CLASS 11 Chapter 2 The Address
Perhaps I was mistaken, I thought, perhaps it isn’t her. I had seen her only once, fleetingly, and that was years ago. It was most probable that I had rung the wrong bell. The woman let go of the door and stepped to the side. She was wearing my mother’s green knitted cardigan
| Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| I | मैं | मैं |
| thought | थॉट | सोचा |
| isn’t | इज़न्ट | नहीं है |
| her | हर | उसकी |
| seen | सीन | देखा |
| once | वन्स | एक बार |
| fleetingly | फ्लीटिंगली | छोटे समय के लिए |
| years | यीयर्स | सालों |
| ago | अगो | पहले |
| most | मोस्ट | सबसे |
| probable | प्रॉबबल | संभावित |
| rang | रैंग | बजाया |
| wrong | रॉंग | गलत |
| bell | बैल | घंटी |
| woman | वुमन | महिला |
| let | लेट | छोड़ दी |
| go | गो | जाने दी |
| door | डॉर | दरवाज़ा |
| stepped | स्टेप्ट | कदम रखा |
| side | साइड | ओर |
| wearing | वेयरिंग | पहने हुए |
| mother’s | मदर्स | माँ का |
| green | ग्रीन | हरा |
| knitted | निटेड | सिला हुआ |
| cardigan | कार्डिगन | कार्डिगन |
She was wearing my mother’s green knitted cardigan. The wooden buttons were rather pale from washing. She saw that I was looking at the cardigan and half hid herself again behind the door. But I knew now that I was right.
| Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| wearing | वेयरिंग | पहने हुए |
| mother’s | मदर्स | माँ का |
| green | ग्रीन | हरा |
| knitted | निटेड | सिला हुआ |
| cardigan | कार्डिगन | कार्डिगन |
| wooden | वुडन | लकड़ी का |
| buttons | बटन्स | बटन |
| rather | रादर | काफी |
| pale | पेल | फीका |
| washing | वॉशिंग | धोने का |
| saw | सॉ | देखा |
| looking | लुकिंग | देख रहा था |
| half | हाफ | आधा |
| hid | हिड | छिपा |
| herself | हरसेल्फ | खुद को |
| again | अगेन | फिर से |
| behind | बिहाइंड | पीछे |
| door | डॉर | दरवाज़ा |
| knew | न्यू | जानता था |
| now | नाउ | अब |
| right | राइट | सही |
‘Well, you knew my mother?’ I asked. ‘Have you come back?’ said the woman. ‘I thought that no one had come back.’ ‘Only me.’ A door opened and closed in the passage behind her. A musty smell emerged. ‘I regret I cannot do anything for you.’ ‘I’ve come here specially on the train. I wanted to talk to you for a moment.’
| Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| mother | मदर | माता |
| asked | आस्क्ड | पूछा |
| come | कम | आना |
| back | बैक | वापसी |
| said | सैड | बोली |
| woman | वूमन | महिला |
| thought | थॉट | सोचा |
| one | वन | एक |
| door | डॉर | दरवाज़ा |
| opened | ओपन्ड | खोला |
| closed | क्लोज़ड | बंद किया |
| passage | पैसेज | गलियारा |
| behind | बिहाइंड | पीछे |
| musty | मस्टी | दुर्गंधित |
| smell | स्मेल | गंध |
| emerged | इमर्ज़्ड | प्रकट हुआ |
| regret | रिग्रेट | पछतावा |
| cannot | कैनॉट | नहीं कर सकता |
| anything | एनीथिंग | कुछ भी |
| train | ट्रेन | ट्रेन |
| wanted | वांटेड | चाहता था |
| talk | टॉक | बातचीत |
| moment | मोमेंट | क्षण |
‘It is not convenient for me now,’ said the woman. ‘I can’t see you. Another time.’ She nodded and cautiously closed the door as though no one inside the house should be disturbed. I stood where I was on the step
| Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| convenient | कनवीनियंट | उपयुक्त |
| said | सैड | बोली |
| woman | वूमन | महिला |
| can’t | कान्ट | नहीं कर सकता |
| see | सी | देखना |
| another | अनदर | एक और |
| time | टाइम | समय |
| nodded | नाडड़ | सिर हिलाना |
| cautiously | कॉशनली | सतर्कतापूर्वक |
| closed | क्लोज़ड | बंद किया |
| door | डॉर | दरवाज़ा |
| though | थो | हालांकि |
| one | वन | एक |
| inside | इंसाइड | अंदर |
| house | हाउस | घर |
| disturbed | डिस्टर्ब्ड | परेशान किया |
| stood | स्टूड | खड़ा था |
| step | स्टेप | सीढ़ी |
The curtain in front of the bay window moved. Someone stared at me and would then have asked what I wanted. ‘Oh, nothing,’ the woman would have said. ‘It was nothing. I looked at the name-plate again. Dorling it said, in black letters on white enamel. And on the jamb, a bit higher, the number. Number 46.
| Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| curtain | कर्टन | पर्दा |
| front | फ्रंट | सामने |
| bay | बे | खाड़ी |
| window | विंडो | खिड़की |
| moved | मूव्ड | हिला |
| someone | समवन | कोई |
| stared | स्टेयर्ड | घूरा |
| asked | आस्कड | पूछा |
| wanted | वांटेड | चाहता था |
| nothing | नथिंग | कुछ नहीं |
| said | सैड | बोली |
| looked | लूक्ड | देखा |
| name-plate | नेम-प्लेट | नामप्लेट |
| black | ब्लैक | काला |
| letters | लेटर्स | अक्षर |
| white | वाइट | सफेद |
| enamel | इनैमल | इनेमल |
| jamb | जांब | दरवाज़े का पट्टा |
| bit | बिट | थोड़ा |
| higher | हायर | ऊँचा |
| number | नंबर | संख्या |
| 46 | फोर्टी-सिक्स | छप्पन-छियासठ |
As I walked slowly back to the station I thought about my mother, who had given me the address years ago. It had been in the first half of the War. I was home for a few days and it struck me immediately that something or other about the rooms had changed. I missed various things
| Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| walked | वॉक्ड | चला |
| slowly | स्लोली | धीरे-धीरे |
| station | स्टेशन | स्टेशन |
| thought | थॉट | सोचा |
| mother | मदर | मां |
| given | गिवन | दी |
| address | एड्रेस | पता |
| years | यीयर्स | सालों |
| ago | अगो | पहले |
| half | हाफ | आधा |
| War | वॉर | युद्ध |
| home | होम | घर |
| days | डेज | दिनों |
| struck | स्ट्रक | लगा |
| immediately | इमीडियेट्ली | तत्काल |
| something | समथिंग | कुछ |
| rooms | रूम्स | कमरों |
| changed | चेंज्ड | बदल गया |
| missed | मिस्ड | याद आया |
| various | वेरियस | विभिन्न |
| things | थिंग्स | चीज़ें |
My mother was surprised I should have noticed so quickly. Then she told me about Mrs Dorling. I had never heard of her but apparently she was an old acquaintance of my mother, whom she hadn’t seen for years. She had suddenly turned up and renewed their contact. Since then she had come regularly.
| Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| mother | मदर | मां |
| surprised | सरप्राइज्ड | हैरान |
| noticed | नोटिस्ड | ध्यान दिया |
| quickly | क्विक्ली | जल्दी |
| told | टोल्ड | बताया |
| Mrs | मिसेज | मिसिस |
| Dorling | डॉर्लिंग | डॉर्लिंग |
| heard | हर्ड | सुना |
| old | ओल्ड | पुराना |
| acquaintance | ऐक्वेंटन्स | परिचित |
| seen | सीन | देखी |
| years | यीयर्स | सालों |
| suddenly | सड़कर | अचानक |
| turned | टर्न्ड | आ गयी |
| renewed | रीन्यूड | नवीनीकरण किया |
| contact | कॉन्टैक्ट | संपर्क |
| regularly | रेग्युलर्ली | नियमित रूप से |
‘Every time she leaves here she takes something home with her,’ said my mother. ‘She took all the table silver in one go. And then the antique plates that hung there. She had trouble lugging those large vases, and I’m worried she got a crick in her back from the crockery.’ My mother shook her head pityingly
| Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| time | टाइम | समय |
| leaves | लीव्स | छोड़ती है |
| something | समथिंग | कुछ |
| home | होम | घर |
| mother | मदर | मां |
| table | टेबल | मेज़ |
| silver | सिल्वर | चांदी |
| antique | एंटीक | प्राचीन |
| plates | प्लेट्स | प्लेट |
| hung | हंग | लटका हुआ |
| trouble | ट्रबल | परेशानी |
| lugging | लग्गिंग | उठा कर ले जाना |
| large | लार्ज | बड़ा |
| vases | वेसेज | फूलदान |
| worried | वरीडिड | चिंतित |
| crick | क्रिक | गर्दन में खिचाव |
| back | बैक | पीठ |
| crockery | क्रॉकरी | बरतन |
| head | हेड | सिर |
| pityingly | पिटिंग्ली | दया भाव से |
‘I would never have dared ask her. She suggested it to me herself. She even insisted. She wanted to save all my nice things. If we have to leave here we shall lose everything, she says.’
| Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| dared | डेर्ड | साहस किया |
| ask | आस्क | पूछना |
| suggested | सग्जेस्टिड | सुझाव दिया |
| insisted | इन्सिस्टेड | ज़बरदस्ती की |
| wanted | वांटेड | चाहती थी |
| save | सेव | बचाना |
| nice | नाइस | अच्छा |
| things | थिंग्स | चीज़ें |
| leave | लीव | छोड़ना |
| lose | लूज़ | खोना |
| everything | एव्रीथिंग | सब कुछ |
| says | सेज़ | कहती है |
Have you agreed with her that she should keep everything?’ I asked. ‘As if that’s necessary,’ my mother cried. ‘It would simply be an insult to talk like that. And think about the risk she’s running, each time she goes out of our door with a full suitcase or bag.
| Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| agreed | अग्रीड | सहमत होना |
| keep | कीप | रखना |
| everything | एव्रीथिंग | सब कुछ |
| asked | आस्क्ड | पूछा |
| necessary | नेसेसरी | आवश्यक |
| cried | क्राइड | रो पड़ी |
| insult | इंसल्ट | अपमान |
| talk | टॉक | बातचीत |
| think | थिंक | सोचना |
| risk | रिस्क | जोखिम |
| running | रनिंग | उठाना |
| goes | गोज़ | जाती है |
| door | डोर | द्वार |
| full | फ़ुल | पूरा |
| suitcase | सूटकेस | सूटकेस |
| bag | बैग | थैला |
My mother seemed to notice that I was not entirely convinced. She looked at me reprovingly and after that we spoke no more about it. Meanwhile I had arrived at the station without having paid much attention to things on the way
| Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| mother | मदर | माता |
| notice | नोटिस | ध्यान देना |
| convinced | कन्विंस्ड | प्रभावित |
| looked | लुक्ड | देखा |
| reprovingly | रिप्रूविंग्ली | डांटते हुए |
| spoke | स्पोक | बोले |
| meanwhile | मीनवाइल | उसी बीच में |
| arrived | आराइव्ड | पहुंचे |
| station | स्टेशन | स्टेशन |
| paid | पेड | भुगतान किया |
| attention | अटेंशन | ध्यान |
| things | थिंग्स | चीज़ें |
| way | वे | रास्ता |
I was walking in familiar places again for the first time since the War, but I did not want to go further than was necessary. I didn’t want to upset myself with the sight of streets and houses full of memories from a precious time.
| Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| walking | वॉकिंग | चलना |
| places | प्लेसेज़ | स्थानों |
| first | फ़र्स्ट | पहला |
| time | टाइम | समय |
| War | वॉर | युद्ध |
| want | वांट | चाहिए |
| go | गो | जाना |
| further | फ़र्थर | आगे |
| necessary | नेसेसरी | आवश्यक |
| upset | अपसेट | परेशान |
| sight | साइट | दृश्य |
| streets | स्ट्रीट्स | सड़कें |
| houses | हाउसेज़ | घरों |
| memories | मेमरीज़ | यादें |
| precious | प्रेशियस | कीमती |
| time | टाइम | समय |
In the train back I saw Mrs Dorling in front of me again as I had the first time I met her. It was the morning after the day my mother had told me about her. I had got up late and, coming downstairs, I saw my mother about to see someone out. A woman with a broad back.
| Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| train | ट्रेन | ट्रेन |
| back | बैक | पीछे |
| saw | सॉ | देखा |
| Mrs | मिसेज़ | महिला |
| Dorling | डॉर्लिंग | डॉर्लिंग |
| front | फ़्रंट | सामने |
| first | फ़र्स्ट | पहली |
| time | टाइम | समय |
| met | मेट | मिली |
| morning | मॉर्निंग | सुबह |
| day | डे | दिन |
| mother | मदर | मां |
| told | टोल्ड | बताया |
| got | गॉट | प्राप्त |
| late | लेट | देर |
| coming | कमिंग | आ रहा था |
| downstairs | डाउनस्टेयर्स | नीचे |
| broad | ब्रॉड | चौड़ा |
| back | बैक | पीठ |
There is my daughter,’ said my mother. She beckoned to me. The woman nodded and picked up the suitcase under the coat-rack. She wore a brown coat and a shapeless hat. ‘Does she live far away?’ I asked, seeing the difficulty she had going out of the house with the heavy case. ‘In Marconi Street,’ said my mother. ‘Number 46. Remember that.
| Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| daughter | डॉटर | बेटी |
| mother | मदर | मां |
| beckoned | बेकन्ड | इशारा किया |
| nodded | नॉडेड | सिर हिलाया |
| picked | पिक्ड | उठाया |
| suitcase | सूटकेस | सटेकेस |
| coat-rack | कोट-रैक | कोट रैक |
| wore | वोर | पहन रही थी |
| brown | ब्राउन | भूरा |
| coat | कोट | कोट |
| shapeless | शेपलेस | अनियमित |
| hat | हैट | टोपी |
| live | लिव | रहती है |
| far | फार | दूर |
| away | अवे | दूर |
| asked | आस्क्ड | पूछा |
| seeing | सीइंग | देखकर |
| difficulty | डिफ़िकल्टी | कठिनाई |
| going | गोइंग | जाना |
| house | हाउस | घर |
| heavy | हैवी | भारी |
| case | केस | बक्सा |
| Marconi | मार्कोनी | मार्कोनी |
| Street | स्ट्रीट | सड़क |
| Number | नंबर | नंबर |
| Remember | रिमेम्बर | याद रखें |
I had remembered it. But I had waited a long time to go there. Initially after the Liberation I was absolutely not interested in all that stored stuff, and naturally I was also rather afraid of it. Afraid of being confronted with things that had belonged to a connection that no longer existed
| Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| remembered | रिमेम्बर्ड | याद रखा |
| waited | वेटेड | प्रतीक्षा की |
| long | लॉंग | लंबा |
| time | टाइम | समय |
| go | गो | जाना |
| initially | इनिशियली | पहले |
| Liberation | लिबरेशन | मुक्ति |
| interested | इंटरेस्टेड | रुचि रखा |
| stored | स्टोर्ड | संग्रहीत |
| stuff | स्टफ़ | सामग्री |
| naturally | नैचरली | स्वाभाविक रूप से |
| rather | रादर | बल्कि |
| afraid | अफ्रेड | डरा हुआ |
| confronted | कन्फ्रंटेड | सामना किया |
| belonged | बेलॉंग्ड | संबंधित था |
| connection | कनेक्शन | संपर्क |
| longer | लॉंगर | अब नहीं |
| existed | एक्ज़िस्टेड | मौजूद था |
which were hidden away in cupboards and boxes and waiting in vain until they were put back in their place again; which had endured all those years because they were ‘things.’
| Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| hidden | हिडन | छिपा हुआ |
| away | अवे | दूर |
| cupboards | कपबर्ड्स | अलमारियाँ |
| boxes | बॉक्स | डिब्बे |
| waiting | वेटिंग | प्रतीक्षा |
| vain | वेन | व्यर्थ |
| put | पुट | रखा गया |
| back | बैक | वापस |
| place | प्लेस | स्थान |
| endured | एन्ड्यूर्ड | सहा |
| years | यीयर्स | सालों |
| things | थिंग्स | चीजें |
But gradually everything became more normal again. Bread was getting to be a lighter colour, there was a bed you could sleep in unthreatened, a room with a view you were more used to glancing at each day. And one day I noticed I was curious about all the possessions that must still be at that address. I wanted to see them, touch, remember
| Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| everything | एव्रीथिंग | सब कुछ |
| bread | ब्रेड | रोटी |
| colour | कलर | रंग |
| bed | बेड | बिस्तर |
| sleep | स्लीप | सोना |
| room | रूम | कक्ष |
| view | व्यू | दृश्य |
| day | डे | दिन |
| possessions | पजेशन्स | संपत्ति |
| address | एड्रेस | पता |
| see | सी | देखना |
| touch | टच | छूना |
| remember | रिमेम्बर | याद रखना |
After my first visit in vain to Mrs Dorling’s house I decided to try a second time. Now a girl of about fifteen opened the door to me. I asked her if her mother was at home. ‘No’ she said, ‘my mother’s doing an errand.’ ‘No matter,’ I said, ‘I’ll wait for her.’
| Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| visit | विज़िट | यात्रा |
| vain | वेन | व्यर्थ |
| Mrs. | मिसेस | श्रीमती |
| Dorling’s | डॉर्लिंग्स | डॉर्लिंग्स |
| house | हाउस | घर |
| try | ट्राय | कोशिश करना |
| second | सेकंड | दूसरा |
| girl | गर्ल | लड़की |
| fifteen | फिफ्टीन | पंद्रह |
| door | डोर | दरवाजा |
| mother | मदर | मां |
| home | होम | घर |
| matter | मैटर | मायने नहीं रखना |
| wait | वेट | प्रतीक्षा करना |
I followed the girl along the passage. An old-fashioned iron Hanukkah1 candle-holder hung next to a mirror. We never used it because it was much more cumbersome than a single candlestick
| Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| girl | गर्ल | लड़की |
| passage | पासेज़ | गलियारा |
| iron | आयरन | लोहा |
| Hanukkah | हानुक्काह | हानुक्काह |
| candle-holder | कैंडल-होल्डर | मोमबत्ती-धारक |
| mirror | मिरर | आईना |
| never | नेवर | कभी नहीं |
| used | यूज़ड | प्रयुक्त |
| much | मच | बहुत |
| more | मोर | अधिक |
| cumbersome | कम्बरसम | बोझिल |
| single | सिंगल | एकल |
| candlestick | कैंडलस्टिक | मोमबत्ती-धारी |
Won’t you sit down?’ asked the girl. She held open the door of the living-room and I went inside past her. I stopped, horrified. I was in a room I knew and did not know. I found myself in the midst of things I did want to see again but which oppressed me in the strange atmosphere. Or because of the tasteless way everything was arranged,
| Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| girl | गर्ल | लड़की |
| sit | सिट | बैठना |
| down | डाउन | नीचे |
| asked | आस्क्ड | पूछा |
| held | हेल्ड | पकड़ा हुआ |
| open | ओपन | खुला |
| door | डोर | दरवाजा |
| living-room | लिविंग-रूम | बैठक कक्ष |
| went | वेंट | चला गया |
| inside | इन्साइड | अंदर |
| past | पास्ट | गुजरते हुए |
| stopped | स्टॉप्ड | रुक गया |
| horrified | हॉरिफ़ाइड | भयभीत |
| knew | न्यू | जानता था |
