Today topic- 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.
- 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 )
