The Home-Coming Summary and Explanation
PSEB Class 10 English Chapter 6 The Home-Coming Summary, Explanation along with Difficult Word Meanings from English Main Course Book
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PSEB Class 10 English Main Course Book Chapter 6 – The Home-Coming
by Rabindranath Tagore
“The Home-Coming” is a touching story by Rabindranath Tagore that explores the psychology of adolescence and the irreplaceable value of home. Set in early 20th-century India, the story follows Phatik Chakravarti, a fourteen-year-old village boy who moves from his home to his uncle’s house in Calcutta (now Kolkata). The narrative powerfully depicts how a mischievous, confident village leader transforms into a miserable, homesick child when transplanted to an unwelcoming urban environment.
- The Home-Coming Summary
- The Home-Coming Summary in Hindi
- The Home-Coming Theme
- The Home-Coming Explanation
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The Home-Coming Summary
Phatik Chakravarti, a fourteen-year-old village boy and ringleader of his friends, plans a mischievous prank to roll a heavy log. When his younger brother Makhan sits on the log and refuses to move, Phatik orders the boys to roll both the log and Makhan together. Makhan falls, gets hurt, and complains to their mother, who immediately blames Phatik without listening to his side. When Phatik protests his innocence and his mother doesn’t believe him, she actually beats him in frustration.
At this moment, Phatik’s maternal uncle Bishamber arrives from Calcutta (now Kolkata). The mother complains that Phatik is a perpetual nuisance while Makhan is perfect. Bishamber offers to take Phatik to Calcutta and educate him with his own children. Phatik is overjoyed at the prospect of adventure and readily agrees. His mother is relieved to get rid of him.
However, in Calcutta, Phatik’s life becomes a nightmare. His aunt resents this “unnecessary addition” to her family and treats him with hatred and coldness. At fourteen, Phatik is at an awkward age, too old to be showered with affection like a small child, yet still needing love and recognition desperately. He performs poorly at school, his cousins mock him, and he yearns constantly for his village home.
One day, after losing his lesson book and being severely scolded by his aunt, Phatik develops a fever and runs away, trying to return home. He is found by police, drenched and delirious with high fever. Despite his uncle’s care, Phatik’s condition worsens. His mother is finally summoned, but it’s too late. In his final moments, Phatik hallucinates that he’s measuring the depth of water like sailors do, symbolically plumbing the depths of death. His last words to his mother are: “Mother, the holidays have come”, meaning he has finally found release from his suffering and can go home, but to the eternal home of death.
Summary of the Lesson The Home-Coming in Hindi
फातिक चक्रवर्ती एक चौदह वर्षीय गाँव का लड़का है जो अपने दोस्तों का नेता है। एक दिन वह एक शरारत की योजना बनाता है एक भारी लकड़ी के लट्ठे को लुढ़काना। जब उसका छोटा भाई मखन लट्ठे पर बैठ जाता है और हटने से इनकार करता है, तो फातिक अपने दोस्तों को आदेश देता है कि वे लट्ठे को मखन सहित लुढ़का दें। मखन गिर जाता है, चोट लगती है और माँ से शिकायत करता है। माँ बिना फातिक की बात सुने उसे दोषी मानती है। जब फातिक विरोध करता है और माँ उस पर विश्वास नहीं करती, तो वह गुस्से में फातिक को वास्तव में पीट देती है।
इसी समय फातिक के मामा बिशम्बर कलकत्ता (अब कोलकाता) से आते हैं। माँ शिकायत करती है कि फातिक एक निरंतर परेशानी है जबकि मखन बिल्कुल सही है। बिशम्बर फातिक को कलकत्ता ले जाने और अपने बच्चों के साथ पढ़ाने की पेशकश करते हैं। फातिक रोमांच के विचार से बहुत खुश होता है और तुरंत सहमत हो जाता है। उसकी माँ उससे छुटकारा पाकर राहत महसूस करती है।
