Chapter 7 – Jalebis Solutions

Content Structure

  • 1. About the author – (Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi)
  • 2. Theme
  • 3. Summary
  • 4. Unit wise explanation
    • Unit – I
    • Unit – II
    • Unit – III
  • 5. Word meanings
  • 6. Comprehension Check
    • Unit – I
    • Unit – II
    • Unit – III
  • 7. Exercise questions & answers
  • 8. Additional questions & answers
    • Multiple choice questions & answers (MCQs)
      • Unit – I
      • Unit – II
      • Unit – III
    • Fill in the blanks
    • True or false
    • Match the following
    • Short-type questions & answers
      • Unit – I
      • Unit – II
      • Unit – III
    • Long-type questions & answers

1. About the author – (Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi)


Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi was born on 20 November 1916. He was an Urdu writer, poet, and journalist, best known for writing about honesty, kindness, and hard work. His short stories, poems, and essays often showed the simple lives of people in small villages and towns. He received many awards for his work. Some of his well-known books include Ghar Se Ghar Tak, Jalebi, and Bagh-o-Bahar. He passed away on 10 July 2006.

2. Theme

  • Firstly, the story shows that if you regret something after doing it, it will not change anything.
  • Secondly, the author explains that if you don’t work hard but still expect more from Allah, you will not receive anything.
  • Thirdly, the author talks about the importance of hard work and taking responsibility.

3. Summary

This story is about a small schoolboy who studied in 5th grade at a school in Kambelpur. One day, he went to school with his school fees in his pocket but his teacher did not come that day so he returned home with the coin still in his pocket. On the way, he felt like the coin was tempting him to buy a fresh hot jalebi. He refused at first because he knew it would be wrong. After he got home, he could not stop thinking about the sweet jalebi, so he went back to the jalebi shop and bought one. As he turned around after buying it, he saw his uncle’s tonga standing near the shop. Quickly, he ran into a narrow lane and ate the jalebi. Some time later, many children, neighbors, and beggars gathered, hoping to get some jalebi too. He bought more and shared them with everyone, spreading joy. Later, he realized he had spent all four rupees. He washed his mouth at a local tap and went home, feeling worried because he had no money left to pay his school fees, so he thought he could pay with his scholarship money. The next day, he found out that the scholarship had not been given that month. He felt sad and scared, so he left school and went to Kambelpur station, where he prayed to Allah, asking for money to show in his school bag or under a rock but nothing happened. When he reached home, he tried to act like he had gone to school, but his family knew the truth. In that moment, he learned an important lesson: not everything goes as we wish, and Allah rewards people who work hard and do the right thing.

4. Unit wise explanation

Unit – I

In this story, the author talks about a young boy who studied in 5th standard at a school in Kambelpur. One day, he went to school with four rupees in his pocket to pay his school fees. On that day, the teacher, Master Ghulam Mohammed, didn’t come, so the school announced that fees would be collected the next day. When he got back home, he felt the coins in his pocket and thought about buying a hot, sweet jalebi. At first, he stopped himself because he was a good and responsible boy. He knew the money was for his school fees. The sweet smell of the jalebi was so strong that he forgot about saving the money and kept thinking about it after he got home. He couldn’t stop himself, so he walked back to the market and used one rupee to buy the hot, sweet treat.

Unit – II

The boy walked back from the shop after buying the jalebi. He saw his uncle, tonga, standing near the shop. He got scared and quickly ran into a narrow lane to eat the jalebi. That day, he ate so many jalebis his stomach felt heavy and his ears and nose started to hurt. Some time later, many children, neighbors, and beggars gathered, hoping to get some jalebi too. He bought more and shared them with everyone, spreading joy. They smiled and laughed together as they enjoyed the jalebis. After sharing with everyone, he looked into his pocket and saw that all his coins were gone. He washed his mouth at the local tap and went back home, thinking about his school fees. He told himself he would pay the fees with his scholarship money. That night, he felt sick from eating too many jalebis, but he didn’t tell his family because he was afraid they would scold him. The next morning, when he went to school, he was worried about the scholarship because he had already spent the school fees. When he found out that the scholarship would be given next month, he became scared, ran away from school, and reached the railway station. He felt guilty and prayed to Allah, asking for four rupees to pay the school fees.

