Gujarat Board GSEB Solutions Class 11 English Second Language Unit 5 Read 1 Pepper, the Phantom Pet Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.
GSEB Std 11 English Textbook Solutions Unit 5 Read 1 Pepper, the Phantom Pet (2nd Language)
GSEB Class 11 English Pepper, the Phantom Pet Text Book Questions and Answers
Comprehension
Let’s discuss. Think about the answers and express your views:
Question 1.
Do you sympathise with Pia ? Why ?
Answer:
Yes, We sympathise with Pia because she is in an embarrassing condition. In the classroom, the discussion about pets starts and everybody says something about his/her pet very excitedly, but when it is Pia’s turn, she is very much reluctant.
Yes, she had a pet-a Capuchin monkey-named Pepper. Pia was greatly attached to her monkey emotionally which was however sent (back to South America. When all the students insisted that Pia had to bring the monkey to the class, she was greatly embarrased.
Not only that but the principal called up her brother and talked to him about the monkey, Pia was greatly disturbed. Everybody in Pia’s house wanted that Pia should forget about the monkey, but she could not do that. On the contrary, Pia’s brother talked very rudely with Pia when there was reference of the monkey. Therefore, to me, Pia deserves sympathy.
Question 2.
Why is Pepper called Phantom ?
Answer:
Phantom means ‘a spirit of a dead person which visits the living in the form of a person or animal’. Here, the she-monkey was gifted to Pia by her uncle from Chile. The she-monkey stayed as a pet with Pia and her family for a short time.
Pia got emotionally attached to her. Pia did not want to part with her, but for certain reasons, Pia’s elders sent the she-monkey back to the jungle of South America from where she was brought. A spirit usually makes its presence feel for time being and does not stay back for a long time.
In the same way, the she-monkey – Pepper – stays with Pia and her family for a short time creating emotional bondage with them, and then she leaves, therefore the she-monkey is called Phantom.
2. Read the text carefully and complete the table with who said what.
| Who | What |
| Teacher | Let’s discuss about domestic animals. |
| All students, except Pia | No, no ! That’s so boring! |
| Shama | I have got a bunch of Angora Rabbits. |
| Rohan | I’ve got the fiercest dog in the whole world – a Rottweiler. His name is Killer. |
| Student 2 | Persian cats with rare colours. |
| Student 5 | It can hardly walk! |
| Pia | I have a..a..a., monkey. |
| Student 4 | Where did you get it ? |
| Student 6 | Why photos ? Why can’t Pia bring the monkey to class! |
| Teacher | I’ll ask the Principal’ for special permission. |
| Shama | The principal’s calling you. |
| Pia | What? Why? What have I done ? |
| Principal | But this is just wonderful. |
| Avik | Sir, is my sister in trouble again? |
| Principal | I think your sister is not feeling too well. |
| Pia | She-Pepper the she-monkey has gone to my head. |
| Avik | …have sent the poor monkey back to South America. |
| Principal | Well, well, that’s end of that. |
| Avik | Now for the whole month your chocolates are mine. |
3. Answer the following questions in four to five sentences each:
Question 1.
Why did Pia correct Avik when he said, “So, Pepper’s gone to your head finally, hasn’t he?
Answer:
When Avik said,“So, Pepper’s gone to your head, finally, hasn’t he Soon Pia nodded and corrected Avik that it was ‘she’ and not ‘he’. The monkey that their uncle had gifted them was a female monkey and not a male monkey. Pia was greatly obsessed with that pet female monkey.
Question 2.
Why did Avik want all of Pia’s chocolates for the next one month ?
Answer:
Pia was greatly embarrassed when the students of her class demanded that she should / bring her pet-the she monkey-to the class. Pia knew the fact that she would not be able to do I it as they had already sent the monkey back to the South American jungles.
Pia had no courage to tell the fact to the students, teacher and the principal. But when Avik came to the school on call, he revealed the fact and Pia was relieved. Therefore, in return, Avik was not satisfied with Pia’s mere ‘thanks’ and he wanted to take all of Pia’s chocolates for the next one month.
Question 3.
Why did Pia thank her brother ?
Answer:
Pia had no courage to disclose the fact in the class and to the principal that they had sent back the female monkey to the South American jungles. Then her brother Avik was called and he declared the fact that the female monkey was no more with them, therefore Pia would not be able to bring it to the class. For this help of her brother, Pia thanked Avik.
Question 4.
Why, according to you, did Pia hesitate in telling about her pet ?
