Summary of "The Price of Flowers"
The story is set in London where an Indian man, Mr. Gupta, notices a young English girl named Alice Margaret Clifford (called Maggie) watching him with interest in a vegetarian restaurant. The girl inquires about him from the cashier, asking if he is Indian.
Mr. Gupta becomes curious about this poor thirteen-year-old girl. The waitress tells him that Maggie comes to the restaurant only on Saturdays, which is payday, suggesting she cannot afford lunch on other days. The following Saturday, Mr. Gupta returns and sits with Maggie. He learns that her elder brother Frank is a soldier serving in India, specifically in Punjab.
Maggie lives with her old widowed mother who is very worried about Frank. They have not received letters from him for a long time. The mother believes India is full of tigers, snakes, and fevers, and fears something has happened to her son. Maggie, seeing Mr. Gupta is Indian, wants him to meet her mother and clarify these doubts.
Mr. Gupta agrees and accompanies Maggie to her home in Lambeth, a poor neighborhood. He meets Mrs. Clifford who makes cakes on Saturdays to sell on the streets for their living. The family is extremely poor but their home is clean. Mr. Gupta reassures Mrs. Clifford that Punjab is a healthy place with little fever.
Frank had sent Maggie a ring as a birthday gift, which he claimed was a magic crystal ring given by a yogi. According to Frank, by concentrating on it, one could see distant people and their activities. The mother and daughter desperately tried to see Frank in the crystal but failed. They request Mr. Gupta to try, believing he might succeed being a Hindu. Mr. Gupta tries but sees nothing.
Three months pass. Mr. Gupta visits them several times and even takes Maggie to the zoo. However, no news comes from Frank. When Mr. Gupta inquires at India House, he learns Frank's regiment is fighting on the Northwest Frontier. This news greatly worries Mrs. Clifford.
One day, Mr. Gupta receives a postcard from Maggie saying her mother is seriously ill and has not been able to work for a week. He visits them with money. Maggie reveals that her mother's condition is aggravated by anxiety over Frank. The doctor says she may not survive.
Maggie makes a heartbreaking request - she asks Mr. Gupta to lie to her mother by saying he saw Frank alive and well in the crystal ring, even if he sees nothing. She knows Hindus are truth-loving but begs him to tell this small lie to save her mother. Mr. Gupta agrees, understanding the gravity of the situation.
He tells Mrs. Clifford that he saw in the crystal that Frank is alive and well. The old woman is filled with happiness and relief. She recovers from her illness after hearing this news.
Soon it is time for Mr. Gupta to return to India. He receives a card from Maggie with a black border - Frank has been killed in the fighting on the Frontier. Mr. Gupta calculates that Frank had already been dead for several days when he told Mrs. Clifford he was alive. He feels ashamed to face her and writes a farewell letter instead of visiting.
On his last morning in London, Maggie comes to say goodbye. She is wearing black mourning clothes. She tells him Frank is buried at Fort Monroe near Dera Ghazi Khan. Mr. Gupta promises to visit the grave when he goes to that part of Punjab and write to her about it.
Maggie takes out a shilling and asks him to buy flowers with it and place them on her brother's grave. Mr. Gupta is deeply moved. He realizes this shilling represents so much toil for the poor girl. He initially thinks of returning it, explaining that flowers grow freely in India and need not be purchased. But he reconsiders - why deprive her of the joy this sacrifice would give her? He accepts the shilling, promising to use it to buy flowers for Frank's grave. Maggie thanks him and leaves for work.
The story beautifully portrays themes of compassion, sacrifice, poverty, and the bonds of human relationships that transcend cultural and national boundaries.