Unit – III

The boy sat under a tree at the railway station and prayed to Allah, asking him to put four rupees in his school bag so he could pay his school fees. He also promised that he would not make the same mistake again. After praying, he opened his bag but found no money inside, only his book, eraser, pencil, and his mother’s ID card. He felt very sad and walked home, knowing that getting a scholarship was not easy. The next day, he went to the railway station again and prayed. He told Allah that if he walked to the signal and came back, maybe he would find the four rupees under a rock, like a miracle. When he looked under the rock, he felt sad to find nothing. He went home again, pretending he had gone to school, but his family knew the truth. At that moment, he understood that Allah does not help people who make wrong choices or do not try their best. If Allah helped everyone without effort, then he would have gotten the money, but he did not. He realized that Allah gives help to those who work hard and act responsibly.

5. Word meanings

WordMeaning
JingleCatchy tune
KadhaoA big metal pot.
SinA bad thing someone does
ProbablyMight happen
ClamourLoud noise
StaredLooked for a long time
WretchedVery sad
GrabbedTook quickly
StrangleSqueeze the neck tightly.
BlabberingTalking too much
Considerable prestigeA lot of respect
ClenchedHeld tightly
PersuasionConvincing someone
HalwaiA sweet maker
TongaA horse cart
GaliA small street
DevourEat very fast
ScreamingShouting very loud
DashedRan quickly
LiberallyGiving a lot
ChabutaraA raised sitting area
WieldingHolding and using something
DevouredAte quickly
VirtuousVery good and kind
RecessA short break
UnfortunateVery unlucky
RacketA lot of noise
CrouchingBending down low
Sheddingdropping
DispleasedNot happy
TreasuryA place with money
WriggledMoved side to side
WazuWashing hands, face, and feet before praying.
ApparentlyLooks like it’s true, but not sure

6. Comprehension Check

Unit – I

1. Why didn’t he pay the school fees on the day he brought money to school?
Ans: The boy didn’t pay the school fees on the first day because his teacher, Master Ghulam Mohammed, who collects the fees, was absent that day. The school announced that the fees would be collected the next day.

2. (i) What were the coins ‘saying’ to him?
(ii) Do you think they were misguiding him?
Ans:
(i) The coins told the boy to buy a hot and tasty jalebi. At first, he just looked at it. The coins then said, Just looking won’t make it yours Jalebis are for eating, and only people with money can enjoy them. Money is meant to be used, and people who love jalebis spend it on them.
(ii) Yes, the coins were misguiding the boy because they were encouraging him to spend his school fees to buy jalebis.

3. Why didn’t he take the coins’ advice? Give two or three reasons.
Ans:
(i) The boy did not follow the coin’s advice because he knew that the money was for his school fees.
(ii) The boy knew that if he spent the money, he would not be able to pay the fees, and his school teacher was very strict.
(iii) The boy came from a respected family, and he knew it would be wrong to spend the money that was only for school.

4. (i) What did the oldest coin tell him?
(ii) Did he follow his advice? If not, why not?
Ans:
(i) The oldest coin said to him, we are only trying to help you, but you don’t want to listen. Be honest, don’t you really want to eat those hot and tasty jalebis? If you spend the money on jalebis today, you will get your scholarship money tomorrow. Then, you can use that money to pay your school fees. So, you can enjoy the jalebis now and still have money for your fees later.
(ii) No, the boy did not listen to the coin. He told himself that he was a smart boy who did well in school and had a lot of promise. He didn’t want to use the school fees to buy jalebi because he knew it was wrong.

5. He reached home with the coins in his pocket. What happened then?
Ans: The boy went home and sat on his bed. The coins in his pocket started making noise like they were talking to him. The noise felt even louder, so he got upset and ran out of the house without shoes and went to the market.

Unit – II

1. (i) Why didn’t he eat all the jalebis he had bought?
(ii) What did he do with the remaining jalebis?
Ans:
(i) He did not eat all the jalebis because his stomach was already full, and it looked like his mouth, nose, and ears might burst from eating too much.
(ii) He gave the leftover jalebis to the children around him, his neighbors, and some beggars who looked hungry. He spent the leftover money to buy extra jalebis for everyone so they could eat together and feel happy.

2. “The fear was killing me.” What was the fear?
Ans: He was scared because he had eaten too many jalebis, and his stomach couldn’t take it. Every time he took a breath, he let out a burp and felt like a jalebi might come out of his mouth. This made him even more worried and uncomfortable.

