From the story "Zigzag":
1. "Even though I clearly said no!" — Dr. Krishnan (complaining that Somu thinks he agreed).
2. "The one that spits deadly poison…" — Maya (identifying the beetle).
3. "Remember the tiny penknife he gave me last year." — Maya (joining the protest about Somu's gifts).
4. "It's Somu's thoughtless ways that reduce me to tears." — Mrs. Krishnan (irritated at Somu's gifts).
5. "Come in, Zigzag, come in dear!" — Visu, Somu's cook, who brings Zigzag.
1. Dr. Krishnan
2. Maya
3. Maya
4. Mrs. Krishnan
5. Visu (Uncle Somu's cook)
Reconstructed from the textbook passages: Visu comforts the family about Zigzag settling; Arvind and Maya show enthusiasm and protest when others criticise Zigzag; Dr. Krishnan explains and defends Zigzag as harmless; Mrs. Krishnan is initially annoyed and insists Zigzag be removed, but after seeing his usefulness she becomes pleased; Somu's e-mail states Zigzag hardly ever sleeps and suggests Visu keep him; Zigzag responds to praise by eating the toffee wrapper and winking. (Answers matched to lines on pages 54–59 of the story.)
3. Visu — reassured the family, saying they should wait; he comforted them that Zigzag would settle in and they would enjoy him.
1. Arvind and Maya — protested eagerly, defended Zigzag/Uncle Somu and expressed delight;
Dr. Krishnan — hastened to explain and reassure them that Zigzag was harmless and lovable.
4. Mrs. Krishnan — annoyed and determined to get rid of Zigzag at home (asked Dr. Krishnan to find Visu);
Somu — in his e-mail said he had never heard Zigzag snore and that Zigzag hardly ever sleeps (recommended Visu keep him).
2. Dr. Krishnan — tried to calm his wife, explained the misunderstanding (Somu must have misheard him at the clinic).
5. Mrs. Krishnan — changed her mind and became pleased; suggested they keep Zigzag after seeing how helpful he was;
Dr. Krishnan — delighted, agreed and decided to take Zigzag to the clinic each morning;
Zigzag — did not reply in words but accepted the praise, ate the toffee and gave a knowing wink.
Dr Ashok Krishnan's cousin Somu called him to ask him to look after his pet bird, Zigzag, while Somu was away in Alaska. Somu needed someone trustworthy to care for the bird during his absence, and he turned to his cousin Dr. Krishnan for this responsibility. This request set off a chain of unexpected and chaotic events at the Krishnan household.
Two expressions are: "I'm going crazy with the sound of Zigzag snoring, plus all these telephone calls" and "And my beautiful painting..."
Somu had a giant green-and-gold fighting beetle and an African snake.
Mrs Krishnan was busy preparing paintings for an exhibition the following week.
The boomerang caused significant damage and chaos in the neighbourhood. It sliced through the neighbourhood television aerials, permanently damaged several parked cars, and knocked the watchman unconscious. This incident created considerable commotion and disturbance among the residents, leading to complaints and concerns about the safety of people and property in the area.
When Somu left Zigzag with the Krishnans, the bird immediately began to cause disruptions. Zigzag placed the fruits and nuts that were given to him on the chandelier and fan blades instead of eating them. He then perched on the curtain rod, went to sleep and began to snore loudly. This unusual behaviour and the loud snoring disturbed the entire household and created an unexpected problem for the family.
Zigzag did not speak to the Krishnans despite their attempts to communicate with him in several languages. Instead, he communicated only through non-verbal means such as winking, sleeping and snoring. This limited form of communication made it difficult for the family to understand what the bird wanted or needed, adding to the confusion and frustration in the household.
Dr Krishnan sent an email message to Somu asking for instructions on how to stop Zigzag from snoring. The loud snoring had become a major problem for the family, disturbing their peace and sleep, so Dr. Krishnan urgently sought advice from Somu on how to manage this issue and find a solution to the problem.
Arvind confessed that, for the first time, he was looking forward to school because it was as calm and peaceful as a monastery compared with their home. This statement reflects how chaotic and disruptive Zigzag's presence had made the household, to the extent that even school seemed like a refuge of tranquility and quiet for the young boy.
Mrs Jhunjhunwala bought the painting because she liked its new technique and artistic style. She was particularly impressed by the streaky orange effect that had been created on the painting by the papaya pulp that had splashed across it when the fan was switched on. What had been an accident and a disaster for Mrs Krishnan became an appreciated artistic element in the eyes of the buyer.