लेकिन कलकत्ता में फातिक का जीवन एक दुःस्वप्न बन जाता है। उसकी मामी इस “अनावश्यक अतिरिक्त” सदस्य से नाराज़ है और उसके साथ निरंतर तिरस्कार और ठंडेपन से पेश आती है। चौदह वर्ष की उम्र में, फातिक एक अजीब उम्र में है छोटे बच्चे की तरह स्नेह पाने के लिए बहुत बड़ा, फिर भी प्यार और पहचान की सख्त जरूरत है। वह स्कूल में खराब प्रदर्शन करता है, उसके चचेरे भाई उसका मजाक उड़ाते हैं, और वह लगातार अपने गाँव के घर के लिए तरसता है।
एक दिन, अपनी पाठ्य पुस्तक खोने और अपनी मामी द्वारा गंभीर रूप से डाँटे जाने के बाद, फातिक को बुखार हो जाता है और वह घर लौटने की कोशिश में भाग जाता है। पुलिस उसे भीगी हुई और तेज बुखार में प्रलाप की स्थिति में पाती है। अपने मामा की देखभाल के बावजूद, फातिक की हालत बिगड़ती जाती है। आखिरकार उसकी माँ को बुलाया जाता है, लेकिन बहुत देर हो चुकी होती है। अपने अंतिम क्षणों में, फातिक को मतिभ्रम होता है कि वह नाविकों की तरह पानी की गहराई माप रहा है, जो मृत्यु की गहराई को प्रतीकात्मक रूप से दर्शाता है। उसके अंतिम शब्द हैं: “माँ, छुट्टियाँ आ गई हैं” अर्थात् उसे आखिरकार अपनी पीड़ा से मुक्ति मिल गई है और वह घर जा सकता है, लेकिन मृत्यु के शाश्वत घर में।
Theme of the Lesson The Home-Coming
The central theme is that no place can replace a child’s own home and a mother’s love, no matter how inadequate they may seem. Home is paradise for a growing child. The story highlights the difficult transitional phase of a fourteen-year-old boy who is neither a child nor an adult, craving love and recognition but often misunderstood and unwanted. The destructive effects of a mother’s prejudice and favoritism between siblings leads to tragic consequences. The story emphasizes how lack of empathy and understanding can destroy a sensitive child’s life. Phatik’s experience in Calcutta shows the pain of being an unwelcome outsider in an unfamiliar environment. His feeling of loneliness and alienation is portrayed here.
The Home-Coming Lesson Explanation
Passage: Phatik Chakravarti was the ring-leader amongst the boys of the village. One day a plan for new mischief entered his head. There was a heavy log lying on the mud-flat of the river, waiting to be shaped into a mast for a boat. His plan was that they should all work together to shift the log by main force from its place and roll it away. The owner of the log would be angry and surprised, while they would all enjoy the fun. Every one supported the proposal, and it was carried unanimously.
Word Meanings
ring leader: leader of mischievous activities
mischief: playful wrongdoing or prank
log: piece of wood from a tree trunk
mud flat: muddy ground near a river
mast: tall pole used on a boat
shift: move from one place to another
by main force: using full physical strength
unanimously: with complete agreement
Explanation: Phatik was the leader of the village boys and often planned pranks. He saw a large log lying on the muddy riverbank that was meant to become a mast for a boat. A playful idea came to him and he wanted all the boys to push the log away using their combined strength. The owner would be shocked and angry but the boys would enjoy the prank. All the boys liked the idea and agreed to do it together
Passage: But just as the fun was about to begin, Makhan, Phatik’s younger brother, sauntered up without a word and sat down on the log in front of them all. The boys were puzzled for a moment. One of them pushed him rather timidly, and told him to get up ; but he remained quite unconcerned. He appeared like a young philosopher meditating on the futility of things. Phatik was furious. ‘Makhan’, he cried, ‘if you don’t get up this minute, I’ll thrash you!’