Answer:
On the teacher’s proposal, students in the class started saying about their pets that s they had. Pia too had a pet-a female Capuchin monkey-but not now. The monkey was sent back to the South American jungles and it was difficult for Pia to bear her absence.
Pia was emotionally attached to that she-monkey, so when the students insisted on bringing her monkey to the class, Pia was greatly embarrassed and hesitated a lot telling about her pet which was sent back to South America.
Question 5.
If you are allowed a pet, which pet will you keep ? Why ?
Answer:
if i am allowed a pet, I would keep a cat. I like cats very much. They are very much ^friendly. Minimum care is to be taken to maintain them. A cat can sit beside us on sofa or sleep by our side on bed. Its hair is so soft that I would keep on moving my fingers along its back. It takes a very little food and it is delightful to watch it lapping milk. The cat is a no-nonsense- creating pet and I like it very much.
Question 6.
Should we keep pets ? Why ?
Answer:
I personally believe that we should not keep pets. I perceive it as animal cruelty. However nicely we keep our pets, unintentionally we take away their freedom. We confine them to our house or at the most to our compound. Animals need great freedom to move about. They should not be strapped, belted, caged or chained.
They lose their freedom of eating in our confinement. Not only that, we handle them according to our wish and compel them to do many a thing that otherwise they would not like to do. They are mute, so we can never know what they think or feel and we cannot cater to them as they wish. However, we may show kindness to them.
4. Make three groups of students. Ask them to discuss the story imagining the story from Mrs Chawla’s view (first group), Pia’s view (second group) and students’ view (third group). Ask them to write e-mails after discussion.
Imagine yourself as the teacher of this class.Today was an exciting day as there was a huge interest in your students’ pet monkey at school, you want to tell your friend about this interesting day. Write an e-mail to Mrs Desai retelling your experience about today,
From. chawla@gmail.com
To. desai@rediffmail.com
Subject: You wouldn’t believe what happened today !
Dear Kruti,
You wouldn’t believe what happened today.
Today when I entered the classroom, it was all chaotic. Students were shouting and flinging papers and pencils and what not. Even after the greeting ‘Good Morning’, the chaos continued. Some of the students started complaining about stealing of their belongings and many others.They demanded that something funny should be done in the class and this suggestion was cheered most.
Then I proposed to discuss domestic animals and there was a storm of protest against this proposal saying that it was boring. Pia did not , join the cheering. The students argued that they had done it once when they were in class one and proposed to go for a picnic.
But I was determined and declared that we would talk about animals ; and to make it interesting, we would talk about s our pets. I asked the students to say something about their pets one by one, and everybody enjoyed knowing about them.
Regards Ruta Chawla
Similarly Pia/student can also write an e-mail to her/his friend.
[Note: These two e-mails are to be attempted S’ by students on their own.]
Additional Questions
1. Short Notes
Write a short note focussing on the questions:
Pia’s Pet – Pepper
(1) What did the teacher propose to do in j the class one day?
(2) What was Pia demanded of ?
(3) What did Pia say about her pet ?
(4) Why was Pia reluctant to bring her pet to school?
Answer:
One day the teacher proposed to the student to discuss about domestic animals – especially about their pets and there was a lot of excitement in the class. Everybody started talking about his pet and then everybody turned l to Pia to talk about her pet.
Pia was hesitant but the force in the class made her talk about her pet. Her pet was a female monkey. It was a rare Capuchin monkey from South America. The monkey was given a fond name ‘Pepper’. Pia’s I uncle was an animal specialist. He had bought the monkey in Chile and it was gifted to Pia and her family.
Then every student in the class, their s teacher and the principal insisted that Pia should bring the monkey to the class. But Pia was greatly s disturbed and felt sick. She could not manage to bring the monkey to the class because her family had already shipped the monkey back to the South American jungle. The principal regretted that they had lost the chance of visiting such an amazing animal!
2. Reading Comprehension
Read the extracts and answer the questions :
(1) Student 2 : Is it a boy or a girl ?
Pia : A …….. Girl, definitely a girl.
(Laughter)
Pia: It is a … a Capuchin monkey!
All: Wh … aaa … ttt ?
Pia : A Capuchin monkey. It’s from South America. It’s quite rare.
Student 4 : Where did you get it ?
Pia: My uncle bought her in Chile. He is an animal specialist and so he got her.
Questions :
(1) What is the pet of Pia ? What is its native land ?
(2) What is Pia’s uncle ?
Answer:
(1) Pia’s pet is a Capuchin female monkey. Its native land is South America.
