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and recited to us a number of tales from different parts Ali: Oh! You wouldn’t believe it but that’s my favourite
of India. as well. Why do you like it?
In another instance, in a museum in Punjab they Rani: I loved the way the little girl Chitra grew up to
organised a movie screening which was followed be such a successful young woman. Despite her hard
by a discussion. The movie was on the earliest of circumstances, she made the most of her life and made
civilisations and had replicas of the objects which her ‘Akka’ proud.
were present in the museum. We were later shown Ali: Yes, Chitra was definitely a brave girl. Just imagine
these objects during the discussion. I wish if we had a little girl hiding under a train berth to save herself
actually gone to the gallery to see these objects but from her terrible circumstances. The narrator must
sadly, we couldn’t. I’m lucky that my mother is in the have been impressed by her courageous behaviour.
Indian Army and when she was posted in Rajasthan, Rani: Definitely! If she hadn’t met the narrator, I don’t
we visited the local museum there. One of the things know what would have happened. It was the narrator
that I loved about that visit was the folkdance that who helped her out which gave Chitra the will to get
they performed. But you wouldn’t believe, the dancers ahead in life. Otherwise, she would have been stuck with
weren’t real people. No! They were puppets. It was a her stepmother who would have continued beating her.
puppet-folkdance. I felt that it was extremely unique
and captivating. Ali: I can’t even imagine it. When you talk about how
I also have memories of watching a play which was her life might have turned out, had she not met the
narrator, what comes to mind is her success. Weren’t
based on the life of Rani of Jhansi. The performance you happy when you saw Chitra finally standing there
and costumes were so lifelike and what made it in the hotel lobby, smiling at the narrator? How proud
even more spectacular was the fact that it was she must have felt!
performed in the gallery belonging to that era. We
were surrounded by the past. It was as if we were Rani: Yes, Ali. When she paid the narrator’s hotel
transported back in time. bill, she showed her gratitude for everything that the
There is all this and more that museums can do. I hope narrator had ever done for her.
all of you are as fortunate as I have been to experience Ali: I loved that scene, Rani. Also, while reading it, I
such programmes. felt as if a strong moral message was being conveyed
through the actions of characters.
Rani: You’re right, Ali. The story shows how a small
Lesson 15 The Story of a Stepwell gesture of kindness can go a long way and change
Ali: So, Rani did you finish the short story collection someone’s life completely. Moreover, through Chitra
that Ms Verrier gave us to study? I think we all can learn that no problem is such that it
Rani: Yes, Ali. It was a very interesting book. But my cannot be dealt with. Where there is a will…
favourite story from that collection is ‘Bombay Ali: …there is a way! (bell rings) Oh! That’s the bell.
to Bangalore’. Let’s go to class now. We’ll share this with Ms Verrier.

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