Word Meanings
sauntered up: walked slowly and casually
puzzled: confused
timidly: in a shy or nervous manner
unconcerned: not bothered or affected
philosopher: a deep thinker
futility of things: uselessness or pointlessness of everything
furious: extremely angry
thrash: beat severely
Explanation: Just when the boys were ready to start their prank, Makhan quietly walked in and sat on the log without saying anything. The boys became confused and one boy gently asked him to move, but Makhan stayed calm and behaved as if he were deeply thinking about life.This irritated Phatik and he became extremely angry, warning Makhan that he would beat him if he did not get up immediately.
Passage: Makhan only moved to a more comfortable position. Now, if Phatik was to keep his regal dignity before the public, it was clear that he must carry out his threat. But his courage failed him at the crisis. His fertile brain, however, rapidly seized upon a new manoeuvre which would discomfit his brother and afford his followers added amusement. He gave the word and command to roll the log and Makhan over together. Makhan heard the order and made it a point of honour to stick on. But like those who attempt earthly fame in other matters, he overlooked the fact that there was peril in it.
Word Meanings
regal dignity: royal pride or authority
courage failed him: he lost confidence at the key moment
fertile brain: clever and quick thinking mind
manoeuvre: smart plan or strategic action
discomfit: embarrass or trouble someone
afford amusement: give enjoyment
made it a point of honour: considered it a matter of pride
earthly fame: praise or recognition in the world
peril: danger
Explanation: Makhan settled more comfortably on the log instead of moving. Phatik felt he had to act on his threat to keep his pride as leader, but he lost courage when it was time to act. He quickly thought of a new plan that would trouble Makhan and entertain the boys. He ordered them to roll the log with Makhan still on it. Makhan stubbornly stayed on the log out of pride, unaware that doing so was risky and could lead to danger.
Passage: The boys began to heave at the log with all their might calling out, “One, two, three, go!’ At the word ‘go’ the log went; and with it went Makhan’s philosophy, glory and all.
The other boys shouted themselves hoarse with delight. But Phatik was a little frightened. He knew what was coming. And he was not mistaken, for Makhan rose from Mother Earth blind as Fate and screaming like the Furies. He rushed at Phatik, scratched his face, beat him and kicked him, and then went crying home. The first act of the drama was over.
Word Meanings
heave: pull or push with great effort
with all their might: using all their strength
shouted themselves hoarse: shouted so much that their voices became rough
blind as Fate: unable to see because of anger
the Furies: mythological spirits representing extreme rage
Mother Earth: the ground or soil
first act of the drama: the beginning or first stage of the event
Explanation: The boys pushed the log with all their strength while shouting together and as soon as they said go the log rolled away taking Makhan along with it and ruining his proud attitude. The boys screamed with joy but Phatik became nervous because he knew trouble was coming. Makhan got up angrily from the ground and in a furious rage attacked Phatik by scratching beating and kicking him and then ran home crying marking the end of the first part of the incident
Passage: Phatik wiped his face, and sitting down on the edge of a sunken barge by the river bank, began to nibble at a piece of grass. A boat came up to the landing and a middle-aged man, with grey hair and dark moustache, stepped on to the shore. He saw the boy sitting there doing nothing and asked him where the Chakravartis lived. Phatik went on nibbling the grass and said : ‘Over there’ ; but it was quite impossible to tell where he pointed. The stranger asked him again. He swung his legs to and fro on the side of the barge and said : ‘Go and find out’ and continued to nibble the grass.
Word Meanings
sunken barge: a partly submerged or low lying boat
nibble: bite gently or chew lightly
landing: a place where boats stop
to and fro: back and forth
Explanation: After the fight Phatik cleaned his face and sat on the edge of a partly sunken boat near the river, chewing on a piece of grass. A boat arrived and a middle-aged man stepped onto the shore. He asked Phatik where the Chakravarti family lived but Phatik casually kept chewing the grass and pointed vaguely without making it clear. When the man asked again, Phatik just swung his legs back and forth and told him to find out for himself showing his careless and stubborn mood.
Passage: But, at the moment, a servant came down from the house and told Phatik that his mother wanted him. Phatik refused to move. But on this occasion the servant was the master. He roughly took Phatik up and carried him, kicking and struggling in impotent rage.
