Question
Answer the following questions:
- Why did Anil and Mulia appear “pale and anxious”?
- What did Anil’s mother think when she saw the room empty?
- What was the effect of Kamal’s singing on the author?
- Do you think Anil’s mother believed in ghosts? Give a reason for your answer.
Answer
- Anil and Mulia appeared “pale and anxious” because they had noticed that the beds and the boys, Rusty and Kamal, were missing from the room. This unexpected disappearance likely startled and worried them.
- When Anil’s mother saw the room empty, she thought that the boys, Rusty and Kamal, had also disappeared along with the beds. This realization caused her to become alarmed and fearful.
- The effect of Kamal’s singing on the author was not explicitly mentioned in the text. However, it can be inferred that Kamal’s singing was unable to alleviate the author’s uneasiness or make the atmosphere less eerie. The author’s restlessness and constant twisting and turning in bed suggest that Kamal’s singing did not have a significant calming effect.
- Yes, Anil’s mother believed in ghosts. Her extensive knowledge of different types of ghosts and spirits, her cautionary advice, and the fear she instilled in others through her stories indicate her genuine belief in the existence of the supernatural.
