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Chapter 4 - Bepin Choudhury's Lapse of Memory Exercise 62

Solution 1

The man stared at Bepin Babu in disbelief because Bepin Babu did not recognise him even though he was sure that he knew him and had met him in Ranchi. Even when he explained to Bepin Babu the circumstances under which they had met, he still felt that the man was making a mistake.

Solution 2

Bepin Babu said that he spent the Puja holidays in '58 with a friend in Kanpur.

Solution 3

Parimal  Ghose knew the following about Bepin Babu: He had no children and had lost his wife ten years ago.

His only brother had died insane, which was why he did not want to visit the mental hospital in Ranchi.  Bepin babu always carried a bag with his book on his sightseeing trips.

Chapter 4 - Bepin Choudhury's Lapse of Memory Exercise 65

Solution 1

Bepin Babu continuously worried about what Parimal Ghose had said because he had shown that he knew many intimate facts about him. He knew about the bag of books, his wife’s death and his brother’s insanity. Considering that Parimal Ghose knew so much about him, Bepin Babu couldn’t say with conviction that he was making a mistake about the Ranchi trip. However Bepin Babu knew that he had an excellent memory and if he truly had forgotten such an incident then the only other possibility was that he was losing his mind.

Solution 2

He tried to decide whether his memory was right or Parimal Ghose by first writing to his friend Haridas who lived in Kanpur and whom he had spent the Puja holidays with in 58’.But then he suddenly remembered that his friend had left for Japan and he did not have his address.

He then decided to look at his right knee where Parimal  had claimed that there would be a cut. There was certainly a mark of an old cut. However, he could not decide if the cut was the result of his fall in Ranchi or due to some incident in his childhood. He finally decided to ask Dinesh Mukherjee, who according to Parmimal Ghose was with him in Ranchi. He felt that asking him would put an end to his confusion.

Solution 3

Bepin Babu hesitated to visit Mr Dinesh Mukerji because he was afraid of the ruthless sarcasm he would have to face. He felt that if the whole story about Ranchi was false, then Mr Mukerji would think that he had gone insane. This therefore would be a ridiculous idea.

Being constantly troubled by the incident at the bookshop and having no other means of verifying the claims of Primal Ghose about him having visited Ranchi in 1958, Bepin Babu finally decided to ask Mr Mukerji.  However, he decided to phone him because that way his embarrassment wouldn’t be visible to the latter. 

Solution 4

Mr Mukerji said that they had indeed gone to Ranchi in ’58. This added to Bepin Babu’s worries as he could not figure out how he could possibly have forgotten about the trip. The moment he got the news he slammed the receiver down and gripped his head with his hands. His head started to swim and a chill seemed to spread over his body. He was so worried that he even lost his appetite.

Chapter 4 - Bepin Choudhury's Lapse of Memory Exercise 68

Solution 1

Chunilal was an old schoolmate of Bepin Babu. He had been having a rough time lately and had been coming to see Bepin Babu for a job.

Solution 2

Dr. Chanda was puzzled because he had never dealt with a case like Bepin Babu’s before. It was outside his field of experience. The unusual thing about Bepin Babu’s case was that he remembered everything in his past except for one particular incident. Dr. Chanda said that Bepin must have been to Ranchi. However, due to some unknown reason, the entire episode had slipped out of his mind.

Chapter 4 - Bepin Choudhury's Lapse of Memory Exercise 70

Solution 1

The author has described Bepin Babu as a serious and hardworking man. He worked daily in his office. It was a big firm and he was doing a responsible job. He had been with the firm for twenty-five years and never even for a day had he been distracted when at work. He had a reputation for being a tireless, conscientious worker.

Solution 2

Bepin Babu changed his mind about meeting Chunilal because he thought that it might be possible that the latter remembered something about the Ranchi trip in 1958. When Chunilal confirmed that Bepin Babu had been to Ranchi, Bepin Babu decided to see a specialist doctor.

Solution 3

Bepin Babu lost consciousness at Hudroo Falls because he had a fall. He had broken his hip.

Solution 4

After finding out that Chunilal had tricked him, Bepin Banu must have been filled with remorse for his ‘unfeeling behaviour’ towards an ‘old friend down on his luck; He would have realised that he had indeed been a victim of forgetfulness as he had forgotten the meaning of friendship in his time of ‘affluence’.

Solution 5

No, Bepin Babu had not really lost his memory and forgotten all about a trip to

Ranchi. It was a trick played by Chunilal.

Solution 6

Chunilal did what he did because although Bepin Babu was his old school friend he did not help him at a time when he had no money and required a job. Inspite of his affluence, Bepin Babu did nothing to help his friend who was down on his luck. Chunilal was therefore upset with his friend and decided to teach him a lesson and play a trick on him.

Chunilal said that he did not have money. However, what he did have was imagination.

Chapter 4 - Bepin Choudhury's Lapse of Memory Exercise 71

Solution 1

(i) I have to cut my hair every month.

(ii) We had to go for swimming lessons last year.

(iii) She has to tell the principal the truth.

(iv) They had to take the baby to the doctor.

(v) We have to complain to the police about the noise.

(vi) Romit had to finish his homework before he could come out to play.

(vii) I had to repair my cycle yesterday.

Chapter 4 - Bepin Choudhury's Lapse of Memory Exercise 72

Solution 1

(i) Column B

(ii) Column A

(iii) Column B

(iv) Column B

Solution 2

(i) Ans. Stop beating about the bush and tell me what you want.

Idiom: beating about the bush -avoiding the main topic, not coming straight to the point

(ii) Ans.  If you don't pay attention to the announcement, you might board the wrong train.

Idiom: pay attention - listen carefully

(iii) Ans.  The villagers tried to pin the crime on the young woman.

Idiom: pin the crime - place the responsibility of the crime, blame the crime on

(iv) Ans.  Bepin Babu loved telling people that he was under doctor's orders to eat early.

Idiom: under doctor's orders - in complete necessity/given strict instructions

(v) Ans.  The teacher raised his eyebrows when the students said that they had revised all their lessons.

Idiom: raised his eyebrows -expressed doubt/surprise