(2) Pia’s uncle is an animal specialist.
(2) Principal: I think your sister is not feeling too well. I don’t know what has happened, she seemed fine until I started asking her about your monkey.
Avik : Monkey ?
Principal: Ha ha yes, yes, you must be confused, what with all the garam masala and kali mirchi! Ha, ha. But you see, beta, it’s like this. Your sister, Pia, has created a sensation in school today by telling her class about your pet monkey, Pepper. Yes, a sensation, yes.
Avik: So, Pepper’s gone to your head finally, hasn’t he ?
Questions :
(1) What do you think, has made Pia upset ?
(2) How has Pia created a sensation in school, according to the principal ?
Answer:
(1) Everybody in Pia’s class and the principal – all of them kept on asking Pia about her pet – a monkey. This made Pia upset.
(2) According to the principal, Pia’s talks about her pet – monkey created a sensation in school that day.
Vocabulary
1. Tick the sentences in the pair in which the underlined word in each of them is used correctly:
1a. The tenure of a Prime Minister in India is five years. ✓
1b. When Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam died, his tenure was 83-years-old.
2a. Parents love their children so they want to create disasters in their life.
2b. It would be a disaster for India not reaching. ✓
3a. I took a raincoat to class as the whether seemed stormy.
3b. I didn’t take an umbrella to class today, as the weather seemed stormy. ✓
4a. He reached over and retrieved his jacket from the backseat. ✓
4b. She sprinkled water on the unconscious man’s face and retrieved him.
5a. Geeta assured her victory in sports by the semi-finals in the Cricket World Cup.
doing hard work in her practice.
5b. During the disaster, the government assured the people that they would be taken care of. ✓
6a. Children go to people reluctantly when they are offered chocolates.
6b. Children go to people reluctantly when they don’t know them. ✓
7a. We should not interfere in other people’s personal problems. ✓
7b. The interfere of the house well thought out and beautiful.
8a. When the building caught fire, people were shouting hysterically to get help. ✓
8b. During the fire drill, the students came out of their classes noisily and hysterically as they had practised it many times.
9a. My grandmother used to sigh every time she remembered my grandfather who had passed away ten years ago. ✓
9b. My grandmother always sighs with delight and excitement when we visit her on Saturdays.
10a. The truck ran over the man’s foot and as a result it was mangled badly. ✓
10b. The curry was not mangled correctly, so some of got very salty bits.
2. In each set there are three words which are synonymous while one is an antonym. Find the odd one out.
(1) structured, chaotic, disorganized, lawless
(2) grab, let go, catch, snatch
(3) cheer, delight, sad, pleasure
(4) protest, revolt, oppose, obey
(5) rare, strange, common, unique
(6) gentle, fierce, intense, ferocious
(7) erupt, break out, be quiet, explode
(8) ordinary, awesome, impressive, wondrous
Answer:
(1) structured
(2) let go
(3) sad
(4) obey
(5) common
(6) gentle
(7) be quiet
(8) ordinary
Function
1. Read the conversation and the text given below. You will come across some new words and some changes. Underline the words that you think are new and changed. Some are done for you.
Rupesh and you are best friends. Rupesh wants to buy a bicycle. He insists that his father shall get him a bicycle. You heard the conversation between them.
Rupesh and you are best friends. Rupesh wants to buy a bicycle. He insists that his father shall get him a bicycle. You heard the conversation between them.
Rupesh : When will I get my bicycle. Papa?
Father : I will get it for you only on one condition.
kupesh : What is It?
Father : If you secure the highest rank In your
class this year only then you will get your bicycle.
Rupesh : I am ready to take this challenge.
Father : Which company’s bicycle do you wish to get?
Rupesh : I have not decided it yet. I will ask for
bicycle only when I get the highest score in class.
Now you are reporting the conversation to your father at home:
Rupesh asked his father when he would get his bicycle. His father replied that he would get it for him only on one condition. Rupesh asked curiously what it was. His father told him that if he secured the highest rank in his class that year, only then he would get his bicycle. Rupesh promptly said that he was ready to take that challenge. Then his lather asked him which company’s bicycle he wished to get. Rupesh replied that he had not decided it till then. He added that he would ask for the bicycle only when he got the highest score In class.