"The Price of Flowers" സംഗ്രഹം
ഈ കഥ ലണ്ടനിൽ നടക്കുന്നു. ഒരു ഇന്ത്യക്കാരൻ മിസ്റ്റർ ഗുപ്ത ഒരു സസ്യാഹാര റസ്റ്റോറന്റിൽ താൻ ഭക്ഷണം കഴിക്കുമ്പോൾ ആലിസ് മാർഗരറ്റ് ക്ലിഫോർഡ് (മാഗി) എന്ന പതിമൂന്നു വയസ്സുള്ള ദരിദ്രയായ ഇംഗ്ലീഷ് പെൺകുട്ടി തന്നെ താൽപ്പര്യത്തോടെ നോക്കുന്നത് ശ്രദ്ധിക്കുന്നു. ആ പെൺകുട്ടി കാഷ്യറോട് അദ്ദേഹം ഇന്ത്യക്കാരനാണോ എന്ന് ചോദിക്കുന്നു.
മിസ്റ്റർ ഗുപ്തയ്ക്ക് ഈ പെൺകുട്ടിയെക്കുറിച്ച് ജിജ്ഞാസ തോന്നുന്നു. വെയിട്രസ് അവനോട് പറയുന്നു മാഗി ശനിയാഴ്ചകളിൽ മാത്രമേ റസ്റ്റോറന്റിൽ വരാറുള്ളൂ, കാരണം അതാണ് ശമ്പളം കിട്ടുന്ന ദിവസം. മറ്റു ദിവസങ്ങളിൽ ഉച്ചഭക്ഷണം വാങ്ങാൻ അവൾക്ക് കഴിയുന്നില്ല. അടുത്ത ശനിയാഴ്ച മിസ്റ്റർ ഗുപ്ത തിരിച്ചു വന്ന് മാഗിയോടൊപ്പം ഇരിക്കുന്നു. അവളുടെ ജ്യേഷ്ഠൻ ഫ്രാങ്ക് ഇന്ത്യയിൽ പഞ്ചാബിൽ സൈനികനായി സേവനം ചെയ്യുന്നുണ്ടെന്ന് അദ്ദേഹം മനസ്സിലാക്കുന്നു.
മാഗി തന്റെ പ്രായമായ വിധവയായ അമ്മയോടൊപ്പം ജീവിക്കുന്നു. ഫ്രാങ്കിൽ നിന്ന് വളരെക്കാലമായി കത്തുകളൊന്നും വന്നിട്ടില്ല. അമ്മ വളരെ ആശങ്കാകുലയാണ്. ഇന്ത്യയിൽ കടുവകളും പാമ്പുകളും പനികളും നിറഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്നുവെന്ന് വിശ്വസിക്കുന്ന അമ്മ മകന് എന്തെങ്കിലും സംഭവിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ടോ എന്ന് ഭയപ്പെടുന്നു. മിസ്റ്റർ ഗുപ്ത ഒരു ഇന്ത്യക്കാരനാണെന്ന് കണ്ടപ്പോൾ മാഗി അദ്ദേഹത്തെ അമ്മയെ കാണാൻ കൊണ്ടുപോകാൻ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നു.
മിസ്റ്റർ ഗുപ്ത സമ്മതിച്ച് മാഗിയോടൊപ്പം ലാംബെത്ത് എന്ന ദരിദ്ര പ്രദേശത്തുള്ള അവരുടെ വീട്ടിലേക്ക് പോകുന്നു. ശനിയാഴ്ചകളിൽ കേക്കുകൾ ഉണ്ടാക്കി തെരുവിൽ വിറ്റ് ഉപജീവനം നടത്തുന്ന മിസിസ് ക്ലിഫോർഡിനെ അദ്ദേഹം കണ്ടുമുട്ടുന്നു. കുടുംബം വളരെ ദരിദ്രരാണ്, പക്ഷേ വീട് വൃത്തിയുള്ളതാണ്. പഞ്ചാബ് ആരോഗ്യകരമായ സ്ഥലമാണെന്നും അവിടെ പനി കുറവാണെന്നും മിസ്റ്റർ ഗുപ്ത മിസിസ് ക്ലിഫോർഡിന് ഉറപ്പു നൽകുന്നു.