When Phatik entered the house, his mother saw him and called out angrily: ‘So you have been hitting Makhan again?’
Phatik answered indignantly : ‘No. I haven’t ! Who told you that I had?’
His mother shouted : ‘Don’t tell lies ! You have.’ Phatik said sullenly : ‘I tell you, I haven’t. You ask Makhan!’ But Makhan thought it best to stick to his previous statement. He said : ‘Yes, mother, Phatik did hit me.’
Word Meanings
servant: a person employed to perform domestic duties
refused: declined or would not do something
roughly: in a harsh or forceful manner
impotent rage: anger without the power to change the situation
indignantly: with anger caused by unfair treatment
sullenly: in a bad-tempered or sulky manner
stick to his statement: remain firm on what he said previously
Explanation: At that moment a servant came from the house and told Phatik that his mother wanted him. Phatik refused to go, but the servant acted with authority and carried him roughly while Phatik struggled in frustration. When he entered, his mother angrily asked if he had hit Makhan. Phatik denied it angrily and asked who said that. His mother insisted he was lying, but Phatik again defended himself and suggested asking Makhan. However Makhan repeated his earlier statement that Phatik had hit him, leaving Phatik frustrated.
Passage: Phatik’s patience was already exhausted. He could not bear this injustice. He rushed at Makhan and rained on him a shower of blows : ‘Take that,’ he cried, ‘and that, and that, for telling lies.’
His mother took Makhan’s side in a moment and pulled Phatik away, returning his blows with equal vigour. When Phatik pushed her aside, she shouted out : ‘What ! You little villain ! Would you hit your own mother?’
It was just at this critical moment that the grey-haired stranger arrived. He asked what had occurred. Phatik looked sheepish and ashamed.
But when his mother stepped back and looked at the stranger, her anger was changed to surprise, for she recognized her brother and cried ; ‘Why, Dada ! Where have you come from?’
Word Meanings
patience exhausted: unable to tolerate any more
injustice: unfair treatment
rained a shower of blows: hit repeatedly
equal vigour: with the same energy or force
little villain: mischievous or naughty person
critical moment: very important or decisive time
sheepish: embarrassed or ashamed
anger changed to surprise: sudden shift from anger to astonishment
Explanation: Phatik had lost all patience and could not tolerate the unfairness. He attacked Makhan and hit him repeatedly for lying. His mother immediately took Makhan’s side and hit Phatik back with equal force. When Phatik tried to push her aside, she scolded him for hitting his own mother. At that precise moment, a grey-haired man arrived and asked what had happened. Phatik felt embarrassed and ashamed. His mother, seeing the stranger, suddenly changed from anger to surprise as she recognized her brother and greeted him warmly.
Passage: As she said these words, she bowed to the ground and touched his feet. Her brother Bishamber had gone away soon after she had married, and had started business in Mumbai. She herself had lost her husband while he was there. Bishamber had now come back to Calcutta*, and had at once made enquiries concerning his sister. As soon as he found out where she was, he had hastened to see her.
Word Meanings
bowed to the ground: bent down in respect
touched his feet: traditional gesture of showing respect to elders
enquiries: questions or investigations to find out information
hastened: went quickly or rushed
Explanation: As the mother spoke, she showed respect by bowing down and touching her brother’s feet. Bishamber, her brother, had left soon after her marriage and started a business in Mumbai. She had lost her husband while he was away. Now Bishamber had returned to Calcutta and immediately searched for his sister. As soon as he learned her whereabouts he quickly went to see her.
Passage: The next few days were full of rejoice. The brother asked how the two boys were being brought up. He was told by his sister that Phatik was a perpetual nuisance. He was lazy, disobedient, and wild. But Makhan was as good as gold,. as quiet as a lamb, and very fond of reading. Bishamber kindly offered to take Phatik off his sister’s hands and educate him with his own children in Calcutta. The widowed mother readily agreed. When his uncle asked Phatik if he would like to go to Calcutta with him, his joy knew no bounds, and he said : ‘Oh, yes, uncle !’ in a way that made it quite clear that he meant it.