2. I Read the passage. Fill in the gaps using appropriate forms of words given in brackets:
Sangita was very excited. She had returned from lier trip to Rajasthan only in the morning. She did not get tired of talking about her trip. She told her mother that ……….. had visited (Wc visited”) the fatuous temple of Lord Krishna at Nathadwara. Her brother asked her she visited ……….. Kankaroli (“Did you visit Kankarolrr). She replied in positive and added that she ……….. seen beautiful migratory birds at the vast pond of Kankarolt. (saw beautiful migratory birds at the vast pond of Kankaroli.”) Her sister inquired which places ………. visited in the lake city Udaipur. (“Which places did you visit?”) Sangita told her that they …………. the City Palace, the Chetak Monument, the Puppet Show and the Saheliyo Ki Badi Garden. (“We visited the City Palace, the Chetak Monument, the Puppet Show and the Saheliyo Ki Badi Garden.”)
Answer:
Sangita was very excited. She had returned from her trip to Rajasthan only in the morning. She did not get tired of talking about her trip. She told her mother that they had visited the famous temple of Lord Krishna at Nathadwara. Her brother asked her if she had visited Kankaroli.
She replied in positive and added that she had seen beautiful migratory birds at the vast pond of Kankaroli. Her sister inquired which places she had visited in the lake city Udaipur. Sangita told her that they had visited the City Palace, the Chetak Monument, the Puppet Show and the Saheliyo Ki Badi Garden.
3. Read the messages and report them as shown in the example:
Message: Hema said to Ramesh, “We will meet tomorrow.”
Reporting : Hema told Ramesh that they would meet the next day.
(1) Krishna informed Ganesh, “I won’t be attending the party tomorrow.”
Reporting : Krishna informed Ganesh that she wouldn’t be attending the party the next day.
(2) The teacher said, “Ajay, have you completed your homework ?”
Reporting: The teacher asked Ajay if he had completed his homework.
(3) The passenger : What is the time of the train to Ahmedabad ?
Reporting: The passenger inquired what the time of the train to Ahmedabad was.
(4) “Go back home now, King,” said the saint, “and you will find what you need.”
Reporting: The saint asked the king to go back home then and added that he would find ( what he needed.
(5) Pradip said to Meena, “Please sing a song for me.”
Reporting: Pradip requested Meena to sing a song for him.
(6) Roy said, “Hurrah ! Our team won.”
Reporting: Roy exclaimed excitedly that their team had won.
(7) The boy said, “Let’s play for half an hour.”
Reporting: The boy proposed to play for half an hour.
(8) Parul said to her friend, “Thank you for your kind help.”
Reporting: Parul thanked her friend for his/her kind help.
4. The following are messages for your sister. Write them in reported speech so that you can pass them to her. Underline the changed words in messages as shown in example:
“This is Rina Shah. I won’t be attending the dance competition the next week. My brother is sick.”
Answer:
Rina Shah said that she wouldn’t be – attending the dance competition the following week. Then she added that her brother was sick.
“This is Aunt Sweta. I’ll meet your mother at the temple at 1 p.m. tomorrow. Don’t be late.”
Answer:
Aunt Sweta said that she would meet my mother at the temple at 1 p.m. the next day. She asked me not to be late.
“This is Rohan. I am back from my NCC camp. Please visit my home. I am excited to
share my experiences.”
Answer:
Rohan said that he was back from his NCC camp. Then he requested me to visit his home. He told that he was excited to share his experiences.
“This is Ananya. I waited for you at the school’s playground. Then I had to reach my music class on time. So I couldn’t wait for long.”
Answer:
Ananya said that she had waited for me at the school’s playground and added that then she had to reach her music class on time, so she couldn’t wait for long.
“This is your music teacher. You need not come tomorrow for class. I have an important concert to attend. You can come for the same at the town hall.”
Answer:
The music teacher rang up and she said I need not go the next day for class and explained that she had an important concert to attend. She told me that I could go for the same at the town hall.
Question 5.
Here is a report of a telephone message on a tape recorder by a secretary. Write out the actual word that you think Mr Atri used. Mr Atri said that he was very sorry that he could not attend the sales conference on Monday. He was leaving for Delhi that evening and would not be back till Wednesday. He wondered if Mr Shyam could go to the sales conference instead. He would appreciate if he could know by that evening, so that he could ask Mr Shyam for his travel arrangements. He apologized for any inconvenience caused.
Answer:
Mr Atri: I am very sorry that I cannot attend the sales conference on Monday. I am leaving for Delhi this evening and will not be back till Wednesday. I wonder if Mr Shyam can go to the sales conference instead. I will appreciate if I can know by this evening, so that I can ask Mr Shyam for his travel arrangements. I am sorry for any inconvenience caused.
