Welcome dear students! Today we are going to learn about The_Woman_on_Platform_8 from Class 8 English_FL. Before we dive into the story, let us think about the pre-reading questions. Imagine you are travelling on a train or a bus and a stranger speaks to you. What would your reaction be? Would you talk back? Is it advisable to speak to strangers? Discuss this in your groups. As you read, keep track of the people the boy meets and his feelings towards them.
Now, let us begin the story. The narrator is a boy named Arun. It is his second year at boarding school. He is sitting on platform number eight at Ambala station, waiting for a north-bound train. He is about twelve years old. His parents think he is old enough to travel alone. He arrived by bus at Ambala early in the evening and now has to wait until midnight for his train. To pass the time, he paces up and down, browses at a book stall, and feeds broken biscuits to stray dogs. Trains come and go. Sometimes the platform is quiet, but when a train arrives, it becomes an inferno of heaving, shouting, agitated human bodies. When carriage doors open, a tide of people sweeps down upon the nervous ticket collector. Every time this happens, Arun gets caught in the rush and pushed outside the station. Tired of this and tired of walking, he sits on his suitcase and looks sadly across the railway tracks.
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Suddenly, a soft voice asks from behind him, Are you all alone, my son? He looks up and sees a woman. She is leaning over him. He notices her pale face and dark, kind eyes. She wears no jewels and is dressed very simply in a white sari. Arun stands up respectfully and says yes, he is going to school. She seems poor, but she carries a dignity that commands respect. She tells him she has been watching him and asks if his parents came to see him off. Arun explains that he does not live there, he had to change trains, and he can travel alone. She agrees, saying she is sure he can. Arun likes her for saying that. He also likes her simple dress, her deep soft voice, and the serenity on her face. She asks his name, and he says Arun. She asks how long he has to wait, and he says about an hour, as the train comes at twelve o clock. She invites him to come with her and have something to eat.
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Arun initially wants to refuse out of shyness and suspicion. But she takes his hand, and he feels it would be silly to pull away. She tells a coolie to look after his suitcase and leads him down the platform. Her hand is gentle, holding his neither too firmly nor too lightly. He looks at her again and realizes she is not young, but not old either. She takes him to the station dining room and orders samosas, jalebies, and tea. Arun begins to thaw and takes a new interest in this kind woman. The strange encounter does not ruin his appetite. He is a hungry schoolboy and eats as much as he can politely. She takes obvious pleasure in watching him eat, which cements their friendship. Under the influence of tea and sweets, he talks freely about his school, friends, likes, and dislikes. She questions him quietly but prefers listening. She draws him out very well, and he soon forgets they are strangers. Notably, she does not ask about his family or where he lives, and he does not ask where she lives either. He simply accepts her as a quiet, kind, gentle woman who gave sweets to a lonely boy on a railway platform.
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They walk back in silence to where his suitcase was left. Suddenly, one of his school fellows, Satish, who is about his age, appears with his mother. Satish calls out, Hello Arun, the train is coming in late as usual, and asks if he knows they have a new headmaster this year. They shake hands. Satish introduces Arun to his mother, calling him a friend and the best bowler in the class. Satish's mother, a large imposing woman wearing spectacles, says she is glad to know that. She looks at the woman holding Arun's hand and asks, And I suppose you are Arun's mother? Arun opens his mouth to explain, but before he can speak, the woman replies, Yes, I am Arun's mother. Arun is speechless. He looks at the woman, but she is not embarrassed and smiles at Satish's mother. Satish's mother complains about waiting for a train in the middle of the night, saying one cannot leave a child alone at a big station because of suspicious characters. She warns that one must be very careful of strangers these days. The woman beside Arun replies that Arun can travel alone though. Arun feels grateful to her for saying that. He has already forgiven her for lying, and he has taken an instinctive dislike for Satish's mother.
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Satish's mother looks sternly at Arun through her spectacles and warns him to be very careful when his mother is not with him, and to never talk to strangers. Arun looks from Satish's mother to the kind woman who gave him tea and sweets, and back again. He says, I like strangers. Satish's mother staggers a little, clearly unused to being contradicted by small boys. She warns that if you do not watch over children, they will walk straight into trouble, and tells Arun to always listen to his mother and never talk to strangers, wagging a fat little finger at him. Arun glares resentfully at her and moves closer to the woman who befriended him. Satish stands behind his mother, grinning and delighting in the clash, apparently on Arun's side. The station bell clangs. People who were squatting on the platform begin bustling about. Satish shouts that the train is coming as the engine whistle shrieks and front lights play over the rails. The train moves slowly in, hissing and sending out steam. Satish jumps on the footboard of a lighted compartment and tells Arun to come because it is empty. Arun picks up his suitcase and dashes for the open door.