ഫ്രാങ്ക് മാഗിക്ക് പിറന്നാൾ സമ്മാനമായി ഒരു മോതിരം അയച്ചിരുന്നു. ഒരു യോഗി നൽകിയ മാന്ത്രിക സ്ഫടിക മോതിരമാണിതെന്ന് അവൻ അവകാശപ്പെട്ടു. അതിൽ ശ്രദ്ധ കേന്ദ്രീകരിച്ചാൽ ദൂരെയുള്ള ആളുകളെയും അവരുടെ പ്രവർത്തനങ്ങളെയും കാണാമെന്നായിരുന്നു ഫ്രാങ്കിന്റെ അവകാശവാദം. അമ്മയും മകളും ഫ്രാങ്കിനെ കാണാൻ നിരാശയോടെ ശ്രമിച്ചുവെങ്കിലും പരാജയപ്പെട്ടു. ഹിന്ദുവായതിനാൽ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന് വിജയിക്കുമെന്ന് വിശ്വസിച്ച് അവർ മിസ്റ്റർ ഗുപ്തയോട് ശ്രമിക്കാൻ അഭ്യർത്ഥിക്കുന്നു. മിസ്റ്റർ ഗുപ്ത ശ്രമിച്ചെങ്കിലും ഒന്നും കാണുന്നില്ല.
മൂന്നു മാസം കടന്നുപോകുന്നു. മിസ്റ്റർ ഗുപ്ത അവരെ പലതവണ സന്ദർശിക്കുകയും മാഗിയെ മൃഗശാലയിലേക്ക് കൊണ്ടുപോകുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നു. എന്നാൽ ഫ്രാങ്കിൽ നിന്ന് വാർത്തകളൊന്നും വരുന്നില്ല. ഇന്ത്യ ഹൗസിൽ അന്വേഷിച്ചപ്പോൾ ഫ്രാങ്കിന്റെ റെജിമെന്റ് നോർത്ത് വെസ്റ്റ് ഫ്രോണ്ടിയറിൽ യുദ്ധം ചെയ്യുന്നുണ്ടെന്ന് അദ്ദേഹം മനസ്സിലാക്കുന്നു. ഈ വാർത്ത മിസിസ് ക്ലിഫോർഡിനെ വളരെയധികം വേവലാതിപ്പെടുത്തുന്നു.
ഒരു ദിവസം മിസ്റ്റർ ഗുപ്തയ്ക്ക് മാഗിയിൽ നിന്ന് ഒരു പോസ്റ്റ്കാർഡ് ലഭിക്കുന്നു - അമ്മ ഗുരുതരാവസ്ഥയിലാണെന്നും ഒരാഴ്ചയായി ജോലിക്ക് പോകാൻ കഴിഞ്ഞിട്ടില്ലെന്നും പറയുന്നു. അദ്ദേഹം പണവുമായി അവരെ സന്ദർശിക്കുന്നു. ഫ്രാങ്കിനെക്കുറിച്ചുള്ള ഉത്കണ്ഠ അമ്മയുടെ അവസ്ഥ വർദ്ധിപ്പിച്ചുവെന്നും അവൾ അതിജീവിച്ചെന്നു വരില്ലെന്നും ഡോക്ടർ പറയുന്നുവെന്നും മാഗി വെളിപ്പെടുത്തുന്നു.
മാഗി ഹൃദയഭേദകമായ ഒരു അഭ്യർത്ഥന നടത്തുന്നു - സ്ഫടികത്തിൽ ഒന്നും കാണാതിരുന്നാലും ഫ്രാങ്ക് ജീവിച്ചിരിപ്പുണ്ടെന്നും സുഖമായിരിക്കുന്നുവെന്നും അമ്മയോട് പറയാൻ അവൾ അദ്ദേഹത്തോട് ആവശ്യപ്പെടുന്നു. ഹിന്ദുക്കൾ സത്യസന്ധരാണെന്ന് അവൾക്കറിയാം, പക്ഷേ അമ്മയെ രക്ഷിക്കാൻ ഈ ചെറിയ നുണ പറയാൻ അവൾ അദ്ദേഹത്തോട് അപേക്ഷിക്കുന്നു. സാഹചര്യത്തിന്റെ ഗൗരവം മനസ്സിലാക്കി മിസ്റ്റർ ഗുപ്ത സമ്മതിക്കുന്നു.
