CBSE Class 11 English Woven Words: Chapter 7 Bridges NCERT Solutions

The author expresses a distinct lack of enthusiasm and comfort regarding her mother's strong desire for her to become a dancer. She reveals that her mother, upon recognizing an innate talent for dance in her daughter, became motivated to pursue this path. The author notes that the film industry played a role in igniting this interest in her mother. However, the author herself states unequivocally that she never wished to be a dancer. She found the process of traveling to her dance teacher's house troublesome and felt as though she was being forced into learning dance, perceiving it as something thrust upon her.

Even when she moved to Queen Mary's College in Lahore for her studies, she initially hoped to escape dance lessons. Unfortunately, her mother arranged for a dance teacher, Radhelal Misra, to accompany her, much to the author's dismay. In essence, the author did not find any positive experiences or joy in her mother's fervent passion for her to become a dancer.

Kumudini learned several valuable life lessons during her youth that significantly shaped her adult perspective and actions. One notable incident occurred when her father, an engineer, was allotted a large house in Delhi. Their neighbor, Liaquat Ali (who later became the Prime Minister of Pakistan), had a guava tree. When Kumudini and her brother were caught picking guavas by his gardener, Liaquat Ali did not punish them but instead extended an open invitation to pick fruits whenever they wished. Kumudini reflects that this was one of her earliest insights into the complex nature of political interactions.

During her time at Queen Mary's College in Lahore, she understood the importance of discipline. She believes that incorporating discipline into one's daily routine fosters discipline in one's thinking processes. The death of her mother taught her the profound pangs of hunger, an experience that she feels influences her work. She also gained an understanding of conflict, which she later explored in a play titled 'Duvidha'.

Furthermore, Kumudini learned to distinguish between sensitivity and sentimentality. This exploration led her to create a piece called 'Panch Paras' (The Five Senses) in her adult life. She also recounts a lesson from Ram Gopal, who advised that one must perfect a technique through practice before attempting experiments. Touring with Ram Gopal also provided her with opportunities to understand her own personality better.

The news of her mother's death was not directly conveyed to Kumudini by her school principal. Instead, she was informed that she needed to go home because her mother was unwell. Upon arriving home, Kumudini discovered that her mother had passed away. At the young age of 14, she felt a profound sense of helplessness in the world. Her physical reaction was noticeable; her hands hung loosely from her body. She also experienced hunger but found herself unable to communicate this need to anyone, fearing that she might appear greedy if she expressed it.