u0930 \u0915\u093f\u0938\u0940 \u0935\u093f\u092a\u0930\u0940\u0924 (unfavorable\/inauspicious) \u0926\u093f\u0936\u093e \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u091c\u093e \u0930\u0939\u093e \u0939\u0948 \u0964<\/p>\n

\u092a\u094d\u0930\u093e\u092f: \u0928\u093f\u0930\u093e\u0939\u093e\u0930 (fasting, starvation) \u0914\u0930 \u0928\u093f\u0930\u0928\u094d\u0924\u0930 \u092e\u093f\u0924\u093e\u0939\u093e\u0930 (eating very little) \u0938\u0947 \u0926\u0941\u0930\u094d\u092c\u0932 \u0926\u0947\u0939 \u0938\u0947 \u0935\u0939 \u0915\u093f\u0924\u0928\u093e \u092a\u0930\u093f\u0936\u094d\u0930\u092e \u0915\u0930\u0924\u0940 \u0925\u0940, \u092f\u0939 \u092e\u0947\u0930\u0940 \u092c\u093e\u0932\u0915-\u092c\u0941\u0926\u094d\u0927\u093f \u0938\u0947 \u092d\u0940 \u091b\u093f\u092a\u093e \u0928 \u0930\u0939\u0924\u093e \u0925\u093e \u0964 \u091c\u093f\u0938 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u0915\u093e\u0930 \u0909\u0938\u0915\u093e \u0916\u0902\u0921\u0939\u0930 (mass of ruins)-\u091c\u0948\u0938\u0947 \u0918\u0930 \u0914\u0930 \u0932\u0902\u092c\u0947-\u091a\u094c\u0921\u093c\u0947 \u0906\u0901\u0917\u0928 \u0915\u094b \u092c\u0948\u0920-\u092c\u0948\u0920 \u0915\u0930 \u092c\u0941\u0939\u093e\u0930\u0928\u093e (sweep, dust), \u0906\u0901\u0917\u0928 \u0915\u0947 \u0915\u0941\u090f\u0901 \u0938\u0947 \u0905\u092a\u0928\u0947 \u0914\u0930 \u0938\u0938\u0941\u0930 \u0915\u0947 \u0938\u094d\u0928\u093e\u0928 \u0915\u0947 \u0932\u093f\u092f\u0947 \u0920\u0939\u0930-\u0920\u0939\u0930 \u0915\u0930 \u092a\u093e\u0928\u0940 \u0916\u0940\u0902\u091a\u0928\u093e \u0914\u0930 \u0927\u094b\u092c\u0940 \u0915\u0947 \u0905\u092d\u093e\u0935 \u092e\u0947\u0902, \u092e\u0948\u0932\u0947 \u0915\u092a\u0921\u093c\u094b\u0902 \u0915\u094b \u0915\u093e\u0920 (piece of wood\/log) \u0915\u0940 \u092e\u094b\u0939\u0930\u0940 (end) \u0938\u0947 \u092a\u0940\u091f\u0924\u0947 \u0939\u0941\u090f \u0930\u0941\u0915-\u0930\u0941\u0915 \u0915\u0930 \u0938\u093e\u092b \u0915\u0930\u0928\u093e, \u092e\u0947\u0930\u0940 \u0939\u0901\u0938\u0940 \u0915\u093e \u0938\u093e\u0927\u0928 (means, expedient) \u092c\u0928\u0924\u093e \u0925\u093e, \u0909\u0938\u0940 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u0915\u093e\u0930 \u0915\u0947\u0935\u0932 \u091c\u0932\u0924\u0940 \u0932\u0915\u0921\u093c\u093f\u092f\u094b\u0902 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u0915\u093e\u0936\u093f\u0924, \u0926\u093f\u0928 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u092d\u0940 \u0905\u0901\u0927\u0947\u0930\u0940 \u0930\u0938\u094b\u0908 \u0915\u0940 \u0915\u094b\u0920\u0930\u0940 (small or dark room) \u0915\u0947 \u0918\u0941\u091f\u0924\u0947 (kneeling) \u0939\u0941\u090f \u0927\u0941\u090f\u0901 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0938\u0947 \u0930\u0939-\u0930\u0939 \u0915\u0930 \u0906\u0924\u093e \u0939\u0941\u0906 \u0916\u093e\u0901\u0938\u0940 \u0915\u093e \u0938\u094d\u0935\u0930, \u0915\u0941\u091b \u0917\u0940\u0932\u0940 \u0914\u0930 \u0915\u0941\u091b \u0938\u0942\u0916\u0940 \u0930\u093e\u0916 \u0938\u0947 \u091a\u093e\u0901\u0926\u0940-\u0938\u094b\u0928\u0947 \u0915\u0947 \u0938\u092e\u093e\u0928 \u091a\u092e\u0915\u093e\u0915\u0930 (burnish, polish) \u0924\u0925\u093e \u0915\u092a\u0921\u093c\u0947 \u0938\u0947 \u092a\u094b\u0902\u091b\u0915\u0930 (\u092e\u093e\u0930\u0935\u093e\u0921\u093c \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0915\u093e\u092e \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0932\u093e\u0928\u0947 \u0915\u0947 \u0938\u092e\u092f \u092c\u0930\u094d\u0924\u0928 \u092a\u093e\u0928\u0940 \u0938\u0947 \u0927\u094b\u090f \u091c\u093e\u0924\u0947 \u0939\u0948\u0902) \u0930\u0916\u0924\u0947 \u0938\u092e\u092f \u0936\u093f\u0925\u093f\u0932 (slack, weak, tired) \u0909\u0901\u0917\u0932\u093f\u092f\u094b\u0902 \u0938\u0947 \u091b\u0942\u091f\u0924\u0947 \u0939\u0941\u090f \u092c\u0930\u094d\u0924\u0928\u094b\u0902 \u0915\u0940 \u091d\u0928\u091d\u0928\u093e\u0939\u091f (ringing, resounding) \u092e\u0947\u0930\u0947 \u092e\u0928 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u090f\u0915 \u0928\u092f\u093e \u0935\u093f\u0937\u093e\u0926 (despair) \u092d\u0930 \u0926\u0947\u0924\u0940 \u0925\u0940 \u0964<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Image by travelwayoflife on Flickr; licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.<\/p><\/div>\n