Question 6.
Complete the story given below by using reported speech:
Answer:
One day a man from the future met me.
I asked him how did you reach there.
He replied that it was the miracle of computer and space technology.
I enquired where you were before you were taken away in future.
He answered that he was a clerk working in a space station.
I asked him why he had preferred to go in future.
He answered because he wanted to have a thrill of it and added that what was going to happen in future.
I asked him when he would come back.
He said that he never would come back and added that he enjoyed his life there.
I asked him to give us the information about the life he was spending there.
He agreed to my proposal and told me everything about his life there.
Writing
Question 1.
There are reports about excessive watching of television by children. It results not only into a dropping of their academic performance but also affecting their physical development. After reading the points, you decide to write an article for your school magazine on The 111-effects of Watching Television too much. Write a paragraph in about 150 words.
[Points : weakening of eyesight – becoming lazy – less social communication – loss of imagination – no time for reading – addiction to TV]
Answer:
The Ill-effects of Watching TV too much Watching TV for children is an enjoyable activity. Children who watch TV programmes too much have several bad effects, three of which are effect to their cognition, effect to their health, and effect to their habit. First effect is to their cognitive. Children who watch too much TV programmes lack in concentration.
When he or she watches a TV programme, they just need some minutes to concentrate because the programme will be interrupted by the advertisements. Then, they will have a simple mindset because when they watch a TV programme, they do not need to think much and they are less able to think critically.
They are also difficult to imagine something because when they watch a TV programme, they just need to look and listen. The second effect is to their health. The child who likes to watch TV programmes can sit in front of it for hours. If the children watch TV programmes too much, they will have a problem with their eyes.
May be their eyes will be tired fast and then they will have more eye problems. Another problem to their health is they probably will have a bad development on their body such as becoming overweight because they choose to watch a TV programme and they rarely exercise.
The third effect is their habit. When the children watch TV programmes too much, they will have a bad habit. They become lazy to do something else such as study because they do not want to miss the TV programmes. It will influence their intelligence.
When he or she stays along in front of a TV and does not do something else such as play with his or her friends or family, probably he or she will become an insolated person. Another bad effect to their habit is they will be influenced by violence in some TV programmes because they have not been able to think long and think what is better or bad.
In brief, watching too much TV programmes will have bad effect on the children. Therefore, we as an old brother or sister should reduce the habit of watching too much TV for our young brothers or sisters.
2. Read the e-mail given below. Draft a reply to it in the given box:
Dear sir,
Thank you for your order no : XHE15678 dated 11th July.
You have received the laptop on 15th July.
As a valued customer, we request you to give your feedback on your experience of online shopping and your views about the laptop.
Head,
Marketing Division
Answer:
To : Head, Marketing Division
Cc : Sales Executive
Subject: Thanks for the delivery of laptop
Dear Sir,
Thank you very much for the delivery of my laptop in time. It is received in pretty good condition with all the auxiliaries. I had a little doubt as I was doing online shopping for the first time. I had fears whether I would get it original and in a good condition, with all the auxiliaries or not. But thanks a lot as it is found in a satisfactory condition. I switched it on and it functions very well. Now onwards, I have decided to do all my shopping online and preferably through your agency.
Thanks and Regards,
Devarshi Dave.
Question 3.
What will you do, if you become invisible ? Write a paragraph on it.
Answer:
If I become invisible, I can work miracles. There are several things and activities in this world that weaken our society and consequently come in the way of progress of our country. The very first thing is corruption. Being invisible, I would be able to record the corrupt clerks, officers, politicians and so on.
I will teach them such a lesson that they would never take any sort of bribe in their life. Then I would steal commodities from hoarders and distribute them among the deprived ones, so that life would not be a curse for them. Thirdly, being invisible, I would teach lesson to dishonest persons, so that they would start living honestly and would not victimise others for their personal gains.
Even if it is not desirable, I would steal medicines for the sufferers who die for lack of money. Thus, I would render myself in the service of suffering humanity and try to create a world void of dishonesty, corruption, diseases and other evils if I become invisible.
