The Lost Child Class 9 Chapter 1 NCERT Solution ||Moments||

The Lost Child Chapter 1 English NCERT Solution ||Beehive|| Class 9

Thinking about the Text (Page 06)

1. What are the things the child sees on his way to the fair? Why does he lag behind?
Answer : 

On his way to the fair, the child sees a variety of fascinating things:

  • Toys at the shops
  • Balloons of different colors
  • A garland of gulmohur flowers
  • A swing
  • A snake-charmer playing a flute
  • A flowering mustard field
  • Dragonflies and butterflies fluttering their wings
  • Insects and worms along the footpath

The child lags behind because he is captivated by all these sights. He follows the dragonflies and butterflies with his gaze, tries to catch them, and stops to collect flowers. His curiosity and fascination with everything around him cause him to fall behind.

 

2. In the fair he wants many things. What are they? Why does he move on without waiting for an answer?

Answer : At the fair, the child is drawn to many things:

  • Toys at the toy shop
  • Balloons of different colors
  • Sweets like burfi and gulab jamun
  • Garland of gulmohur flowers
  • A ride on the swing

Despite his desires, he moves on without waiting for an answer because he knows his parents will not buy these things for him. He is aware of their usual responses and understands that they might not be able to afford everything he wants. This realization makes him move on, even though he is tempted by the attractions.


3. When does he realise that he has lost his way? How have his anxiety and insecurity been described?
Answer : The child realizes he has lost his way when he turns around to ask his parents for a ride on the merry-go-round and finds them missing. This moment of realization is marked by a sudden sense of fear and panic.

His anxiety and insecurity are vividly described through his reactions:

  • Tears start rolling down his cheeks.
  • His throat becomes dry.
  • His face flushes and convulses with fear.
  • He begins to run in all directions, crying out for his parents.
  • His clothes become muddy and his turban comes untied as he frantically searches for them.

These descriptions effectively convey the child’s overwhelming sense of loss and fear.


4. Why does the lost child lose interest in the things that he had wanted earlier?
Answer : The lost child loses interest in the things he had wanted earlier because his primary concern shifts to finding his parents. The toys, balloons, sweets, and other attractions that once captivated him no longer matter in the face of his overwhelming fear and anxiety. His sense of security and happiness was tied to his parents’ presence, and without them, nothing else seems important.

This change in his priorities highlights how deeply he values his parents’ love and protection over material desires.


5. What do you think happens in the end? Does the child find his parents?
Answer : In the story, the ending is left open to interpretation, which adds to its emotional impact. The child is found by a kind-hearted man who tries to comfort him and offers to buy him the things he wanted earlier, like toys, balloons, and sweets. However, the child is inconsolable and only wants his parents.

While the story doesn’t explicitly state whether the child finds his parents, the focus is on his emotional journey and the realization of what truly matters to him. The open ending allows readers to imagine different outcomes, but the central theme remains the child’s deep bond with his parents and the sense of security they provide.