English Translation<\/h2>\n

Although Kallu\u2019s mother found the idea of introducing me to the mistress of those eyes unpleasant, she certainly relished telling me this woman\u2019s tale. She (\u201cBhabhi\u201d) was an orphan and an ill-fated wretch at that. Despite everyone\u2019s persistent attempts to prevent it, the old Seth married her to his only son. And, that same year, without even catching an illness, the boy died. Now, because of this girl\u2019s volatility, the Sethji was worried to death. He didn\u2019t let her go anywhere, nor did he let anyone come to the house. A Brahmin woman came only on the night of the new moon; he alone stood waiting for her, gave her alms straight away and bid her goodbye.<\/p>\n

That poor man got a bad name even in his own (caste) community because of her. And, just look at her shamelessness\u2013\u2013her father-in-law has scarcely gone to the shop and already she\u2019s fixed to the curtain. There isn\u2019t even anyone in the house to supervise her. There\u2019s the sister-in-law who, because she\u2019s part of the father-in-law\u2019s family in the city, gives her a thorough beating whenever she comes. Etcetera, etcetera\u2013\u2013this kind of tittle-tattle, complete with Kallu\u2019s mother\u2019s particular vocabulary and peculiar expressions, accompanied me all the way to school.<\/p>\n

But, at that time, these bits of gossip held as much significance to me as hearing my (maternal) grandmother\u2019s story of the Jasmine Queen (Bela Rani). The tale\u2019s disturbing truth was that, from behind the old sackcloth curtains, the princess\u2019s eyes in the story incessantly gazed at the little girl who was listening. This situation could not exactly be called pleasant. If all of the kings, queens, princes, princesses, monsters, demons, etc. in a story began to stare at the listeners in this way, then all of the pleasure of hearing the story would vanish\u2013\u2013\u2013this truth was explained to me by Kallu\u2019s mother\u2019s story and those eyes, watching me from a hole in the curtains.<\/p>\n