Word Meanings
rejoice: feel great happiness
perpetual nuisance: always causing trouble or annoyance
as good as gold: very well-behaved or good
as quiet as a lamb: gentle and calm
fond of reading: likes reading very much
readily agreed: agreed without hesitation
joy knew no bounds: was extremely happy
Explanation: The following days were full of happiness and celebration. Bishamber asked about the upbringing of the two boys. The mother described Phatik as always troublesome, lazy, disobedient, and wild. In contrast, Makhan was gentle, well-behaved, and fond of reading. Bishamber kindly offered to take Phatik with him to Calcutta to educate him alongside his own children. The widowed mother immediately agreed as this would reduce her burden. When Bishamber asked Phatik if he wanted to go, he was overjoyed and eagerly agreed, making it clear that he truly wanted to go.
Passage: It was an immense relief to the mother to get rid of Phatik. She had a prejudice against the boy, and no love was lost between the two brothers. She was in daily fear that he would some day either drown Makhan in the river, or break his head in a fight, or urge him on into some danger. At the same time she was a little distressed to see Phatik’s extreme eagerness to leave his home.
Word Meanings
immense relief: very great comfort or alleviation
prejudice: preconceived opinion not based on reason
no love was lost: mutual dislike existed
drown: cause to die by submersion in water
distressed: worried or upset
eagerness: strong desire or enthusiasm
Explanation: The mother felt very relieved to send Phatik away. She already had a negative opinion about him, and there was mutual dislike between Phatik and Makhan. She constantly feared that he might harm Makhan by drowning him, causing injury, or putting him in danger. Yet at the same time she felt a little upset seeing Phatik so eager and enthusiastic to leave his home.
Passage: Phatik, as soon as all was settled, kept asking his uncle every minute when they were to start. He was on pins all day long with excitement and lay awake most of the night. He bequeathed to Makhan, in perpetuity, his fishing-rod, his big kite, and his marbles. Indeed at this time of departure, his generosity towards Makhan was unbounded.
Word Meanings
on pins: in a state of anxious excitement
bequeathed: gave as a gift or legacy
in perpetuity: forever or permanently
generosity: willingness to give or share
unbounded: limitless or without restrictions
Explanation: Once everything was arranged Phatik constantly asked his uncle when they would leave. He was extremely excited and could hardly sleep at night. He gave his fishing-rod, big kite, and marbles to Makhan as permanent gifts. At the time of his departure, Phatik’s generosity towards his younger brother was limitless and wholehearted. This showed that he had love for the younger brother.
Passage: When they reached Calcutta, Phatik met his aunt for the first time. She was by no means pleased with this unnecessary addition to her family. She found her own three boys quite enough to manage without taking any one else. And to bring a village lad of fourteen into their midst, was terribly upsetting. Bishamber should really have thought twice before committing such an indiscretion.
Word Meanings
by no means: not at all
unnecessary addition: something not needed
terribly upsetting: very distressing or troubling
indiscretion: a careless or unwise action
Explanation: When Phatik arrived in Calcutta he met his aunt for the first time. She was not happy at all about this extra addition to her family. She already had three boys and felt managing another, especially a village boy of fourteen, was very troubling. She believed that Bishamber should have carefully considered the decision before taking such an unwise step.
Passage: In this world there is no worse nuisance than a boy at the age of fourteen. He is neither ornamental nor useful. It is impossible to shower affection on him as on a smaller boy ; and he is always getting in the way. If he talks with a childish lisp he is called a baby, and if in a grow-up way he is called impertinent. In fact, talk of any kind from him is resented. Then he is at the unattractive, growing age. He grows out of his clothes with indecent haste : his face grows suddenly angular and unsightly. It is easy to excuse the shortcomings of early childhood, but it is hard to tolerate even unavoidable lapses in a boy of fourteen. He becomes painfully self-conscious, and when he talks with elderly people he is either unduly forward, or else so unduly shy that he appears ashamed of his own existence.
