BEGLA- 135- UNIT- 12 ( The Smell Of Food ) English in Daily Life

BEGLA- 135- UNIT- 12- The Smell Of Food- English in Daily Life- IGNOU Subject

INTRODUCTION

• English language in daily interaction can be learnt in a simple manner by reading and enacting plays.

• In this chapter we will learn to develop the ability to read play and understand the basic story in it. 

• Comprehend new vocabulary items using cues from within the text and make inferences from the text. 

• We can utilize the information taken from the text to real life.

READING COMPREHENSION : THE SMELL OF FOOD

• The stories of Mullah Nasruddin are famous all over the world and are narrated over and over again.

• A market place in Baghdad or Kabul. 

• There are a few shops. 

• In the background to the left is a shop which sells clothes and carpets. 

• Some rolled up carpets are placed in a pile just outside the shop. 

• A man with a lace cap and the beard customary to the place is sitting in the shop.

• To the left in the foreground is a hawker with various jars.

• On the right in the foreground is an eatery named 'Mehboob Husseini Kabab.' 

• There are a few chairs on which two men are sitting and waiting for their food.

• At the counter is a corpulent man with a turban and a beard. 

• Evidently he is Mehboob Husseini, the owner of the place.

• The main character Abdul in the same dress of salwar and kameez strolls into the market from the left. 

• He comes to the centre and stops.

• So many lovely things to buy and eat! Looks at the eatery. 

• Then makes a wry face But all these are of no use to a man with empty pockets. 

• Abdul: Breathing in deeply as the hurrying waiter brings in a dish It is so wonderful to just smell the food. 

• I can guess how delicious it would be to eat it.

• Mehboob Husseini: Of course you can try a couple of those heavenly kebabs. 

• (He calls out). Serve this gentleman here. 

• Abdul: No, no. I don't want to eat.

• Not today. I have to go. (Moves away as if to go).

• Then puts on a hard look and says) Well, go if you must.

• But how about paying for all the heavenly smells of the food at this eatery?

• Abdul: Pay for what? I have not tasted any of the food. 

• What kind of robbery is this? I will not pay.

• Husseini comes over to Abdul and takes hold of his elbow. 

• There is a mild scuffle.

• Mehbood Husseini: Then we shall see what the Quazi has to say in this matter.

• Well, you are lucky. The court would have closed by now.

• Abdul: But I can't pay you even if I wished to. I have no money. No money atall.

• Mehbood Husseini Then you'd better bring the money to the court tomorrow.

• And mind you, no tricks! Or, you know what kind (Curtain) of punishments thieves get.

Scene- 2 (Curtain)

• It is morning. 

• Mullah Nasruddin is sitting at his doorstep on a cot basking in the morning sun.

• Abdul appears from the right.

• Mullah: What's up? And why do you look like a goat that is to be slaughtered?

• Abdul: Indeed, O Mullah. 

• I am surely going to be executed because I can't pay for the smell of Husseini's food. 

• He meets me in the court today and if I fail to give him the money

• Mullah: (Takes off his turban and scratches his head. Thinks deeply and says...)

• So that's the story. One minute.

• He takes hold of Abdul's hand.) 

• Come let's go. (They move off stage to the left.) (Curtain)

Scene 3 (Curtain)

• The Quazi's court. The Quazi is sitting on a slightly raised platform with bolsters and nice covers. 

• A few courtiers can be seen. 

• On the left of the Quazi is seated Mehboob Husseini. Abdul and the Mullah enter from the right.

• Mullah: (Both bow deeply) May Allah bless our great Lord with a thousand years!

• The Quazi acknowledges the greetings with a wave of his hand.

• Mullah and Abdul seat themselves on the right side of the Quazi.

• Quazi: Let the court begin. Mehboob Miyan, what is your grievance?

• Mehbood Husseini: My Lord! This man (pointing towards where Abdul is sitting) has taken the smells of my food but now refuses to pay for them. 

• Now he is refusing to pay for the food, my Lord. 

• To add insult to injury he calls me a robber, my lord. Quazi: 

• (To Abdul) Did you or did you not take the smell of his food?

• Abdul: I did, my lord. But I did not even taste it. 

• Quazi: You have admitted that you did take the smell of his food. 

• You must pay this hardworking man. Or else, the court shall have to give you appropriate punishment. 

• (There is a hush in the court. Abdul stands shivering in his shoes. His head is bowed. 

• The Mullah rises and bows deeply.)

• Mullah: My Lord. This man Abdul is like my brother. 

• Can I pay on his behalf?

• Quazi: Mehboob Miyan, what do you say to that? Is the arrangement acceptable to you?

• Mehbood Husseini: Yes, my Lord. I want two full dinars. One for my food. And one for my time. My business is suffering there.

• Quazi: All right. That's fair enough. (To the Mullah) Yes, you may pay for him, Mullah.

• The Mullah gets up and crosses over to the side where Mehboob Husseini is sitting. 

• He sits very close to him and takes a cloth bag from under his cloak. 

• He holds it in his left hand and shakes it close to the man's ear. The coins jingle - Chink, chink!)

• Mullah: (Loudly) Do you hear the money? DO YOU HEAR MY MONEY?

• Mehbood Husseini: (Looking a little confused first and then brightening up a little at the prospect of getting the money.) Yes, I do hear your money.

• Mullah: (Repeats the act. This time he shakes it harder to make the coins jingle louder). 

• CAN YOU HEAR THE MONEY, SIR? DO YOU HEAR THE MONEY?

• Mehbood Husseini: You don't have to shout. OF COURSE, I HEAR THE MONEY. I HEAR YOUR MONEY!! Now pay up.

• Mullah: The payment's made. He smelled your food and you heard the (Pointing to Abdul) money. 

• So the dues are all clear. (Looks around at everyone in the court. Then bows deeply to the Quazi). Am I wrong, my Lord?

• Quazi: I guess you are right Mullah. You are indeed an intelligent fellow. COURT

• DISMISSED TILLAFTERNOON! (He announces loudly) 

Curtain

Questions

(i) What caught Abdul's fancy at the market place ?

(ii) Was Mehboob Husseini proud of the food in his shop ? Pick the line which shows this.

(iii) What did Mehboob Husseini threaten Abdul with ?

(iv) How did the Mullah help Abdul ?

READ MORE- BEGLA- 135- UNIT- 11 ( People at Work )