Those black eyes, as if fixed onto the brown sackcloth, would have remained only the subject of my imagination, if Kallu\u2019s mother had not been able to drop by the school one day due to the rainfall\u2013\u2013 if I had not set off from school by myself as soon as the rain stopped and if\u2013\u2013\u2013 I hadn\u2019t slipped on the wet street right in front of that curtain. Oftentimes when children fall, if not because of an injury, they start crying out of embarrassment. This was perhaps my reason for crying too because I do not recall an injury.<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t say when, emerging from behind the curtain, the mistress of those eyes pulled me into the courtyard. But, suddenly, my tears gave way to astonishment. A frail but delicate person, more girl than woman really, was wiping the muddy water from my hands and clothing with the end of her sari. And, from a hallway within, the elderly Seth was saying with a voice tinged with surprise\u2013\u2013\u201cOh, this must be Varma Sahab\u2019s little girl!\u201d<\/p>\n

From that day onward, that house, in which there wasn\u2019t even a lattice window or a skylight, not even one servant or guest, nor even one pet or bird, began to hold a great attraction for me. In that tomb-like house, that young girl was akin to a flower that had fallen from a rampart of steel—without any companion or friend, bereft of any kind of diversion, she was as if continually engrossed in the business of getting older.<\/p>\n

The elderly man ate only once a day, and she had the position of a widow in the household (and thus ate only once a day as well). To eat twice a day would be sufficient evidence to confirm that she had grown bored of a widow\u2019s life of abstinence and was headed in some unfavorable direction.<\/p>\n

Even with a body weakened by fasting and continually eating very little, she would often do so much hard labor\u2013\u2013this couldn\u2019t be concealed even from my childish mind. The way she squatted on her haunches sweeping the ruinous house and the spacious courtyard, the way she drew bucket after bucket of water for her own and her father-in-law\u2019s baths from the well in the courtyard and, in the absence of a washer man, the way she beat the soiled clothing with the end of a wooden beam to clean it, stopping only momentarily\u00ad\u00ad\u2013\u2013\u2013made me laugh with astonishment every time. The sound of her coughing came from the cramped, dark room (even in the daytime) that was in the kitchen, illuminated only by smoldering logs, where she knelt, surrounded by smoke. With a mixture of wet and dry ashes, she would polish the gold and silver wares and wipe them with a cloth (in Marwar, utensils are washed with water before they are to be used). The ringing sound made by the utensils as her weary fingers relinquished them to their appointed places filled me with a nameless despair.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Image by Milo and Silvia in the World on Flickr; licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.<\/p><\/div>\n

Reading Comprehension Questions:<\/h2>\n

\u0967\u0964 \u0938\u0947\u0920 \u091c\u0940 \u0915\u0947 \u092c\u0947\u091f\u0947 \u0915\u094b \u0915\u094d\u092f\u093e \u0939\u0941\u0906 ? (Seth ji ke bete ko kyaa hua)?<\/p>\n

\u0968\u0964 \u0906\u092a\u0915\u094b \u0915\u094d\u092f\u094b\u0902 \u0932\u0917\u0924\u093e \u0939\u0948 \u0915\u093f \u0938\u0947\u0920 \u091c\u0940 \u201c\u092d\u093e\u092d\u0940\u201d \u0915\u094b \u0932\u0947\u0915\u0930 \u0907\u0924\u0928\u0947 \u092a\u0930\u0947\u0936\u093e\u0928 \u0939\u0948\u0902 ? \u0935\u0947 \u0909\u0938\u0947 \u0915\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0915\u094d\u092f\u094b\u0902 \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u091c\u093e\u0928\u0947 \u0926\u0947\u0924\u0947? (Aapko kyoon lagtaa hai ki Seth ji “Bhabhi” ko lekar itne pareshaan hain? Ve use kahin kyoon nahin jaane dete)?<\/p>\n

\u0969\u0964 \u0939\u092e\u093e\u0930\u0940 \u0915\u0925\u093e\u0935\u093e\u091a\u0915 (narrator) \u201c\u092d\u093e\u092d\u0940\u201d \u0915\u094b \u0915\u093f\u0938 \u0915\u0940 \u0924\u0941\u0932\u0928\u093e \u0915\u0930\u0924\u0940 \u0939\u0948? \u0915\u0925\u093e\u0935\u093e\u091a\u0915 \u092a\u0930 \u0907\u0938 \u0924\u0941\u0932\u0928\u093e \u0915\u093e \u0915\u094d\u092f\u093e \u0905\u0938\u0930 \u092a\u0921\u093c\u0924\u093e \u0939\u0948? (Humaari kathaavaachak “Bhabhi” ko kis ki tulnaa karti hai? Kathaavaachak par is tulnaa kaa kyaa asar partaa hai)?<\/p>\n