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They place themselves at the open windows. The two women stand outside on the platform talking up to them. Satish's mother does most of the talking. She warns them not to jump on and off moving trains, not to stick their heads out of windows, and not to eat rubbish on the way. She shares this advice with Arun, probably thinking his mother is not very capable. She hands Satish a bag of fruits, a cricket bat, and a big box of chocolates, telling him to share with Arun. Then she steps back to watch how Arun's mother behaves. Arun is smarting under her patronizing tone, which suggests she thinks his family is poor. He refuses to give the other woman away. He lets her take his hand but can think of nothing to say. He is conscious of Satish's mother staring with hard, beady eyes, and he finds himself hating her with a firm, unreasoning hate. The guard walks up blowing his whistle. Arun looks straight into the eyes of the woman holding his hand. She smiles gently and understandingly. He leans out, puts his lips to her cheek, and kisses her. The carriage jolts forward, and she draws her hand away. Satish says goodbye mother as the train moves out. They wave to each other. Arun says goodbye to the other woman, and adds, goodbye mother. He does not wave or shout. He sits still, gazing at her. Satish's mother talks to her, but she does not seem to listen. She looks at Arun as the train takes him away. She stands on the busy platform, a pale sweet woman in white, and he watches her until she is lost in the milling crowd.
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Now let us review the glossary words from the chapter. Pacing means walking slowly. Browsing means examining in a casual way. Inferno means a place that is like hell. Heaving means panting with short quick breaths. Agitated means anxious. Ambling means walking at an easy gentle pace. Dismally means sadly. Serenity means calmness or peace. Thaw means to soften, used here to describe Arun's attitude changing. Encounter means a sudden or unexpected meeting. Embarrassed means mental discomfort. Nuisance means troublesome or annoying. Instinctive means natural. Sternly means harshly. Staggered means reeled in shock. Contradicted means disagreed with. Wagging means shaking. Resentfully means angrily. Befriended means making friendship. Apparently means clearly seen. Squatting means sitting on the floor. Smarting means feeling pained. Patronizing means showing superiority in a rude and insulting way. Milling means a throng of people moving about in a place.
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Let us move to the comprehension questions. For the first set, answer in two or three sentences each. Question one: What was Arun doing all alone on the platform and why? Arun was pacing up and down, browsing at a book stall, and feeding stray dogs because he was waiting for his north-bound train at midnight after arriving by bus earlier in the evening. Question two: What normally happens when a train arrives at the platform? When a train arrives, the platform becomes an inferno of heaving, shouting, agitated human bodies, and a tide of people sweeps past the nervous ticket collector. Question three: How did Arun react when he heard the voice of a stranger and why? He looked up respectfully and stood up because the woman had a dignified presence, a pale face, dark kind eyes, and wore a simple white sari that commanded respect. Question four: How did the bond between Arun and the stranger develop? The bond developed when she took him to the dining room, bought him samosas, jalebies, and tea, watched him eat with pleasure, and listened quietly as he talked about his school and friends. Question five: What was the reason behind Arun's instinctive dislike towards Satish's mother? He disliked her because of her patronizing tone, her harsh warnings, her assumption that his family was poor, and her condescending attitude towards the woman he was with. Question six: Why did Arun say, I like strangers? He said it to contradict Satish's mother's warning and to show his appreciation for the kind stranger who had treated him with warmth and generosity. Question seven: How did Satish and Arun react to the advice of Satish's mother saying never talk to strangers? Arun contradicted her openly and glared resentfully, while Satish stood behind his mother grinning, clearly enjoying the clash and apparently siding with Arun. Question eight: What did Satish's mother give and say to Satish as a parting advice? She gave him a bag of fruits, a cricket bat, and chocolates, and advised him not to jump on moving trains, not to stick his head out of windows, and not to eat rubbish. Question nine: Why didn't Satish's mother think Arun's mother a very capable person? She thought so because of the woman's simple dress, lack of jewels, and quiet demeanor, which led her to assume they came from a poor family. Question ten: How did Arun repay the strange woman for her goodness? He repaid her by accepting her as his mother in front of Satish's mother, holding her hand, and kissing her on the cheek before the train departed.
