UNIT – 02: THERE’S A GIRL BY THE TRACKS!
I HIGHLIGHTS
Roma got into a crowded train.
As the train hurtled, Roma lost her foothold and fell off the moving train.
Nobody came forward to help her as they were afraid of police or court cases.
Baleshwar jumped off a moving train and helped Roma who was lying by the tracks.
He requested several motorists but at last a tempo truck driver stopped to help him.
Baleshwar refused to take Roma to Airoli as it was 10 Kms. away.
He took Roma to a nearby hospital but it lacked facilities.
Later he admitted her to the Divine Multi Speciality Hospital where Dr. Agarwal treated her
without any paper work as Roma was very serious.
Baleshwar informed Roma’s brother Dinesh and the next day Dinesh told him that Roma’s
handbag and cell phone were missing.
If Baleshwar had not helped Roma, she would have bled to death.
MOST LIKELY QUESTIONS
II Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each: (2 Marks)
1. How does the tempo truck driver play a vital role in saving Roma’s life? OR
How did the tempo truck driver help Baleshwar?
Ans: The tempo truck driver helped Baleshwar to lay the girl down at the back of histruck and drove
them to a small hospital. She was given first aid there. As the hospital did not have proper
facilities, he drove them to a Multi Speciality Hospital where she was treated well.
2. Why did Baleshwar feel that the people of Mumbai were afraid? OR
Why didn’t the people of Mumbai come forward to help Baleshwar? OR
Baleshwar remarked that the people of Mumbai were afraid. Why were they afraid?
Ans: No one volunteered to help Baleshwar in saving Roma’s life as they were afraidof getting
involved with the police and court.
3. Baleshwar was a compassionate young lad. Justify the statement.
Ans: Baleshwar saw Roma by the tracks.
He called for help but none came forward.
He jumped off the moving train.
He carried Roma and walked up to the road and pleaded motorists for help.
Nobody stopped, later a tempo truck driver stopped.
Baleshwar took her to a hospital nearby.
She got first aid in the hospital.
As there were no proper facilities, he took her to a Multi-Speciality Hospital where she was treated.
Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow:
1. ‘’Take the girl to Airoli”.
a. Who is the speaker? / Who suggested this?
Ans: The traffic police.
b. Who is the ‘girl?’ Ans: Roma Talreja.
c. What had happened to the girl?
Ans: The girl had fallen off a moving train.
d. Why did the speaker not agree with the suggestion?
Ans: Because Airoli was ten kilometers away
2.“Whom can I call?” He asked quickly, fearing that she would black out oncemore. (2017/2019)
a. Who is the ‘I’?
Ans: Baleshwar Mishra.
b. What does the phrase ‘blackout’ mean?
Ans: To become unconscious.
c. What reply did the speaker get?
Ans: She told him her brother’s name and gave his phone number.
3.“Please help me to take her to a hospital”. (2019 March/2023 April)
a. Who is the speaker?
Ans: Baleshwar Mishra.
b. Who did the speaker seek help from?
Ans: The motorists.
c. Who should be taken to
hospital? Ans: Roma Talreja.
d. Why should she be taken to a hospital?
Ans: Roma had fallen off a moving train and was injured badly.
e. What was the response to the speaker’s request?
Ans: Nobody stopped to help him, later a tempo truck driver stopped and helped him to take
the girl to the hospital.
4. “Chacha, can I borrow your mobile?” (2016 June)
a. Who was in need of the
mobile Ans: Baleshwar
Mishra.
b. Who is “Chacha”
Ans: The tempo truck driver.
c. Why did the speaker ask the mobile?
Ans: To inform Roma’s family about the accident.
d. Who did the speaker want to speak to?
Ans: Roma’s family member.
5. “Oh, I couldn’t thank him”.
a. Who is the ‘him’?
Ans: The tempo truck driver.
b. Who couldn’t thank
him? Ans: Baleshwar.
c. Why was the speaker unable to thank him?
Ans: Because the tempo truck driver left immediately after helping Baleshwar.
d. What does it reveal about ‘him’?
Ans: He was a humble man and did not expect anything in return for his kindness.
6.“I think it’s astonishing that a stranger would jump off a train and risk his life for me”. (June-22)
a. Who is the ‘I’? / Who is the speaker?
Ans: Roma Talreja.
b. Who is referred to as ‘a stranger’?
Ans: Baleshwar.
c. Where was the speaker when this statement was made?
Ans: At the hospital.
d. When was this statement made?
Ans: When the speaker recovered and came to know how she was rescued.
e. What would have happened to the speaker if the stranger had not helped her?
Ans: She would have bled to death.
7. “I’m new to Mumbai but I have noticed that the people here are afraid”. (2017/2023)
a. Who is the
speaker? Ans:
Baleshwar.
b. Why had the speaker come to Mumbai?
Ans: He had come in search of a job.
c. According to the speaker, why were the people of Mumbai afraid?
Ans: They feared of getting trapped in the court or with the police.
d. When did the speaker make the above statement?
Ans: When Roma said that she could never repay Baleshwar.
8. “Let’s go and help her”.
a. Who gave this suggestion? /Who made the above statement?
Ans: Baleshwar.
b. Who was this said to?
Ans: The people in his compartment.
c. Why did he want to help her?
Ans: She had fallen off a moving train and was by the tracks.
d. Why didn’t others come to the speaker’s help?
Ans: They feared of getting trapped in the court or with the police.
9. “I” hope I’m not too late”.
a. Who is the ‘I’? Ans: Baleshwar
b. Why did the speaker feelso?
Ans: Because the girl was lying by the tracks injured seriously.
c. What did the speaker do to save her?
Ans: He carried her to the roadside and with the help of a tempo truck driver he shifted her
to a nearby hospital.
10. “There’s a girl by the tracks”.
a. Who is the ‘girl’ referred to here?
Ans: Roma Talreja
b. Who is the speaker?
Ans: The people in the compartment in which Baleshwar was travelling.
c. Why did they cry out?
Ans: They saw a girl falling off a moving train.
d. Why was the girl by the tracks?
Ans: She was accidentally pushed out of the moving train.
11. “I can never repay Baleshwar”
a. Who is the speaker?
Ans: Roma Talreja
b. When was this said?
Ans: When she came to know how she was rescued.
c. Why does the speaker feelso?
Ans: Baleshwar was a stranger and still he had risked his life for her.
12. “There’s a closer place I know of” (April 2016)
a. Who is the speaker of the above statement?
Ans: Baleshwar Mishra
b. Why did he choose that place?
Ans: Airoli was 10 Kms. away
c. What happened after going to that place?
Ans: That hospital lacked facilities so Roma was given only first aid.
13. “Behenji, aap theek hai? He asked, “Sister, are you okay?” (March 2022)
a. Who is the speaker?
Ans: Baleshwar Mishra
b. Who is addressed as ‘Behenji’ here?
Ans: Roma Talreja
c. Why did the speaker ask the above question?
Ans: She fell off a moving train and was unconscious.