3. “Children’s stomachs are like digestion machines.” What do you understand by that? Do you agree?
Ans: This line means that children digest food quickly because they are very active.
Yes, I agree, because kids are more energetic than adults. They eat more and have strong stomachs, which means their bodies can digest all kinds of food quickly, whether it’s sweet, spicy, oily, or even junk food, without getting sick.

4. How did he plan to pay the fees the next day?
Ans: The boy had received a four-rupee scholarship as a reward for his good performance in the fourth standard, so he planned to use that money to pay his school fees the next day.

5. When it is time to pay the fees, what does he do? How is he disobeying the elders by doing so?
Ans: The next day at school, the boy found out that his scholarship money wouldn’t arrive until next month, which made him feel scared and worried because he had no way to pay the school fees. After lunch, he quietly left school, hoping to avoid getting into trouble. His parents had told him many times not to cross the signal near Kambelpur station, but he still crossed it because he was nervous and didn’t know what else to do. He went to the station and prayed to Allah, asking for four rupees, and that’s when he realized he didn’t follow his parents’ advice.

Unit – III

1. What was the consequence of buying jalebis with the fees money?
Ans: He didn’t pay his school fees because he had used the money to buy jalebis. Now, he didn’t have any money left to pay them. He was scared that he would get in trouble at school, and he also felt guilty about his actions.

2. His prayer to God is like a lawyer’s defence of a bad case. Does he argue his case well? What are the points he makes?
Ans: Yes, he argues his case like a lawyer defending a bad case because he makes many excuses for his actions.

  • He hopes that God, being kind, will help him.
  • He says he is a good boy and comes from a respected family.
  • He promises never to repeat his mistake.

3. He offers to play a game with Allah Miyan. What is the game?
Ans: The boy excitedly told Allah Miyan that he wanted to play a game. He would run to the signal, and while he was away, Allah Miyan would secretly hide four rupees under the big rock. When he came back and lifted the rock, he would be amazed to find the four coins.

4. Did he get four rupees by playing the game? What did he get to see under the rock?
Ans: No, he did not get four rupees by playing the game because Allah does not give anything without hard work and responsibility.
The boy lifted the rock, hoping to find the money, but he only saw a hairy worm. It started moving, curled and twisted, then wriggled toward him. Feeling scared, he quickly ran away again, touching the signal as he did.

5. If God had granted his wish that day, what harm would it have caused him in later life?
Ans: If God had given him the money that day, it could have caused problems later in life. He might have started thinking he could get anything without working for it. This could have stopped him from learning the value of hard work and responsibility, and it might have caused him to make bad choices in the future.

7. Exercise questions & answers

Work in small groups.

1. Select and read sentences that show
• that the boy is tempted to eat jalebis.
• that he is feeling guilty.
• that he is justifying a wrong deed.
Ans:

  • That the boy is tempted to eat jalebis: “He stared at the fresh, hot jalebis, his mouth watering as he imagined their sweet taste.”
  • That he is feeling guilty: “Even after eating the jalebis, he felt uneasy, as if he had done something wrong.”
  • That he is justifying a wrong deed: “I had no choice but to spend the money on jalebis. After all, I was hungry, and they smelled so good.”

2. Discuss the following points.
• Is the boy intelligent? If so, what is the evidence of it?
• Does his outlook on the jalebis episode change after Class VIII? Does he see that episode in a new light?
• Why are coins made to ‘talk’ in this story? What purpose does it serve?
Ans:
(i) Yes, the boy is intelligent. He is a good student, and his teachers praise him for his sharp mind. Even when he spends the money on jalebis, he tries to think of ways to pay the fees. He considers using his scholarship money to pay the school fees, showing that he is clever.
(ii) Yes, after he grows older, he realizes that his actions were foolish. He learns from the experience and decides never to make the same mistake again. As he matures, he understands the importance of responsibility and the correct use of money.
(iii) In this story, the talking coins represent the boy’s inner thoughts and desires for the sweet, tasty jalebi. The dialogue adds an element of humor and makes the story more interesting for children.