Activity
1. Conduct a debate competition in your class on ‘Quick money does not last long.’
2 Hold a group discussion in the class in Gujarati on Every student will speak for or against the topic. Now, prepare posters about your conclusion. [ Note : To be done by students. ]
Pepper, the Phantom Pet Summary in Gujarati
અહીં, સહઅભ્યાસિક પ્રવૃત્તિ તરીકે શાળાના એક વર્ગમાં કરવામાં આવેલી એક ચર્ચા મૂકવામાં આવી છે. વર્ગમાં બૂમાબૂમ થતી હોય છે. કાગળ ઉછળતા હોય છે. એ સમયે શ્રીમતી ચાવલા – એક શિક્ષિકા પ્રવેશે છે. વિદ્યાર્થીઓ આજે કાંઈક રસપ્રદ શીખવાના મિજાજમાં છે. ત્યારે શ્રીમતી ચાવલા તેમને પાલતુ પ્રાણીઓ વિશેની ચર્ચા કરવા જણાવે છે. સૌ વિદ્યાર્થીઓ શરૂઆતમાં વિરોધ કરે છે.
પરંતુ પાછળથી પોતપોતાના પાલતુની વિશેષતાઓ જણાવે છે. એક વિદ્યાર્થિની – પિઆ – શાંત છે. ઘણા બધાના વારા પછી વિદ્યાર્થીઓ પિઆને તેના પાલતુ વિશે કાંઈક કહેવા જણાવે છે. પિઆ ખચકાય છે, પરંતુ છેવટે આગ્રહને વશ થઈ જણાવે છે કે તેની પાસે એક દક્ષિણ અમેરિકાથી તેણીના કાકા દ્વારા ભેટમાં મળેલી એક વાંદરી છે. વિદ્યાર્થીઓ તેના વિશે જાણવા અતિ ઉત્સુક છે અને પિઆને તે વાંદરી શાળામાં લઈ આવવા આગ્રહ કરે છે. શિક્ષિકા આચાર્ય પાસેથી તેને શાળામાં લાવવા ખાસ પરવાનગી મેળવી આપે છે, પરંતુ પિઆ ખુશ નથી. તેણી અતિશય મૂંઝવણમાં છે, ગભરાયેલી જણાય છે.
આચાર્યશ્રીને પણ તેણી તે વાંદરી વિશે યોગ્ય ઉત્તર આપી શકતી નથી. આચાર્યશ્રીને પિઆ અતિશય અસ્વસ્થ લાગતાં તેઓ તેના ભાઈ અવિકને ફોન કરી બોલાવે છે. ત્યાં આવ્યા બાદ બધાં સમક્ષ અવિક સ્પષ્ટતા કરે છે કે પિઆને તે વાંદરીનું અતિશય વળગણ હતું, પરંતુ અમે તે વાંદરીને દક્ષિણ અમેરિકાના જંગલમાં પરત મોકલી દીધી છે. આ સ્પષ્ટતાથી પિઆ રાહત અનુભવે છે અને અવિકનો આભાર માને છે, પરંતુ અવિક માત્ર Thanks’થી ચલાવી લે તેવો નથી, તે પિઆ પાસેથી આવતા મહિનાની બધી ચૉકલેટ્સ લઈ લેશે તેવી શરત મૂકે છે.
Glossary (શબ્દાર્થ)
Phrases and Idioms
create sensation (ક્રિએટ સેન્સેશન) arouse excitement – ઉત્તેજના જન્માવવી to go to one’s head (ગો ટુ વન્સ હેડ) to have obsession for something – કશાક માટે મનોગ્રસ્તિ હોવી (મન પર કબજો હોવો)
ભાષાંતર
વર્ગખંડમાં દશ્ય ખૂલે છે. તે અતિશય ઘોંઘાટિયો અને ગેરવ્યવસ્થા ભય છે. કાગળ અને પેન્સિલના ઘા થઈ રહ્યા છે અને બૂમાબૂમ થઈ રહી છે. શિક્ષિકા પ્રવેશે છે, આ દશ્ય તરફ લાચારીથી જોઈ રહે છે. પછી એક સ્મિત સાથે બહાદુરીપૂર્વક (વર્ગમાં) પ્રવેશે છે.
શિક્ષિકા: બાળકો, સુપ્રભાતમ્ !
(પ્રવૃત્તિઓ ક્ષણવાર માટે થંભી જાય છે.)
વિદ્યાર્થીઓઃ સુ… પ્રભાત … મું, શ્રીમતી ચાવલા!
(ફરી પાછો ઘોંઘાટ શરૂ થઈ જાય છે.)
વિદ્યાર્થી ત: મેં … ! જુઓ, તેઓ મારી ચીજવસ્તુઓ ચોરી જાય
છે, તે લોકો રોજ મારી .. વિદ્યાર્થી : મેં … મ, આજે આપણે શું કરવાના છીએ?