1. Somu called Dr Ashok Krishnan to care for Zigzag while he was in Alaska. 2. Mrs Krishnan complained that the snoring and telephone calls were driving her crazy and worried about her painting. 3. Somu had a giant fighting beetle and an African snake. 4. She was preparing paintings for an exhibition. 5. The boomerang damaged TV aerials, cars and the watchman. 6. Zigzag stored fruit, slept and snored. 7. He mostly winked, slept and snored instead of speaking. 8. Dr Krishnan asked Somu how to stop the snoring. 9. Arvind admitted that school seemed peaceful compared with home. 10. Mrs Jhunjhunwala admired the painting's new streaky-orange technique.
At the Krishnans' home, Zigzag caused numerous commotions and disruptions. The bird stored fruits and nuts on the chandelier and ceiling-fan blades instead of eating them, then slept on the curtain rod and snored so loudly that the family and neighbours were constantly disturbed by the noise. When Lakshmi switched on the fan, the fruits and nuts flew across the room in all directions; a guava and walnut struck her, and overripe papaya pulp splashed across Mrs Krishnan's valuable painting, damaging it. The loud noise, numerous complaints from neighbours, and the damaged painting created complete confusion and chaos in the house. The family found it difficult to manage the bird's behaviour and the consequences of his actions, turning their peaceful home into a place of constant turmoil and disorder.
When Zigzag was taken to the clinic, his behaviour changed dramatically. At the clinic, Zigzag perched on the reception table and used a clear, commanding voice to bring complete silence and order to the chaotic environment. He comforted frightened children with his gentle manner, scolded naughty ones to discipline them, and made crying children laugh by reciting French poetry in an entertaining way. He became happy and alert, displaying intelligence and usefulness that had not been evident at home. Dr Krishnan realised an important truth from this experience: that Zigzag was a great help and performed well when he was kept busy and had a purpose. This discovery suggested that the bird's disruptive behaviour at home was due to boredom and lack of engagement rather than any inherent problem with his nature.
Somu asked Dr Krishnan to care for Zigzag while he went to Alaska. Though the bird could speak and sing in twenty-one languages, it remained silent at the Krishnans' home, stored fruit and nuts on the chandelier and fan, slept on the curtain rod and snored loudly. When the fan was switched on, fruit flew around and papaya pulp spoiled Mrs Krishnan's painting. Dr Krishnan then took Zigzag to his clinic, where the bird became alert, calmed the patients and entertained the children. Mrs Jhunjhunwala bought the damaged painting because she admired its new technique, and the family happily decided to keep Zigzag.
1. At the residence, Zigzag stored fruits and nuts on the chandelier and fan, slept on the curtain rod, snored loudly and caused fruit to fly across the room when the fan was switched on; papaya pulp spoiled Mrs Krishnan's painting. 2. At the clinic, he became alert, brought silence with his commanding voice, comforted frightened patients, corrected naughty children and made them laugh. 3. Somu left the multilingual bird with the Krishnans while travelling to Alaska. Zigzag caused chaos at home but proved invaluable at Dr Krishnan's clinic. The supposedly ruined painting was sold because its new effect was admired, and the family decided to keep Zigzag.
Arrival: Mrs Krishnan was not willing to keep Zigzag and was worried about her paintings and forthcoming exhibition. Residence: Zigzag perched on the curtain rod and slept; when Lakshmi switched on the fan, fruits and nuts flew around and papaya pulp splashed on the painting. Mrs Krishnan asked Dr Krishnan to contact Somu. Email: Somu replied that Zigzag hardly ever slept and had never snored. Clinic: Zigzag entered, took charge in a clear commanding voice and brought silence. Once the family understood that he had to be kept busy, they decided to keep him at home and at the clinic.
1. "The marriage of a young girl below 18" = Child Marriage.
2. "A transfer of durable goods/property that the bride's family gives to the bridegroom..." = Dowry System.
3. "The intentional killing of a baby girl due to the preference for male babies" = Female Infanticide.
4. "Repeated and unwelcome sexual comments, looks, or physical contact at workplace" = Sexual Harassment.
5. "A woman deciding to remarry despite opposition..." = Remarriage.
6. "Woman excelling in many fields overcoming many hurdles" = Women Empowerment.
1 - Child Marriage; 2 - Dowry System; 3 - Female Infanticide; 4 - Sexual Harassment; 5 - Remarriage; 6 - Women Empowerment