8. Additional questions & answers

Multiple choice questions & answers (MCQs)

Unit – I

1. What was the earlier name of Atak?
(a) Kambelpur
(b) Lahore
(c) Karachi
(d) Peshawar

Ans: (a) Kambelpur

2. How did the coins sound in his pocket?
(a) Clink-clank
(b) Buzz-buzz
(c) Tick-tock
(d) Khanak-khanak

Ans: (d) Khanak-khanak

3. What feeling did the coins create in the boy?
(a) Joy
(b) Temptation
(c) Fear
(d) Anger

Ans: (b) Temptation

4. What is the main theme of the story?
(a) The importance of studying
(b) The value of self-control
(c) The benefits of eating sweets
(d) The power of money

Ans: (b) The value of self-control

5. When did the boy get a four rupee scholarship?
(a) 5th standard
(b) 6th standard
(c) 3rd standard
(d) 4th standard

Ans: (d) 4th standard

6. What was the boy’s family like?
(a) Poor
(b) Rich
(c) Middle class
(d) Strict

Ans: (b) Rich

7. What did the boy do when he felt annoyed?
(a) Spent the money
(b) Ran to the bazaar
(c) Threw the coins away
(d) Went to sleep

Ans: (b) Ran to the bazaar

8. How did the halwai serve the jalebis?
(a) On a plate
(b) In a box
(c) On a jar
(d) In a newspaper

Ans: (d) On a newspaper

Unit – II

1. How did the boy feel after eating the jalebis?
(a) Sick
(b) Sad
(c) Full and happy
(d) Angry

Ans: (c) Full and happy

2. What did the boy do after buying more jalebis?
(a) Ate them alone
(b) Gave them to the kids
(c) Saved them
(d) Sold them

Ans: (b) Gave them to the kids

3. Who else wanted jalebis?
(a) His family
(b) The teacher
(c) The tonga driver
(d) Beggars

Ans: (d) Beggars

4. How did the boy wash up after eating?
(a) Took a shower
(b) At the public tap
(c) Went to the bathroom
(d) Asked his mom

Ans: (b) At the public tap

5. What did the boy do when he got home?
(a) Pretended to be innocent
(b) Told his family about the jalebis
(c) Ate more food
(d) Hid in his room

Ans: (a) Pretended to be innocent

6. What did the boy call his stomach?
(a) A food machine
(b) A digestion machine
(c) A washing machine
(d) A water machine

Ans: (b) A digestion machine

7. What did the boy expect to receive at school?
(a) Scholarship money
(b) A present
(c) A reward
(d) Jalebis

Ans: (a) Scholarship money

8. How did the boy feel when he found out about the scholarship?
(a) Happy
(b) Angry
(c) Dizzy and confused
(d) Excited

Ans: (c) Dizzy and confused

9. Where did the boy end up after walking?
(a) Home
(b) A store
(c) Kambelpur railway station
(d) The end of the earth

Ans: (c) Kambelpur railway station

10. What was the name of the boy’s schoolmaster?
(a) Master Ghulam Mohammed
(b) Master Singh
(c) Master Ahmed
(d) Master Ali

Ans: (a) Master Ghulam Mohammed

Unit – III

1. What did the boy do after realizing his mistake?
(a) He went home
(b) He prayed
(c) He ran to school
(d) He cried

Ans: (b) He prayed

2. Why did the boy feel guilty?
(a) He ate too many jalebis
(b) He ate jalebis with fee money
(c) He skipped school
(d) He didn’t study

Ans: (b) He ate jalebis with fee money

3. What did the boy see under the rock?
(a) A book
(b) A coin
(c) A worm
(d) A candy

Ans: (c) A worm

4. What did the boy want to find under the rock on the second day?
(a) A pencil
(b) His shoes
(c) A book
(d) Four rupees

Ans: (d) Four rupees

5. What was the boy’s reaction to the worm under the rock?
(a) Got scared
(b) Laughed
(c) Told his friends
(d) Stayed calm

Ans: (a) Got scared

Fill in the blanks

1. The boy was talked into buying a ________________________. (jalebi)
2. The prayer to _______________. (Allah)
3. The boy received a scholarship in the _____________________. (fourth standard)
4. The boy was looking for four rupees to pay his _____________________. (fees)
5. The boy promised Allah that he would never eat ______________ with his fees money again. (jalebi)
6. The boy shares the Jalebis with ____________________. (other children)
7. The boy’s uncle comes from the ________________________. (court)
8. The boy feels like a ______________ when he shares the jalebis with children. (king)
9. The boy was _____________ when the halwai asked if he wanted to buy jalebis. (tempted)
10. The boy learned that not everything goes the way he ____________________. (planned)