Word Meanings
nuisance: a source of annoyance or trouble
ornamental: decorative or attractive
shower affection: give a lot of love and care
lisp: a speech defect where s sounds are pronounced as th
impertinent: rude or disrespectful
resented: felt anger or displeasure at
indecent haste: too fast or careless speed
angular: having sharp or harsh features
unsightly: unpleasant to look at
shortcomings: faults or deficiencies
unavoidable lapses: mistakes that cannot be prevented
self-conscious: overly aware of oneself and embarrassed
unduly forward: excessively bold
unduly shy: excessively timid
Explanation: A boy of fourteen is described as the most troublesome age. He is neither attractive nor particularly useful and cannot receive the same love as a younger child. His speech or behaviour is easily criticized whether childish or grown-up. At this age, he grows quickly and awkwardly, and his appearance may become unattractive. While small childhood faults are excused, mistakes in a fourteen-year-old are harder to tolerate. He becomes very self-aware and struggles to behave naturally, appearing either too bold or too shy when interacting with adults.
Passage: Yet, it is at this age that in his heart of hearts, a young lad most craves recognition and love ; and he becomes the devoted slave of any one who shows him consideration. But none dare openly love him, for that would be regarded as undue indulgence and therefore bad for the boy. So, what with scolding and chiding, he becomes very much like a stray dog that has lost its master.
Word Meanings
heart of hearts: in the deepest part of one’s feelings
craves: strongly desires
recognition: appreciation or acknowledgment
devoted slave: completely obedient or loyal
consideration: kindness or attention shown to someone
undue indulgence: excessive pampering
scolding: reprimanding or telling off
chiding: mildly criticizing
stray dog: a dog without a home or master, symbolizing loneliness and neglect
Explanation: At the age of fourteen, a boy deeply desires love and recognition. He becomes loyal and devoted to anyone who treats him kindly. However, no one openly shows him affection because it would be seen as overindulgence and bad for his character. Constant scolding and criticism make him feel lost and neglected, similar to a stray dog without a master.
Passage: His own home is the only paradise that a boy of fourteen can know. To live in a strange house with strange people is little short of torture ; while it is the height of bliss to receive the kind looks of women and never to suffer their slights.
It was anguish to Phatik to be an unwelcome guest in his aunt’s house, constantly despised and slighted by this elderly woman. If she ever asked him to do anything for her, he would be so overjoyed that his joy would seem exaggerated ; and then she would tell him not to be so stupid, but to get on with his lessons.
Word Meanings
paradise: a place of great happiness and comfort
little short of torture: almost like suffering
bliss: extreme happiness
slights: insults or disrespectful treatment
anguish: severe mental or emotional pain
unwelcome guest: someone who is not wanted
despised: hated or strongly disliked
exaggerated: made to seem greater than it actually is
Explanation: A boy of fourteen feels most comfortable and happy only in his own home. Living in a strange house with unfamiliar people is almost like suffering, while being treated kindly, especially by women, feels like great happiness. Phatik experienced great distress in his aunt’s house where he was constantly disliked and treated with little respect. Even when he tried to please her, when she told him some work and he would get so happy, his excitement got with criticism from her, leaving him feeling both joy and frustration.
Passage: There was no more backward boy in the whole school than Phatik. He gaped and remained silent when the teacher asked him a question, and like an overladen ass patiently suffered the many thrashings that were meted out to him. When other boys were out at play, he stood wistfully by the window and gazed at the roofs of the distant houses. And if by chance he espied children playing on the open terrace of a roof, his heart would ache with longing.
Word Meanings
backward: slow in learning or development
gaped: stared with open mouth in surprise or confusion
overladen ass: a heavily burdened donkey, symbolizing patient suffering
thrashings: beatings or punishments
meted out: given or administered
wistfully: with a feeling of longing or yearning
espied: saw or noticed
ache with longing: feel deep desire or yearning
Explanation: Phatik was the slowest and least capable boy in the school. He remained silent and confused when questioned and endured the repeated punishments patiently like a heavily burdened donkey. While other boys played, he would stand by the window looking at the rooftops far away. If he happened to see children playing on an open terrace, he would feel a deep longing to join them, showing his sense of isolation and desire for freedom.
