Sir Mohanlal, an Indian man who lived abroad for 5 years and adopted English mannerisms, boards a train. He sits in the first class compartment despite having a second class ticket. When two English soldiers see this, they remove him and his luggage from the train as it departs. His wife Lachmi sits in the women's compartment with betel leaves in her mouth, unaware of her husband's situation.

1. KARMA
KHUSHWANT
SINGH

2. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
 Born - February 2,
1915
 Works - The Mark of
Vishnu, We Indians,
Black jasmine,
Tragedy of Punjab
 Awards – Padma
Bhushan, Padma
Vibhushan and Punjab
Ratan Award

3. CHARACTERS
SIR MOHANLAL – An Indian who stayed
in abroad and has acquired the
manners of the Englishmen.
LACHMI – Lady Mohanlal. A fat and old
Indian urban lady.
OTHERS – Coolie, Two soldiers (Jim and
Bill)

4.  Sir Mohanlal looked at himself in the mirror.
 He smiled at the mirror and said to the person
appearing in the mirror that he was very dirty
like everyone in that country.
 The mirror smiled back at him and said that
he was a distinguished personality.
 His dressing made him look even more smart.
Waiting Room

5.  He went out and asked a bearer to give
him a small peg.

6. Outside the waiting room was Lachmi sitting
and chewing betel leaves.
She wore a dirty white sari with black border
and had several gold bangles in her arms.
She asked the coolie where the zenana
stopped to which he replied at the end of the
platform.
The coolie picked up the luggage and lady
Mohanlal followed him.
They stopped after some time.

7. Lachmi opened her lunch – box and her
meal, chapattis and mango pickle.
There was a very active conversation
between lady Mohanlal and the coolie.
Lady Mohanlal was very fond of talking as
she had nobody to talk to her.
Her husband was always busy with his
clients and never spoke to her.

8.  When there were signals of the train
arriving, Lady Mohanlal washed her hands
and proceeded towards the zenana.
 She gave two annas to the coolie and
dismissed hm.
 She opened the box of betel leaves and
put two in her mouth.
 Her cheeks bulged.

9. The arrival of the train did not make a
difference to Sir Mohanlal.
He made the coolie take his luggage to the
first class compartment.
He had stayed 5 years in abroad and had
acquired the features of the upper class.
He spoke necessary words and anglicized
English.
He was aware that some Englishmen were
traveling in the train.

10. He was not very keen to talk to them.
He removed a copy of “The Times” and
solved a crossword in it.
That newspaper always attracted the
attention of people.
He would never go out unless he had a
copy of “The Times” and his tie.
Sir Mohanlal’s thoughts were disturbed.
He looked out of the window at the
crowded platform.
He saw two Englishmen approaching and
so he got excited.

11.  Sir Mohanlal knew that he was supposed to
sit in a second class compartment.
 But he decided to talk to the guard.
 One of the soldier came to him.
 He showed Sir Mohanlal to other soldier
and asked him to get out
 Both of them came and picked up Sir
Mohanlal’s luggage and not listening to his
protests.
 The engine whistled and Sir Mohanlal was
thrown out of the compartment.

12.  The soldiers ignored the feeble protests of
Sir Mohanlal.
 Sir Mohanlal saw the train passing but he
laid on the platform helpless.
 In the zenana, Lachmi was sitting with her
mouths filled with betel leaves.
 The train whistled and left the platform.