True or false

1. The boy pays the fees on the first day. (False)

2. The boy feared his parents. (True)

3. The boy laughed thought about the jalebis when he prayed to Allah (True)

4. The boys did not listen to the coin’s talk ever. (False)

5. The boy finished his dinner because he was upset about the school fees situation. (False)

6. The boys thought his stomach was a digestion machine. (True)

7. The boy paid again, buying the sweet Jelabi the next day. (False)

8. The boy imagined running to the end of the earth to collect his school fees. (False)

9. The boy told himself he was a bad boy. (False)

10. The boy told Allah he was never buying any sweets with the school fees. (True)

Match the following

Column AColumn B
(i) Master Ghulam Mohammeda) A good boy
(ii) The boy’s uncleb) Kambelpur railway station
(iii) The boys goes to prayc) Sweet, fresh and hot
(iv) The boy told himselfd) Who was collect the fees
(v) The jalebis were e) Comes from the court

Ans:

Column AColumn B
(i) Master Ghulam Mohammedd) Who was collect the fees
(ii) The boy’s unclee) Comes from the court
(iii) The boys goes to prayb) Kambelpur railway station
(iv) The boy told himselfa) A good boy
(v) The jalebis werec) Sweet, fresh and hot

Short-type questions & answers

Unit – I

1. Why didn’t the boy pay the school fees on the first day?
Ans: The boy did not pay the school fees on the first day because his teacher, Master Ghulam Mohammed, who collected the fees, was absent that day.

2. Why was the boy running in the bazaar?
Ans: The boy was running in the bazaar because the coins in his pocket were tempting him to buy a jalebi with the school fees. However, he knew it was wrong, so he ran through the bazaar to control himself.

3. Where did the boy think he would get the fees?
Ans: He thought he’d get his scholarship the next day at school, so he felt it was safe to spend the money on jalebis. He told himself he could use the scholarship to pay the fees later.

Unit – II

1. Why did the boy run in the gali (narrow lane)?
Ans: The boy had just bought a jalebi near the shop when he saw his uncle coming back from court on his tonga. He got scared and quickly ran into the gali to hide.

2. Why was the boy compared to a king?
Ans: The boy was compared to a king because, when he shared his jalebis with other children, he felt rich and kind, just like a king who gives to others.

3. Why did the boy compare himself with the jalebi?
Ans: The boy compared himself to a jalebi because, after eating so many, he could still taste them in his mouth and felt that his body was full of sweetness.

4. Why did the boy go to the railway station?
Ans: The boy went to the railway station after spending his school fees on jalebis. He didn’t have any money left, so he sat under a tree and prayed to Allah, asking for four rupees to pay the fees.

5. Why was the boy’s head spinning?
Ans: The boy’s head was spinning because he thought he could pay the school fees from his scholarship money, but when he found out the scholarship would be given next month, he felt sad and scared.

Unit – III

1. Why was the boy checking his bag?
Ans: The boy had prayed to Allah, asking for four rupees to be placed in his bag as a miracle. So he checked his bag but found nothing except his school books, pencil, sharpener, and his mother’s ID card.

2. Why was the boy laughed at when he prayed to Allah?
Ans: The boy was laughed at when he prayed to Allah for four rupees because he had been thinking about jalebis and not paying attention to his responsibilities.

Long-type questions & answers

1. What lesson did the boy learn from his mistake?
Ans: In this story, the author talks about a boy who studied in the fifth standard at a government school. He spent his school fees to buy jalebis because he thought he would get the money back through his scholarship. However, the next day at school, he found out that the scholarship money would only be given next month. He felt sad and scared, so he went to Kambelpur station to pray to Allah, but Allah did not help him. At that moment, he realized he had made a mistake. The money was only for his school fees, but he had used it to satisfy his own desire. He prayed to Allah for guidance and promised never to buy jalebis with his school fees again.

2. Did the boy understand his mistake? What did he do after realizing it?
Ans: Yes, the boy understood that he had made a mistake. He realized he was not being responsible and that things do not always work out the way we hope. He also came to understand that Allah does not just give things to people who do not try or work hard. He had spent his school fees on a sweet jalebi, thinking he would get the money back through his scholarship. But when that didn’t happen, he prayed to Allah again, hoping that four rupees would magically appear in his bag or under a rock but nothing happened. That’s when he understood that without responsibility and effort, he could not expect help. After learning this, he promised Allah that he would never use his school fees to buy jalebis again.

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