Passage: One day he summoned up all his courage, and asked his uncle, ‘Uncle, when can I go home ?’
His uncle answered : ‘Wait till the holidays come.’
But the holidays would not come till October and there was still a long time to wait.
One day Phatik lost his lesson book. Even with the help of books he had found it very difficult to prepare his lesson. But, now, it became impossible. Day after day the teacher caned him unmercifully. He became so abjectly miserable that even his cousins were ashamed to own him. They began to jeer and insult him more than even the other boys did. At last he went to his aunt and told her that he had lost his book.
Word Meanings
summoned up courage: gathered bravery to do something
caned: beaten with a stick as punishment
unmercifully: without mercy or leniency
abjectly miserable: extremely unhappy and hopeless
jeer: mock or ridicule
insult: speak to or treat with disrespect
Explanation: Phatik mustered all his courage and asked his uncle when he could go home. His uncle told him to wait until the holidays, which would not come until October, leaving a long time to wait. One day Phatik lost his lesson book, making it almost impossible for him to study. The teacher punished him severely every day. He became so miserable that even his cousins felt ashamed of him and mocked and insulted him more than the other boys. Finally, he went to his aunt to tell her that he had lost his book.
Passage: With an expression of the greatest contempt she burst out: ‘You great, clumsy, country lout ! How can I afford to buy you new books five times a month, when I have my own family to look after?’
That night, on his way back from school, Phatik had a bad headache and a shivering fit. He felt that he was going to have an attack of malaria. His one great fear was that he might be a nuisance to his aunt.
The next morning Phatik was nowhere to be seen. Search in the neighbourhood proved futile.
The rain had been pouring in torrents all night, and those who went out to look for the boy were drenched to the skin. At last Bishamber asked the police to help him.
Word Meanings
contempt: a feeling of strong dislike or disrespect
clumsy: awkward in movement or handling
country lout: an unsophisticated or rude boy from the village
shivering fit: uncontrollable shaking due to cold or illness
malaria: a disease caused by mosquito bites
nuisance: a source of trouble or annoyance
neighbourhood: the local area around the house
futile: useless or without result
pouring in torrents: raining heavily
drenched: completely wet
Explanation: His aunt expressed strong anger and hatred towards Phatik, calling him clumsy and a village boy, and complained about the expense of buying him books repeatedly. That night Phatik suffered a headache and chills, fearing he might cause trouble for his aunt. The next morning he was missing, and searches in the area were unsuccessful. It had rained heavily all night, soaking those searching for him. Finally, Bishamber sought the help of the police to find Phatik.
Passage: At nightfall a police van stopped at the door of the house. It was still raining and the streets were flooded. Two constables carried Phatik out in their arms and placed him before Bishamber. He was wet through from head to foot, covered with mud, while, his face and eyes were flushed with fever and his limbs were trembling. Bishamber carried him in his arms and took him inside the house. When his wife saw him she exclaimed : ‘What a heap of trouble this boy has given us ! Hadn’t you better send him home?’
Word Meanings
nightfall: the time when night begins
constables: police officers
flushed with fever: face and eyes red due to high temperature
limbs: arms and legs
trembling: shaking involuntarily
heap of trouble: a lot of problems or difficulties
Explanation: At night a police van arrived at the house while it was still raining and the streets were flooded. Two police officers carried Phatik in their arms and brought him before Bishamber. He was soaked in rain, covered in mud, his face and eyes red with fever, and his arms and legs shaking. Bishamber carried him inside. Upon seeing him, Bishamber’s wife exclaimed at the trouble Phatik had caused and suggested that perhaps he should be sent home.
Passage: Phatik heard her words and sobbed aloud : ‘Uncle, I was just going home ; but they dragged me back again.’