| did | डिड | किया |
| want | वांट | चाहता था |
| see | सी | देखना |
| again | अगेन | फिर से |
| oppressed | ओप्रेस्ड | दबाव डाला हुआ |
| strange | स्ट्रेंज | अजीब |
| atmosphere | एट्मॉस्फियर | माहौल |
| tasteless | टेस्टलेस | रसहीन |
| way | वे | तरीका |
| everything | एव्रीथिंग | सब कुछ |
| arranged | अरेंज्ड | व्यवस्थित |
because of the ugly furniture or the muggy smell that hung there, I don’t know; but I scarcely dared to look around me. The girl moved a chair. I sat down and stared at the woollen table-cloth. I rubbed it. My fingers grew warm from rubbing. I followed the lines of the pattern. Somewhere on the edge there should be a burn mark that had never been repaired
| Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| furniture | फर्नीचर | फर्नीचर |
| smell | स्मेल | गंध |
| hung | हंग | लटका हुआ |
| dared | डेर्ड | साहस किया |
| look | लुक | देखना |
| girl | गर्ल | लड़की |
| moved | मूव्ड | हिलाया |
| chair | चेयर | कुर्सी |
| sat | सैट | बैठा |
| down | डाउन | नीचे |
| stared | स्टेर्ड | देखा |
| woollen | वूलन | सूती |
| table-cloth | टेबल-क्लॉथ | मेज-कपड़ा |
| rubbed | रब्ड | पोंछा |
| grew | ग्रू | बढ़ा |
| warm | वार्म | गर्म |
| lines | लाइन्स | रेखाएँ |
| pattern | पैटर्न | पैटर्न |
| somewhere | समवेर | कहीं-कहीं |
| edge | एज | किनारा |
| burn | बर्न | जलना |
| mark | मार्क | निशान |
| repaired | रिपेयर्ड | मरम्मत किया |
‘My mother’ll be back soon,’ said the girl. ‘I’ve already made tea for her. Will you have a cup?’ ‘Thank you.’ I looked up. The girl put cups ready on the tea-table. She had a broad back. Just like her mother. She poured tea from a white pot. All it had was a gold border on the lid, I remembered. She opened a box and took some spoons out.
| Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| mother | मदर | माँ |
| girl | गर्ल | लड़की |
| tea | टी | चाय |
| cup | कप | कप |
| thank | थैंक | धन्यवाद |
| looked | लुक्ड | देखा |
| put | पुट | रखा |
| ready | रेडी | तैयार |
| tea-table | टी-टेबल | चाय की मेज |
| broad | ब्रॉड | चौड़ा |
| white | वाइट | सफेद |
| gold | गोल्ड | सोना |
| border | बॉर्डर | सीमा |
| lid | लिड | ढक्कन |
| remembered | रिमेम्बर्ड | याद आया |
| opened | ओपेन्ड | खोला |
| box | बॉक्स | बक्सा |
| took | टूक | लिया |
| spoons | स्पूंस | चम्मच |
That’s a nice box.’ I heard my own voice. It was a strange voice. As though each sound was different in this room. ‘Oh, you know about them?’ She had turned round and brought me my tea. She laughed. ‘My mother says it is antique. We’ve got lots more.’ She pointed round the room. ‘See for yourself.’
| Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| box | बॉक्स | बक्सा |
| voice | वॉइस | आवाज़ |
| sound | साउंड | आवाज़ |
| room | रूम | कमरा |
| mother | मदर | माँ |
| antique | ऐंटीक | प्राचीन |
| lots | लॉट्स | बहुत सारे |
| more | मोर | और |
| round | राउंड | चारों ओर |
| yourself | योरसेल्फ | अपने आप को |
| see | सी | देखना |
I had no need to follow her hand. I knew which things she meant. I just looked at the still life over the tea-table. As a child I had always fancied the apple on the pewter plate. ‘We use it for everything,’ she said. ‘Once we even ate off the plates hanging there on the wall. I wanted to so much. But it wasn’t anything special.’
| Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| need | नीड | आवश्यकता |
| follow | फॉलो | अनुसरण करना |
| hand | हैंड | हाथ |
| things | थिंग्स | चीज़ें |
| still | स्टिल | शांत |
| life | लाइफ | जीवन |
| tea-table | टी-टेबल | चाय की मेज |
| child | चाइल्ड | बच्चा |
| apple | ऐपल | सेब |
| pewter | प्यूटर | चितवन |
| plate | प्लेट | थाली |
| use | यूज़ | उपयोग |
| everything | एव्रीथिंग | हर चीज़ |
| ate | एट | खाया |
| hanging | हैंगिंग | लटक रहा |
| wall | वॉल | दीवार |
| wanted | वांटेड | चाहा |
| special | स्पेशल | विशेष |
I had found the burn mark on the table-cloth. The girl looked questioningly at me. ‘Yes,’ I said, ‘you get so used to touching all these lovely things in the house, you hardly look at them any more. You only
| Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| burn | बर्न | जलन |
| mark | मार्क | निशान |
| table-cloth | टेबल-क्लॉथ | मेज-चादर |
| girl | गर्ल | लड़की |
| look | लुक | देखना |
| touch | टच | स्पर्श करना |
| lovely | लवली | सुंदर |
| things | थिंग्स | चीज़ें |
| house | हाउस | घर |
| anymore | एनीमोर | अब और नहीं |
I had no need to follow her hand. I knew which things she meant. I just looked at the still life over the tea-table. As a child I had always fancied the apple on the pewter plate. ‘We use it for everything,’ she said. ‘Once we even ate off the plates hanging there on the wall. I wanted to so much. But it wasn’t anything special.
| Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| need | नीड | आवश्यकता |
| follow | फॉलो | अनुसरण करना |
| hand | हैंड | हाथ |
| things | थिंग्स | चीज़ें |
| life | लाइफ | जीवन |
| tea-table | टी-टेबल | चाय मेज़ |
| child | चाइल्ड | बच्चा |
| apple | ऐपल | सेब |
| pewter | प्यूटर | चितवन |
| plate | प्लेट | थाली |
| use | यूज़ | उपयोग |
| everything | एव्रीथिंग | हर चीज़ |
| ate | एट | खाया |
| hanging | हैंगिंग | लटकता हुआ |
| wall | वॉल | दीवार |
| wanted | वांटेड | चाहा |
| special | स्पेशल | विशेष |
notice when something is missing, because it has to be repaired or because you have lent it, for example.’ Again I heard the unnatural sound of my voice and I went on: ‘I remember my mother once asked me if I would help her polish the silver. It was a very long time ago and I was probably bored that day or perhaps I had to stay at home because I was ill, as she had never asked me before.
| Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| notice | नोटिस | ध्यान देना |
| something | समथिंग | कुछ |
| missing | मिसिंग | गायब |
| repaired | रिपेयर्ड | मरम्मत किया गया |
| lent | लेंट | उधार दिया गया |
| example | एक्सैंपल | उदाहरण |
| unnatural | अन्नैचुरल | अस्वाभाविक |
| sound | साउंड | ध्वनि |
| voice | वॉयस | आवाज़ |
| went | वेंट | चले गए |
| remember | रिमेम्बर | याद रखना |
| asked | आस्क्ड | पूछा |
| help | हेल्प | सहायता |
| polish | पॉलिश | पोलिश |
| silver | सिल्वर | चांदी |
| long | लॉंग | लंबा |
| time | टाइम | समय |
| ago | एगो | पहले |
| probably | प्रॉबेब्ली | शायद |
| bored | बोर्ड | उबाऊ |
| day | डे | दिन |
| stay | स्टे | रुकना |
| home | होम | घर |
| ill | इल | बीमार |
| asked | आस्क्ड | पूछा |
| before | बिफोर | पहले |
I asked her which silver she meant and she replied, surprised, that it was the spoons, forks and knives, of course. And that was the strange thing, I didn’t know the cutlery we ate off every day was silver.’ The girl laughed again. ‘I bet you don’t know it is either.’ I looked intently at her. ‘What we eat with?’ she asked
| Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| silver | सिल्वर | चांदी |
| spoons | स्पून्स | चम्मच |
| forks | फॉर्क्स | काँटा |
| knives | नाइव्स | चाकू |
| course | कोर्स | तबदील |
| strange | स्ट्रेंज | अजीब |
| cutlery | कटलरी | चाकू चम्मच आदि |
| ate | एट | खाया |
| every | एव्री | हर |
| day | डे | दिन |
| laughed | लॉफ्ट | हँसी ली |
| bet | बेट | शर्त |
| know | नो | जानना |
| eat | ईट | खाना |
| asked | आस्क्ड | पूछा |
Well, do you know?’ She hesitated. She walked to the sideboard and wanted to open a drawer. ‘I’ll look. It’s in here.’ I jumped up. ‘I was forgetting the time. I must catch my train.’ She had her hand on the drawer. ‘Don’t you want to wait for my mother?
| Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| time | टाइम | समय |
| train | ट्रेन | ट्रेन |
| hand | हैंड | हाथ |
| drawer | ड्रावर | दराज़ |
| catch | कैच | पकड़ना |
| want | वांट | चाहना |
| wait | वेट | प्रतीक्षा करना |
| mother | मदर | माँ |
| hesitated | हेजिटेटेड | ठहराव |
| walked | वॉक्ड | चली गई |
| open | ओपन | खोलना |
| look | लुक | देखना |
| forgetting | फ़रगेटिंग | भूल जाना |
| must | मस्ट | होना चाहिए |
| jump | जंप | उछलना |
| catch | कैच | पकड़ना |
‘No, I must go.’ I walked to the door. The girl pulled the drawer open. ‘I can find my own way.’ As I walked down the passage I heard the jingling of spoons and forks. At the corner of the road I looked up at the name-plate
| Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| door | डोर | दरवाज़ा |
| girl | गर्ल | लड़की |
| drawer | ड्रावर | दराज़ |
| way | वे | रास्ता |
| passage | पैसेज़ | गलियारा |
| jingling | जिंगलिंग | चमकती |
| spoons | स्पून्स | चम्मच |
| forks | फोर्क | कांटा |
| corner | कॉर्नर | कोना |
| road | रोड | सड़क |
| name-plate | नेम-प्लेट | नामपट्टा |
Marconi Street, it said. I had been at Number 46. The address was correct. But now I didn’t want to remember it any more. I wouldn’t go back there because the objects that are linked in your memory with the familiar life of former times instantly lose their value when, severed from them, you see them again in strange surroundings.
| Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| Street | स्ट्रीट | सड़क |
| Number | नंबर | संख्या |
| Address | एड्रेस | पता |
| Objects | ऑब्जेक्ट्स | वस्तुएँ |
| Memory | मेमोरी | स्मृति |
| Life | लाइफ | जीवन |
| Times | टाइम्स | समय |
| Value | वैल्यू | मूल्य |
| Surroundings | सराउंडिंग्स | आसपास |
| Former | फॉर्मर | पूर्व |
| Strange | स्ट्रेंज | अजीब |
And what should I have done with them in a small rented room where the shreds of black-out paper still hung along the windows and no more than a handful of cutlery fitted in the narrow table drawer?I resolved to forget the address. Of all the things I had to forget, that would be the easiest.
| Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| Room | कमरा | कमरा |
| Shreds | श्रेड्स | टुकड़े |
| Paper | पेपर | कागज |
| Windows | विंडोज़ | खिड़की |
| Handful | हैंडफुल | हाथों में पकड़ |
| Cutlery | कटलरी | चम्मच, काँटा, चाकू, छुरी |
| Table | टेबल | मेज़ |
| Drawer | ड्रावर | दराज |
| Address | एड्रेस | पता |
| Things | थिंग्स | चीज़ें |
| Easiest | ईज़ियस्ट | सबसे आसान |
| Forget | फ़ॉरगेट | भूलना |