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Now for the second section, read the extracts and answer. Extract one: She drew me out very well. The speaker is Arun. It means the woman encouraged him to talk freely and share his thoughts comfortably. Extract two: Yes, I am Arun's mother. The speaker is the woman on the platform. She said this to protect Arun from Satish's mother's condescending attitude and to provide him with a sense of belonging and dignity. Extract three: These days one has to be very careful of strangers. Satish's mother said this. She said it to warn Arun about potential dangers at a busy station and to justify her overprotective nature.
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Next, complete the following statements. First, mention three things Arun liked about the woman in the white sari. He liked her deep soft voice, the serenity on her face, and the simplicity of her dress. Second, mention three things that made Arun dislike Satish's mother. He disliked her stern warnings, her patronizing tone, and her assumption that his family was poor.
Now let us complete the table from the textbook. For the second row, the person is the woman on the platform, the extract is Then come with me and have something to eat, and it tells us she is caring and hospitable. For the third row, the person is Satish's mother, the extract is The train is coming in late, as usual, and it tells us she is impatient. For the fourth row, the person is the woman on the platform, the extract is Arun can travel alone though, and it tells us she is supportive and respectful of his independence. For the fifth row, the person is Arun, the extract is I like strangers, and it tells us he is bold and appreciative of kindness. For the sixth row, the person is Satish's mother, the extract is a large imposing woman who wore spectacles, and it tells us she is imposing. For the seventh row, the person is Satish's mother, the extract is Never talk to strangers, and it tells us she is overprotective and cautious. For the eighth row, the person is Arun, the extract is I leaned out of the window, and put my lips to her cheek, and kissed her, and it tells us he is emotional and grateful.
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For the listening section, your teacher will read words describing the two women. Based on the story, Satish's mother can be described as imposing, stern, patronizing, cautious, and overprotective. The stranger can be described as gentle, serene, kind, simple, dignified, and caring.
For the speaking section, let us discuss the four questions. First, why was Arun allowed to travel alone? His parents considered him old enough at twelve years old and trusted him to manage the journey independently. Second, why did the lady adopt a mother's role? She likely felt compassion for a lonely boy waiting alone at midnight and wanted to provide him with comfort, protection, and a sense of family during a vulnerable moment. Third, why was she in a white saree and what is your reaction at night? White often symbolizes purity, peace, and simplicity. Seeing a person in white at night might initially cause surprise or fear, but in this story, it highlights her gentle and pure nature. Fourth, if she were a ghost, how would you change the ending? If she were a ghost, the ending might reveal that she vanished after the train left, or Arun later learns she passed away years ago, adding a supernatural layer to her act of kindness.
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Now, let us rearrange the jumbled sequence of events. The correct order is: Four, I sat down on my suitcase and gazed dismally across the tracks. Eight, she told a coolie to look after my suitcase and led me down the platform. Five, she drew me out very well and I forgot we were strangers. Two, I had already forgiven her for lying and disliked Satish's mother. Ten, Satish was standing behind his mother grinning at me. Nine, I looked from Satish's mother to the woman and back. Seven, we placed ourselves at open windows and the women stood outside. Six, she allowed me to share her advice as she thought my mother incapable. One, I looked into the eyes of the woman and she smiled gently. Three, she stood on the busy platform and I watched her until lost in the crowd.
Next, we will work on reporting verbs. You must write appropriate responses using the verbs in parentheses. For ask, the woman asked Arun if he was all alone. For advise, Satish's mother advised Arun to be very careful and never talk to strangers. For regret, Arun regretted his initial suspicion of the kind woman. For invite, the woman invited Arun to have something to eat. For warn, Satish's mother warned Arun about suspicious characters at the station. For enquire, the woman enquired about Arun's name and waiting time. For request, the woman requested the coolie to look after Arun's suitcase. For exclaim, Satish exclaimed that the train was coming in late.