ഫ്രാങ്ക് ജീവിച്ചിരിപ്പുണ്ടെന്നും സുഖമായിരിക്കുന്നുവെന്നും സ്ഫടികത്തിൽ കണ്ടതായി അദ്ദേഹം മിസിസ് ക്ലിഫോർഡിനോട് പറയുന്നു. വൃദ്ധ സന്തോഷവും ആശ്വാസവും നിറഞ്ഞവളാകുന്നു. ഈ വാർത്ത കേട്ടതിന് ശേഷം അവൾ രോഗത്തിൽ നിന്ന് സുഖം പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു.
താമസിയാതെ മിസ്റ്റർ ഗുപ്ത ഇന്ത്യയിലേക്ക് മടങ്ങേണ്ട സമയമാകുന്നു. കറുത്ത അരികുള്ള ഒരു കാർഡ് മാഗിയിൽ നിന്ന് ലഭിക്കുന്നു - ഫ്രണ്ടിയറിലെ പോരാട്ടത്തിൽ ഫ്രാങ്ക് കൊല്ലപ്പെട്ടു. ഫ്രാങ്ക് ജീവിച്ചിരിപ്പുണ്ടെന്ന് മിസിസ് ക്ലിഫോർഡിനോട് പറഞ്ഞപ്പോൾ അവൻ ഇതിനകം മരിച്ചിരുന്നുവെന്ന് മിസ്റ്റർ ഗുപ്ത കണക്കാക്കുന്നു. അവളെ നേരിട്ട് കാണാൻ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന് ലജ്ജ തോന്നുകയും സന്ദർശിക്കുന്നതിനുപകരം ഒരു വിടവാങ്ങൽ കത്ത് എഴുതുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നു.
ലണ്ടനിലെ അവസാന രാവിലെ മാഗി വിടപറയാൻ വരുന്നു. അവൾ കറുത്ത വസ്ത്രം ധരിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു. ഫ്രാങ്ക് ഫോർട്ട് മൺറോയിൽ ദേറാ ഗാസി ഖാൻ സമീപം സംസ്കരിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നുവെന്ന് അവൾ പറയുന്നു. പഞ്ചാബിന്റെ ആ ഭാഗത്തേക്ക് പോകുമ്പോൾ ശവകുടീരം സന്ദർശിച്ച് അവൾക്ക് എഴുതാമെന്ന് മിസ്റ്റർ ഗുപ്ത വാഗ്ദാനം ചെയ്യുന്നു.
മാഗി ഒരു ഷില്ലിംഗ് എടുത്ത് അത് കൊണ്ട് പൂക്കൾ വാങ്ങി സഹോദരന്റെ ശവകുടീരത്തിൽ വയ്ക്കാൻ അദ്ദേഹത്തോട് ആവശ്യപ്പെടുന്നു. മിസ്റ്റർ ഗുപ്ത ആഴത്തിൽ സ്പർശിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു. ദരിദ്രയായ പെൺകുട്ടിക്ക് ഈ ഷില്ലിംഗ് എത്ര അധ്വാനം പ്രതിനിധീകരിക്കുന്നുവെന്ന് അദ്ദേഹം മനസ്സിലാക്കുന്നു. ഇന്ത്യയിൽ പൂക്കൾ സൗജന്യമായി വളരുന്നതിനാൽ വാങ്ങേണ്ടതില്ലെന്ന് വിശദീകരിച്ച് അത് തിരിച്ചുനൽകണമെന്ന് അദ്ദേഹം ആദ്യം ചിന്തിക്കുന്നു. എന്നാൽ അദ്ദേഹം പുനർവിചാരം ചെയ്യുന്നു - ഈ ത്യാഗം അവൾക്ക് നൽകുന്ന സന്തോഷം എന്തിന് നഷ്ടപ്പെടുത്തണം? അദ്ദേഹം ഷില്ലിംഗ് സ്വീകരിക്കുന്നു, ഫ്രാങ്കിന്റെ ശവകുടീരത്തിനായി പൂക്കൾ വാങ്ങാൻ അത് ഉപയോഗിക്കുമെന്ന് വാഗ്ദാനം ചെയ്യുന്നു. മാഗി അദ്ദേഹത്തിന് നന്ദി പറഞ്ഞ് ജോലിക്ക് പോകുന്നു.