\u096a\u0964 \u0915\u0925\u093e\u0935\u093e\u091a\u0915 \u0915\u0940 \u0930\u093e\u092f \u092e\u0947\u0902, \u201c\u092d\u093e\u092d\u0940\u201d \u0915\u0948\u0938\u0940 \u0935\u094d\u092f\u0915\u094d\u0924\u093f \u0939\u0948? \u0915\u0925\u093e\u0935\u093e\u091a\u0915 \u0915\u094b \u0932\u0917\u0924\u093e \u0939\u0948 \u0915\u093f \u201c\u092d\u093e\u092d\u0940\u201d \u0907\u0938 \u092c\u0941\u0930\u0940 \u0938\u094d\u0925\u0924\u093f \u0915\u0947 \u0932\u093e\u092f\u0915 \u0939\u0948 \u092f\u093e \u0928\u093f\u0930\u094d\u0926\u094b\u0937 \u0939\u0948? (Kathaavaachak ki raay me, “Bhabhi” kaisi vyakti hai? Kathaavaachak ko lagtaa hai ki “Bhabhi” is buri stithi ke laayak hai ya nirdosh hai)?<\/p>\n

\u096b\u0964 \u0915\u0932\u094d\u0932\u0942 \u0915\u0940 \u092e\u093e\u0901 \u201c\u092d\u093e\u092d\u0940\u201d \u0915\u0947 \u092c\u093e\u0930\u0947 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0915\u094d\u092f\u093e \u0938\u094b\u091a\u0924\u0940 \u0939\u0948 ? (Kallu ki Ma “Bhabhi” ke baare me kyaa sochti hai)?<\/p>\n

\u096d\u0964 \u0907\u0938 \u0915\u0939\u093e\u0928\u0940 \u092e\u0947\u0902, \u0939\u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0915\u092d\u0940 \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u092a\u0924\u093e \u091a\u0932\u093e \u0915\u093f \u201c\u092d\u093e\u092d\u0940\u201d \u0915\u093e \u0905\u0938\u0932\u0940 \u0928\u093e\u092e \u0915\u094d\u092f\u093e \u0939\u0948 \u0964 \u0907\u0938\u0915\u093e \u0915\u094d\u092f\u093e \u092e\u0939\u0924\u094d\u0924\u094d\u0935 \u0939\u0948 \u0907\u0938 \u0915\u0939\u093e\u0928\u0940 \u092e\u0947\u0902? (Is kahaani me, hume kabhi nahin pataa chalaa ki “Bhabhi” ka asli naam kyaa hai. Iskaa kyaa mehetva hai us kahaani me)?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

This week, let’s continue to work on our reading comprehension skills with the third part of Mahadevi Varma’s (\u092e\u0939\u093e\u0926\u0947\u0935\u0940 \u0935\u0930\u094d\u092e\u093e) short story, “Sister-in-Law” (Bhabhi\/\u092d\u093e\u092d\u0940) from her collection of stories in Glimpses of the Past (\u0905\u0924\u0940\u0924 \u0915\u0947 \u091a\u0932\u091a\u093f\u0924\u094d\u0930) (read parts 1 and 2 here). Like last time, try to read only the Hindi text first and…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":140,"featured_media":7018,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3792,1],"tags":[475689,475691,475688,9410,475520,238697,475525,2448,475699],"class_list":["post-6995","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hindi-language","category-uncategorized","tag-ateet-ke-chalchitra","tag-bhabhi","tag-glimpses-of-the-past","tag-hindi-literature","tag-hindi-words-and-phrases","tag-learning-hindi","tag-mahadevi-varma","tag-reading-comprehension","tag-sister-in-law"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hindi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6995","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hindi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hindi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hindi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/140"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hindi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6995"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hindi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6995\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7039,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hindi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6995\/revisions\/7039"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hindi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7018"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hindi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6995"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hindi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6995"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hindi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6995"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}