Chapter
- 5
Love Across the Salt
Desert Keki
N. Daruwalla
Q 1. Why did the Rann look like ‘a paralysed monster’?
Ans. The Rann looked like a paralyzed monster, its back covered with scab and scar tissue and dried blister skin. The earth had cracked and it looked as if chunks of it had been backed in a kiln and then embedded in the soil crust. It was all because it had not rained in the Rann for the last three years.
Q 2. What important incident occurred when Fatimah came
into the village?
Ans. When Fatimah came to the village, the whole sky was overcast with clouds and it started raining. It started with lightening and huge isolated rain drops. The three years of drought ended with that.
Q 3. Why did Fatimah not like Mahfuz Ali?
Ans. Fatimah did not like Mahfuz Ali because of his slurred speech and grotesque stammer. Urchins would mimick him. It was just a step removed from being hounded like a madman pelted with stones.
Q 4. Why did Aftab open the door three times during the
night? Was anybody knocking the door?
Ans. Aftab opened the door three times during the night
because he thought that his son had come back. But there was nobody except wind.
Q 5. Why was it not easy to cross the boundary? How were
people checked while crossing the border?
Ans. It was not easy to cross the boundary because Indus Rangers always kept a watch from their baboo watch towers and in heat everything became a mirage. Any movement was sure to be noticed through binoculars. The camel could die of fatigue.
Q 6. Why was Fatimah happy despite she was leaving her country as well as home?
Ans. Fatimah was happy despite leaving her country and home because first, she did not have to marry Mahfuz Ali.
Second, she was running away with the person whom she loved..
Long Question Answers
Q 7. Discuss the aptness of the title “Love across the
salt desert”.
Ans. The title “Love across the salt desert” is quite appropriate as the whole story revolves around love and desert. There are two main characters in this story: Najab and Fatima. Both live in different countries. The Rann of Kutch is spread
between their villages. Fatimah was a beautiful girl who was under
pressure to marry Mahfuz Ali. But she did not like Mahfuz Ali. Her
father wanted her to marry him. But she was attracted to the quiet,
young boy, Najab. Later they both liked one another. Najab made illegal trips across
the border with his father. Once he stayed at the house of Fatimah. In the evening, Najab hugs Fatimah.and promises to come back. One day
he crossed the desert alone and takes Fatimah along with him to his
village. Thus the whole story is about crossing the desert for the sake of love.
Q 8. Write about the rituals performed at panchmai pir?
Ans. Over a hundred years earlier Panchmai Pir roamed about the salt desert serving the people there. According to a legend, he would have a jackal for his company. He was a reclusive by habit so he would return to the thorn jungles after serving the people. In his honour a lamp was lighted every night on the hill top and flame could be seen all the way from Khavda. Anybody willing to cross the border would pay a homage to the Pir and leave some food on the hilltop. If the jackals materialized and ate the food, it would be considered a good omen to continue on the journey across the desert. The custom of feeding the jackals had lingered since then.
Q 9. The image of Rann has been used twice in this story:
in the beginning and also in the end. How was it associated with love, joy, and
harmony among the characters?
Ans. The first image of the rann is of a drought ridden land which lay like a paralyzed monster, back covered with scab and scar tissue and dried blister-skin The earth had cracked and it looked as if chunks of it had been baked in a kiln and then embedded in soil crust. The cattle became thin and emaciated. The oxen died. This image shows a land shorn of love, joy and harmony.
But the second image is full of love, joy and harmony as finally the love was brought to culmination by bringing Fatimah to Rann. The boundaries dissolved and love brought about a harmony between the two lands. The parents were happy because the son had returned ending the prolonged uncertainty and fear. The joy doubled as rain had ended three years of drought and brought relief to the people and land.
Q 10. Throw light on the difference of attitude between Najab’s mother and father when they came to know about his escaped?
Ans. When Aftab got to know that Najab had escaped, he was very furious. He ran into the camel enclosure and into the house to confirm. Moreover, when he found that Najab had not taken Tendu leaves with him, he got angrier as there would be nothing with him to do business. Zaman's accusations have made him more disappointed ant irritated. After Zaman's departure, Aftab went to his wife to break the news thinking she would faint at this. But she did nothing rather simply sat with her back against the mud wall. She did not even blink in surprise. She was waist-deep in this conspiracy along with her son and never even breathed a word about it. When questioned by Aftab, she said that he needn't worry, Najab would return with cloves.
Q 11. What difficulties did Najab face while crossing the border?
Ans. Najab had to face lots of difficulties while crossing the border. He had to move against the strong south wind. He could not move during daylight as the Indus rangers would be looking from their bamboo watch-towers all the time. Allahrakha, his camel could die of fatigue. There were patrolling parties on both sides. He was chased. There was firing from behind. He had to walk on his feet which scraped the callus from his feet and scarred them with agonizing cracks. The hot tin sky was throwing up needles into his eyes. The Rann palpitated and haunted him with mirage, pools of shadow and half-moons of water. At Kaley Shah's house as well, he had to live with cattle during day time.
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