സഹാനുഭൂതി, ത്യാഗം, ദാരിദ്ര്യം, സാംസ്കാരികവും ദേശീയവുമായ അതിരുകൾ അതിലംഘിക്കുന്ന മാനുഷിക ബന്ധങ്ങൾ എന്നിവയുടെ സൗന്ദര്യം ഈ കഥ അവതരിപ്പിക്കുന്നു.
About the Author
- Prabhat Kumar Mukhopadhyay was born in 1873 and died in 1932
- He was one of the best short story writers in Bengali literature
- He was also a novelist
- His short stories are mainly based on real-life situations
- His characters typically belong to middle class families
- He skillfully weaves their hopes, aspirations, joys and sorrows into his stories
- His writing style is simple yet deeply touching
- He focuses on ordinary people and their everyday struggles
- His works reflect the social realities of his time
Questions and Answers
Why was the narrator's attention drawn to the English girl?
The narrator's attention was drawn to the English girl because she was watching him with interested surprise. Though she turned her eyes away when he looked at her, her obvious curiosity about him caught his attention. Her poverty-stricken appearance, sad expression, and the way she inquired about him from the cashier made him curious about her.
What is your impression of the girl?
Maggie appears to be a mature, responsible, and caring thirteen-year-old girl. Despite her young age and poverty, she works hard to support her widowed mother. She is polite, well-mannered, and deeply loves her family. She shows remarkable emotional strength in dealing with difficult circumstances. Her concern for her brother and mother reveals her loving and selfless nature.
How do you know that the girl was interested in knowing the identity of the narrator?
The girl showed her interest by watching the narrator with curiosity. She asked the cashier if he was an Indian and whether he came to the restaurant regularly. She looked at him with a startled air before leaving. The waitress confirmed that the girl had inquired about him. Later, Maggie herself approached him wanting to introduce him to her mother to learn about India.
What do you understand about the probable financial condition of the girl?
Maggie's financial condition was very poor. Her clothes betrayed her poverty. She came to the restaurant only on Saturdays, which was payday, suggesting she couldn't afford lunch on other days. She worked as a typist and her wages were very low. She hadn't been able to go to work for a week when her mother fell ill, which meant no income. Her mother made cakes to sell on streets for their living. They lived in Lambeth, a poor neighborhood.
Why was the narrator curious about the girl? What did he do to meet her?
The narrator was curious because of the girl's obvious interest in him and her poverty-stricken, sad, and anxious appearance. Her figure took possession of his thoughts. To meet her, he set out after breakfast on Monday morning and looked into shops on streets near St. Martin's Lane, especially on the Strand, but found no trace. He then returned to the vegetarian restaurant the following Saturday, where he found her at the same table.
Why did the narrator go to the restaurant again?
The narrator went to the restaurant again on Saturday specifically to meet Maggie. His curiosity about her had persisted throughout the week. He wanted to know more about this poor, anxious child who had shown such interest in him. He also sensed that she might need help or wanted something from him related to her brother in India.
What impression did the girl have about India?
Maggie's impression of India was based on popular misconceptions of her time. She believed India was full of tigers, snakes, and fevers. Her mother had heard these stories from people and was terrified that something had happened to her son Frank. Maggie also believed that India had yogis with occult powers who could perform magic and see the future. She thought most Indians were vegetarians.
Was Maggie satisfied with her job? If not why?
No, Maggie was not satisfied with her job. She found the work very mechanical and boring. She wanted work that would make her use her head - brain work. She aspired to become a secretary, which would require more thinking and skill. Additionally, she wanted to earn more money so she could take better care of her old mother and move them away from the poor Lambeth neighborhood.
What do you understand by 'brain work'?