The fever rapidly increased, and throughout the night the boy was delirious. Bishamber brought in a doctor. Phatik opened his eyes, and looking up to the ceiling
said vacantly : ‘Uncle, haven’t the holidays come yet ?’
Bishamber wiped the tears from his eyes and took Phatik’s thin burning hands in his own and sat by his side through the night. Again the boy began to mutter, till at last his voice rose almost to a shriek : ‘Mother !’ he cried, ‘don’t beat me like that …… Mother! I am telling the truth.’
Word Meanings
sobbed aloud: cried loudly
delirious: in a disturbed state due to fever or illness
vacantly: with a blank or empty expression
muttern: speak quietly or indistinctly
shriek: a loud, high-pitched cry
thin burning hands: hands that are hot due to fever
Explanation: Phatik heard his aunt’s words and cried loudly, explaining to his uncle that he had tried to go home but was forcibly brought back. His fever worsened and he remained disturbed throughout the night. Bishamber called a doctor. Phatik opened his eyes and looked around vacantly, asking if the holidays had arrived. Bishamber held his burning, weak hands and stayed with him all night. The boy began muttering, and eventually shouted for his mother, pleading not to be beaten and insisting that he was telling the truth.
Passage: The next day Phatik, for a short time, became conscious. His eyes wandered round the room as if he expected someone to come. At last, with an air of disappointment, his head sank back on the pillow. With a deep sigh he turned his face to the wall.
Bishamber read his thoughts, and bending down his head whispered : ‘Phatik, I have sent for your mother.’
The day dragged on. The doctor said in a troubled voice that the boy’s condition was very critical.
Phatik began to cry out: ‘By the mark-three fathoms. By the mark-four fathoms.’ By the mark. Many times he had heard the sailors on the river-steamers calling out the mark on the lead line. Now he was himself plumbing an unfathomable sea.
Word Meanings
conscious: aware of surroundings
air of disappointment: expression showing sadness or letdown
critical: very serious or dangerous
by the mark: phrase used by sailors to measure depth of water
fathoms: units of depth in water (six feet each)
plumbing: measuring or exploring
unfathomable sea: very deep or incomprehensible sea
Explanation: The next day Phatik became conscious for a brief time. His eyes roamed around the room as if waiting for someone. Eventually, disappointed, he rested his head on the pillow and turned to the wall. Bishamber understood his thoughts and quietly told him that he had sent for his mother. The day passed slowly, and the doctor informed them that Phatik’s condition was critical. Phatik, in his state of mental unrest, cried out using the sailors’ phrases for measuring depth of the sea, imagining himself exploring a deep, unfathomable sea.
Passage: Later in the day Phatik’s mother burst into the room like a whirlwind, and rocking herself to and fro from side to side, began to moan and cry.
Bishamber tried to calm her, but she flung herself on the bed, and cried : ‘Phatik, my darling, my darling.’
Phatik stopped his restless movements for a moment. His hands ceased beating up and down. He said : ‘Ehtrs’?
The mother cried again : ‘Phatik, my darling, my darling.’
Very slowly Phatik’s eyes wandered, but he could no longer see the people around his bed. At last he murmured: ‘Mother, the holidays have come.’
Word Meanings
whirlwind: a sudden, violent rush or disturbance
moan: make a low sound expressing pain or distress
flung herself: threw herself suddenly with force
restless: unable to keep still or calm
ceased: stopped
murmured: spoke quietly and softly
Explanation: Later that day Phatik’s mother entered the room in great distress, moving back and forth and crying loudly. Bishamber tried to calm her but she threw herself onto the bed, calling out to Phatik with love. Phatik paused his restless movements and stopped moving his hands, trying to respond. His mother continued calling him affectionately. Slowly, Phatik’s eyes moved around but he could not see anyone clearly. Finally, he softly murmured that the holidays had come, showing a moment of relief and comfort at the sight of his mother.
Conclusion
This post on the lesson Home-coming from PSEB textbook for class 10 English covers the summary, lesson explanation and word meanings. Students can get a recap of the lesson through this post.