📘 Chapter A Gift of Chappals
The story “A Gift of Chappals” is about kindness, innocence, and helping the poor.
Mridu visits her cousins Ravi, Meena, and Lalli in Chennai. Ravi secretly keeps a small kitten named Mahendran and feeds it milk without letting his grandmother know. Ravi makes up funny stories about the kitten’s royal ancestry.
One day, a beggar comes to the house. He has blisters on his feet because he has no chappals. Mridu feels sorry for him. Ravi and Meena also feel that it is unfair for him to walk barefoot on the hot road.
They notice an old pair of chappals in the verandah. Ravi gives those chappals to the beggar. The beggar is very happy and leaves quickly.
Later, it is discovered that the chappals belonged to Lalli’s music teacher. Everyone is upset. Rukku Manni scolds Ravi but finally gives her husband Gopu Mama’s new chappals to the music teacher.
In the end, Rukku Manni laughs, showing that kindness is more important than anger.
📗 सारांश (सरल हिंदी में)
“अ गिफ्ट ऑफ चप्पल्स” कहानी दया, करुणा और बच्चों की मासूमियत को दिखाती है।
मृदु अपने रिश्तेदारों के घर जाती है। रवि एक छोटे बिल्ली के बच्चे को चुपके से पाल रहा होता है। एक दिन एक भिखारी आता है जिसके पैरों में छाले होते हैं क्योंकि उसके पास चप्पल नहीं होती।
बच्चों को उस पर दया आती है। रवि बरामदे में रखी एक जोड़ी चप्पल भिखारी को दे देता है। बाद में पता चलता है कि वे चप्पल संगीत शिक्षक की थीं।
घर में थोड़ी नाराज़गी होती है, लेकिन अंत में रुक्कू मन्नी अपने पति की नई चप्पल शिक्षक को दे देती है और हँस पड़ती है। कहानी सिखाती है कि दया सबसे बड़ा गुण है।
📝 Word Meanings (English → Hindi)
| Word | Meaning | Hindi |
|---|---|---|
| Scrawny | Very thin | दुबला |
| Snooze | Short sleep | झपकी |
| Beggar | Poor person who asks for food/money | भिखारी |
| Blisters | Boils on skin | छाले |
| Lurking | Waiting secretly | छिपकर इंतज़ार करना |
| Fed up | Very tired/annoyed | परेशान |
| Vanished | Disappeared | गायब हो गया |
| Unappreciative | Not thankful | कृतघ्न |
| Veshti | Dhoti | धोती |
❓ Chapter Question–Answers
1. What is the secret that Meena shares with Mridu?
Meena tells Mridu that they are secretly keeping a kitten at home.
2. How does Ravi get milk for the kitten?
He secretly takes milk from the kitchen and pours it into a coconut shell.
3. Who does Ravi say the kitten’s ancestors are? Do you believe him?
He says the kitten is related to ancient royal cats. No, it is only his imagination.
4. What does Ravi’s talk about the kitten show?
It shows that Ravi has a rich imagination.
5. What was the noise that frightened Mridu and the kitten?
The noise was made by Lalli while learning to play the violin.
6. Why does Mridu think the beggar has no money to buy chappals?
Because his feet were full of blisters and he was barefoot.
7. What does Mridu suggest to help the beggar?
She suggests giving him an old pair of chappals.
8. Why did the beggar leave quickly after getting chappals?
He was afraid of being caught and was very grateful.
9. Why did the music teacher try not to look happy?
Because he got new chappals in place of the old ones and did not want to appear greedy.
10. Why did Rukku Manni laugh at the end?
She realised that kindness matters more than anger and the situation was ironic