Brain work refers to work that requires mental effort, thinking, decision-making, and intellectual engagement. Unlike mechanical or routine work that can be done without much thought, brain work involves problem-solving, creativity, analysis, and judgment. Maggie wanted a job like that of a secretary which would challenge her mentally rather than the repetitive typing work she was doing.
Why did Maggie ask the narrator whether he was a vegetarian?
Maggie asked the narrator if he was a vegetarian because she wanted to know if he was a yogi. She had heard that yogis in India have occult powers and can perform magic. She also knew that yogis do not eat meat and are strict vegetarians. She was hoping that if Mr. Gupta was a yogi, he might be able to use the crystal ring to see her brother Frank and know if he was safe.
Why did Mr. Gupta go to Maggie's house?
Mr. Gupta went to Maggie's house because he understood that Maggie wanted him to meet her mother. Mrs. Clifford was worried about her son Frank who was serving in India. She had heard frightening stories about India being full of tigers, snakes, and fevers. Maggie wanted Mr. Gupta to clarify these doubts and reassure her mother. Additionally, Mr. Gupta was curious to visit an impoverished English home and see how poor people lived in England.
What do you understand about the living conditions of Maggie and her mother?
Maggie and her mother lived in extreme poverty in Lambeth, a poor neighborhood. They lived in a modest house with cheap furniture and an old, torn carpet, though everything was kept extremely clean. The mother made cakes every Saturday to sell on the streets for their living. Maggie worked as a typist with very low wages. They had no other family support except the hope of help from Frank. Despite their poverty, they maintained their dignity and cleanliness.
Why is Saturday special to Maggie and her mother?
Saturday was special for two reasons. First, it was payday for Maggie, the only day she received her weekly wages and could afford to have lunch at the restaurant. Second, it was the day Mrs. Clifford baked cakes to sell on the streets at night. Saturday night was a time of festivity in poor neighborhoods when people received their weekly wages and could spend a little money. The streets had countless lighted pushcarts selling various things, and this was when Mrs. Clifford could sell her cakes.
How did Mr. Gupta describe India to Mrs. Clifford?
Mr. Gupta described India as a beautiful country. He told her it was safe to live in, though it was somewhat hot unlike the cold climate of England. He clarified that snakes and tigers were not everywhere as commonly believed - they kept to the jungles and got killed if they came close to human habitations. He explained that fever was not the same everywhere in India nor the same throughout the year. Specifically about Punjab where Frank was stationed, he said it was a fine, healthy place with little fever.
Who is Francis? What do you know about him?
Francis, called Frank, was Maggie's elder brother and her only guardian. He was a soldier serving in the Punjab region of India. He was caring and remembered his sister, sending her a book of pictures of Simla for her birthday and a ring he claimed was magical. His regiment was fighting on the Northwest Frontier. Unfortunately, he was killed in the fighting and was buried at Fort Monroe near Dera Ghazi Khan. When he was very affectionate, he used to call Maggie "Magsy."
What is your opinion about superstitions? Do you believe in any?
This is a personal question that requires individual reflection. Superstitions are beliefs not based on scientific evidence or rational thinking. In the story, both the English family and Mr. Gupta's observation show that superstition exists in all cultures, not just India. The crystal ring was actually just brass with ordinary glass, yet the family believed it had magical powers. While some people find comfort in superstitions, it's important to balance traditional beliefs with rational thinking and not let superstitions control our lives or cause harm.
Describe the incident which touched the narrator deeply.
The incident that touched Mr. Gupta deeply was his entire experience with Maggie and her mother. He was moved by their poverty and struggles. He was astonished to see how this poor English family lived with dignity despite hardships. The mother making cakes to sell on streets, Maggie working at such a young age, their clean home despite poverty, their anxiety over Frank, and their simple hospitality touched him. He learned more about real poverty and economics from visiting their mud-like basement kitchen than from books. This emotional experience changed his perspective forever.
Why did Mr. Gupta take some money with him when he went to see Mrs. Clifford?