વિદ્યાર્થી 2: મે… મ, મેં… મ, (આજે) આપણે કાંઈ મજા આવે
તેવું કરીએ, મેં … મ.
આ સૂચનના સમર્થનમાં ઘણી તાળીઓ પડે છે.) – શિક્ષિકા હવે, બાળકો, આજે આપણે પાલતુ પ્રાણીઓ વિશે ચર્ચા કરવાનાં છીએ.
તરત જ પિઆને છોડીને આખીય વર્ગ વિરોધથી ખળભળી ઊઠે છે, માત્ર પિઆ ઊભી રહી છે અને (શિક્ષિકાના સૂચનને) તાળીઓથી વધાવી લે છે.)
વિદ્યાર્થીઓઃ ના, ના, એ તો એટલું કંટાળાજનક છે ને !
પિઆ, ચૂપ થઈ જા, એક વાર પ્રાણી બનવાનું બંધ કર !
હા, એ માત્ર એટલે જ ને કે તું પ્રાણીઓની તજ્જ્ઞ છે!
ના, મૅમ, પ્રાણીઓ વિશે કાંઈ નહિ. અમે એ કર્યું છે.
તે તો પહેલા ધોરણમાં નાનાં છોકરાં માટે હોય!
મહેરબાની કરી આપણે કાંઈક બીજું કરીએ! ચાલો આપણે પિકનિક પર જઈએ!
શિક્ષિકા બાળકો, આજે આપણે પાલતુ પ્રાણીઓ વિશે જ વાત કરવાની છે અને તેને રસપ્રદ બનાવવાનું છે, ચાલો દરેક જણ, તમારા ઘરમાં કદાચ હોય, તો પાલતુ પ્રાણી વિશે બોલવાનું શરૂ કરો. શમા, આપણે તારાથી શરૂ કરીએ.
શમાં: હા, તમારામાંથી મોટા ભાગના નસીબદાર – જે કોઈ મારા ઘરે આવી ચૂક્યા છે તે – જાણે છે કે મારી પાસે કેટલાંક દુર્લભ અંગોરા સસલાં છે. તે ખૂબ જ સુંદર છે અને તેમને લાંબી, પોચી રુવાંટી હોય છે. તેથી લોકો સ્વેટર બનાવવા તે રુવાંટી માટે તેમને ઉછેરે છે. વિદ્યાર્થીઓ સાચે જ, મૅમ, તે ખૂબ જ આકર્ષક (રૂપકડાં) છે.
તેમની રુવાંટી અતિશય સુંવાળી છે, મૅમ. શિક્ષિકા ખૂબ સરસ, શમા, બીજું કોણ બોલશે)? (ઘણા બધા હાથ હવામાં લહેરાય છે અને બુમો પડે છે, ‘મૅમ, મેમ, હું!’) શિક્ષિકા ચાલ, રોહન? રોહન: મારી પાસે આખી દુનિયાનો સૌથી ખૂંખાર કુતરો છે – રૉટવીલર – તેનું નામ ‘કિલર’ છે. તે ખૂબ જ ભયંકર કુતરો છે, પણ તે ઊંચી કક્ષાની તાલીમ પામેલો છે. તેથી તે અમારામાંથી કોઈને કરડતો નથી. શિક્ષિકાઃ આભાર, રોહન, હવે પછી (કોણ)?
વિદ્યાર્થી 2: મારી પાસે જોડકી પર્શિયન બિલાડીઓ છે. મારા કાકા કહે છે કે તેમનો રંગ દુર્લભ છે. મારે તેમને રોજ બ્રશથી સાફ કરવી પડે છે. તેમનાં નામ સિલ્વર અને ગોલ્ડ છે, કારણ કે તે ખૂબ જ મૂલ્યવાન છે. તેઓ..
બાકીની રજૂઆતો મૂક અભિનયથી થાય છે. પિઆ જેવી ઊભી થઈ અને શ્રોતાગણ સાથે પ્રત્યક્ષ વાત કરવા સ્ટેજની નીચે ઊતરી જાય
યોગ્ય રહેશે. મને તેનો મોબાઇલ નંબર આપ, હું તેને તે વાંદરી વિશે પૂછીશ અને પછી તેને તને ઘરે લઈ જવા
કહીશ, – એ કેવું રહેશે? પિઆ (તરત જ ટટ્ટાર થઈને) ના, ના, સાહેબ, હું ઠીક છું. – હું… હું… હું મારા ભાઈને મારી જાતે કહીશ, એટલે કે,
વાંદરી વિશે. આચાર્ય કેમ બેટા! તે તારો પોતાનો સગો ભાઈ છે. તે તને માંદાના
ખંડમાં લઈ જશે, તે તારા માતાપિતાને મારા મોબાઇલ પરથી ફોન કરશે અને એ સમય દરમિયાન હું તેને વાંદરી વિશે પૂછીશ – શું આ સારું નહિ રહે? અરે લે, અવિક, મહેરબાની
કરી અંદર આવી જા.