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Let us move to the indirect speech completion exercises. First conversation: Ramani told Somu that their new servant had a tendency to steal things. Somu asked Ramani if anything was missing. Ramani answered that yes, he had stolen one of their blankets. Somu further asked her which one and Ramani replied that it was the one they had taken from Hotel Palm Beach. Second conversation: The child told the balloon man that he wanted a balloon which he could release into the air. The balloon man asked him which colour balloon he wanted. The child asked him which colour balloon would take him up with it. The balloon man told him that it was not the colour of the balloon but what was inside that makes it go up. Third conversation: Father asked Ashwin why he had been late from school the previous day. Ashwin replied that there had been a friendly football match between their school and G K Public School. Father asked why he had not informed them earlier. Ashwin replied that he had rung home but nobody had picked up the phone.
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Fourth conversation: The man scolded the servant for becoming very lazy these days. He questioned him why he had not got his breakfast ready by eight o clock. The servant apologised to him respectfully and explained that he had got up very late that day. The man asked him if he had set the alarm before going to sleep. To this, the servant answered politely that he had done so. His master further inquired the reason for the delay. The servant answered humbly that he had forgotten to wind the clock. Fifth conversation: An applicant went for an interview. The employer asked him why he had left his earlier job. The applicant replied that it had not met his requirement. The employer further enquired what salary he expected there. The applicant told him that he was expecting five thousand rupees per month. The employer concluded by saying that they could pay him just three thousand rupees per month. Sixth conversation: A customer went up to a salesman and requested him to show a good cap. The salesman asked him what type of cap he wanted. The customer replied that he wanted one that covered the face. The salesman, on hearing the request, remarked that it would not be a cap then, but a mask.
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Now for the writing task. After Arun reaches his boarding school, he writes a diary entry. Here is a model covering the time slots. From five to seven p m, I arrived at Ambala station after a long bus ride. The platform was crowded and noisy. I felt a bit lonely but decided to pass the time by walking around and feeding stray dogs. From seven to nine p m, I sat on my suitcase feeling tired. A kind woman in a white sari approached me. She asked about my journey and invited me for tea and snacks. I felt shy at first, but her gentle manner made me comfortable. From nine to eleven p m, we returned to my spot. Satish and his mother appeared. His mother was quite strict and patronizing. The woman beside me claimed to be my mother to protect my dignity. I felt deeply grateful to her. From eleven to twelve midnight, the train arrived. I said goodbye to the woman, called her mother, and kissed her cheek. As the train pulled away, I watched her until she disappeared. I will never forget her kindness.
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Let us practice pronunciation and word stress. Remember to stress the marked syllables. Say these words aloud: ar-ti-fi-cial, e-mo-tions, beau-ti-ful, su-pe-ri-or, ma-gic, ma-gi-cian, op-ti-cian, fes-ti-val, ac-tive. Now practice the story words with stress shifts: a-gi-ta-ted, am-bling, in-fer-no, se-ren-i-ty, com-man-ded, sus-pi-cion, im-po-sing, con-tra-dic-ted, pa-tro-ni-zing.
Finally, let us study direct and indirect speech. Direct speech uses the exact words spoken, placed in inverted commas. Indirect speech reports what was said without quotes, changing pronouns, tenses, and time words. For example, now becomes then, this becomes that, these become those, here becomes there, today becomes that day, tomorrow becomes the next day, yesterday becomes the previous day, ago becomes before, tonight becomes that night, and last week becomes the previous week. Verb changes include shall or will becoming would, may becoming might, can becoming could, is eating becoming was eating, has seen becoming had seen, and has been singing becoming had been singing. Statements change by adding that. Commands and requests use verbs like requested or ordered followed by an infinitive. Questions change to whether or if. Exclamations change to exclaimed that with an appropriate adjective.
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Now let us solve the grammar exercises. Rewrite in reported speech. One: He said that Amuda had been dancing. Two: My servant says that tea is ready. Three: He explained that he never ate meat. Four: He said that he had found a flat. Five: She said that they would discuss the matter the next day. Now change from indirect to direct speech. One: The teacher told the students, Honesty is the best policy. Two: She asked me, Have you finished reading the book? Three: He exclaimed, The sunset is very beautiful! Four: My mother told me, Clean your room before going out. Five: The doctor advised the patient, Take rest for a week.
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We have now covered the complete chapter, including the story, vocabulary, comprehension, grammar, and writing tasks. Make sure to practice the direct and indirect speech conversions regularly, as they are frequently tested. Review the glossary words and their meanings to improve your reading comprehension. Thank you for listening! Keep revising and practicing. Goodbye! [CHAPTER_COMPLETE]