Mr. Gupta took money with him because his hostess wisely pointed out that Maggie had not been able to go to work for a week due to her mother's illness. Since she had not received any pay during this time, they were probably hard up and in financial difficulty. Understanding their poverty and urgent need, Mr. Gupta wanted to help them in their time of crisis.
Why did Mr. Gupta and Maggie tiptoe into the sitting room?
Mr. Gupta and Maggie tiptoed carefully into the sitting room because they did not want the sound of their footsteps to disturb Mrs. Clifford who was sleeping in her sickbed. She was seriously ill and needed rest. They wanted to be respectful and quiet so as not to wake her or cause her any disturbance.
Why was Maggie unable to go to work?
Maggie was unable to go to work because her mother was very seriously ill. She needed to stay home to take care of her sick mother. Since she was the only person to look after Mrs. Clifford and the mother's condition was critical, Maggie had to miss work for an entire week to nurse her.
Why was the crystal ring so special to Mrs. Clifford?
The crystal ring was special to Mrs. Clifford because it was sent by her son Frank from India. She believed it was a magical ring given to Frank by a yogi. According to Frank's letter, by concentrating on the crystal while thinking of a distant person, one could see that person and what they were doing. Since she had not heard from Frank for a long time and was extremely worried about his safety, she desperately hoped the ring would help her see him and know he was safe.
What request did Maggie make to Mr. Gupta?
Maggie made a heartbreaking request to Mr. Gupta. She asked him to tell her mother, after looking into the crystal ring, that Frank was alive and well, even if he saw nothing. She knew her mother's illness was aggravated by anxiety over Frank and that the doctor said she might not survive. Maggie knew that Hindus are truth-loving people, but she begged Mr. Gupta to tell this small lie to save her mother's life. She asked him if it would be too much of a lie and too wrong to do this.
What made Mrs. Clifford recover?
Mrs. Clifford recovered when Mr. Gupta told her that he had seen in the crystal ring that her son Frank was alive and well. This news brought her immense relief and happiness. The burden of anxiety and worry that had been making her condition worse was lifted. Tears of happiness flowed from her eyes, and she blessed Mr. Gupta. The psychological relief and joy helped her body heal, and she recovered from her illness.
Why was Mr. Gupta ashamed to face Mrs. Clifford?
Mr. Gupta was ashamed to face Mrs. Clifford because he had lied to her. He received a card from Maggie with a black border announcing Frank's death in the fighting on the Northwest Frontier. When he calculated from the date, he realized that Frank had already been dead for several days when he told Mrs. Clifford that Frank was alive and well. Though his lie had saved Mrs. Clifford's life at that moment, he felt guilty about deceiving her and couldn't bring himself to face her after learning the truth.
Explain the reason why Mr. Gupta accepted the shilling.
Mr. Gupta accepted the shilling for several deep reasons. Initially, he felt like returning it because in India flowers grow in great profusion and don't need to be purchased. However, he reconsidered. He realized that accepting the shilling would give Maggie the joy of making this sacrifice for her beloved brother. All that this small amount of money could have given her, she was willingly foregoing out of love for Frank. The joy of making this sacrifice was beyond all price for her. It would ease the grief in her heart a little. He understood that depriving her of this opportunity to express her love would be cruel. Therefore, he accepted the shilling with deep emotion and respect for her feelings.
What was the promise given to Maggie?
Mr. Gupta promised Maggie two things. First, when he went to that part of Punjab where Frank was buried, he would visit her brother's grave at Fort Monroe near Dera Ghazi Khan and write to her about it. Second, he promised to use the shilling she gave him to buy flowers and place them on Frank's grave on her behalf.
Why did Maggie give a shilling to Mr. Gupta?
Maggie gave a shilling to Mr. Gupta so that he could buy flowers and lay them on her brother Frank's grave when he visited it. The shilling represented her love and respect for her dead brother. Since she could never go to India herself to visit Frank's grave, she wanted Mr. Gupta to place flowers there on her behalf. This was her way of paying her last respects to her beloved brother. The shilling she earned through hard work was a symbol of her sacrifice and love.