અવિકઃ (જમણી પાંખમાંથી દોડી આવતાં) સાહેબ, શું મારી બહેનનેફરી કોઈ તકલીફ થઈ?
આચાર્યઃ ના. પિઆ હા.
આચાર્યઃ મને લાગે છે કે તારી બહેનને બહુ ઠીક નથી લાગતું. મને ખબર નથી તેણીનું શું થયું છે, મેં એને તમારી વાંદરી વિશે પૂછવાનું શરૂ કર્યું. ત્યાં સુધી તો તે બરાબર લાગતી હતી. અવિક વાંદરી?
આચાર્યઃ ઠીક, ઠીક, તું જરૂર મુંઝાઈ ગયો હોઈશ, ગરમ મસાલા
અને કાલી મિરચીનું શું છે! ભલે, ભલે, પણ બેટા, એ વાત આમ છે. તારી બહેન, પિઆએ આજે તમારી પાલતુ વાંદરી – પેપર – વિશે વર્ગને કહીને (આખી) શાળામાં એક
ઉત્તેજના પેદા કરી દીધી છે. હા, ઉત્તેજના (ખળભળાટ) હા. અવિકઃ તો, તારા મનમાં પેપર ઘૂસી ગઈ છે, નહિ ને? પિઆ (માથું ધુણાવતાં) (એ તો) એ. અવિક શું?
પિઆ એ – પેપર – વાંદરી મારા મગજમાં સવાર થઈ ચૂકી છે, અવિક,
મહેરબાની કરીને … અવિક: ના, ખરેખર, આ મારી નાદાન બહેનની જ ભૂલ છે. મારા
મમ્મી-પપ્પાએ જાણ્યું કે તેણી (પિઆ) આ ઉત્તેજના લાંબા સમય સુધી સંભાળી નહીં શકે, (તેથી તો તેમણે) એ બિચારી
વાંદરીને દક્ષિણ અમેરિકા પરત મોકલી દીધી. બધાં: (આચાર્ય સહિત) અરે … રે!
ખૂબ જ ખરાબ થયું.
હે ભગવાન, કલ્પના કરો કે બિચ્ચારી પિઆ એના વિચારોમાં પાગલ થઈ જાત તો. અવિક: હા, વળી, મને એમ જ હતું કે તેણીનું તેમ જ થાત. મેં
વિચાર્યું કે તેના કરતાં તો એને વહાણમાં દક્ષિણ અમેરિકાનાં જંગલમાં છોડી આવું તો કેવું?
(ઘંટ વાગે છે. આચાર્ય અને શિક્ષક બાળકોને પડખે પડખે મોકલવાનું શરૂ કરે છે.) આચાર્ય ભલે, ભલે, એ વાતનો અંત આવી ગયો. બહુ જ ખરાબ,
આપણને આવા વિચિત્ર (અદભુત) પ્રાણીની મુલાકાત લેવાનું
(ફરી) શક્ય નહિ બને. ચાલો, હવે બધાં વર્ગમાં બેસી જાઓ. શિક્ષક : ચાલો, ચાલો, હવે બધાં પાછાં આવી જાઓ. મહેરબાની કરી
વર્ગમાં પાછાં ચાલ્યાં જાઓ – વિરામનો સમય પૂરો થયો.
(જેવાં બાળકો ગણગણતાં અને બબડાટ કરતાં અનિચ્છાએ પરાણે તેમના પગ ઢસડતાં જાય છે ત્યારે પિઆ નીચેના સ્ટેજની તેની નિશ્ચિત જગ્યાએ પરત ફરે છે.).
પિઆ (બાજુએ ખસીને) ખૂબ ખૂબ આભાર. અવિક, તેં મને બચાવી લીધી.
અવિક: એટલું પૂરતું નથી. આ આખાય મહિનાની તારી ચૉકલેટ્સ હવે મારી થઈ.
પિઆ : અરે, ના. ભાઈ, મહેરબાની કર.