Chandni

The Old Man of Almora and His Peculiar Pets

Chapter 4 of the BSEB Class 7 supplementary reader An Alien Hand, titled 'Chandni', is a poignant, universally acclaimed literary masterpiece written by Dr. Zakir Husain, the eminent Indian educationist, scholar, and third President of the Republic of India. Set in the picturesque, mist-shrouded Himalayan town of Almora, the narrative explores the tragic yet sublime clash between human affection and the untamed, irrepressible desire for sovereign freedom inherent in all living creatures.

Abbu Khan: The Lonely Bachelor of Almora

The human protagonist of the tale is Abbu Khan, an elderly bachelor who lived entirely alone in a modest wooden hut on the outskirts of Almora. Having neither wife nor children, Abbu Khan suffered from chronic loneliness. To fill the void in his heart, he adopted a few pet goats, dedicating his entire life to their comfort, nourishment, and companionship. He treated his goats not as disposable farm animals or commercial livestock, but as his own beloved offspring:

• Affectionate and Quirky Names: He bestowed comical, endearing names upon his pets, calling them Kalua, Moongia, Guhri, and other playful monikers.
• Daily Grazing and Social Chitchat: Every morning, Abbu Khan took his small herd out to graze across the sun-dappled mountain meadows, talking to them incessantly throughout the day as a devoted father chitters with his toddlers.
• Nightly Shelter: At twilight, he tenderly guided them back to his compound, feeding them rich grains and juicy wild grass, before tying each goat securely with a stout rope around its neck inside his little hut.

The Fatal Trait of Hill Goats: Love for Freedom

Despite Abbu Khan's overflowing affection, delectable meals, and warm shelter, an insurmountable barrier existed between him and his pets: the biological temperament of mountain goats. Goats native to hilly terrain possess an instinctual, uncontrollable abhorrence of confinement. They detest being tied to trees, posts, or pegs. To a hill goat, the sweetest grass served in captivity is bitter bondage, while the sparse scrub growing on open, windswept hilltops represents sovereign paradise. For them, freedom was an absolute, sacred necessity for which they were prepared to pay the ultimate price.

BSEB Exam Tip: When asked why Abbu Khan's goats ran away despite his love and care, always explain that hill goats hate confinement above all else; to them, freedom on the hills is far more precious than food and safety in captivity.

The Tragedy of Kalua and the Vow of Solitude

Because of this instinctual yearning for liberty, Abbu Khan was notoriously unlucky with his beloved pets. A dark, repetitive tragedy haunted his humble dwelling in Almora, turning his affectionate companionship into recurring heartbreak.

The Midnight Breakouts and the Monster in the Hills

One by one, under the cover of pitch-dark midnight, each of Abbu Khan's goats would seize the opportunity when the old man was asleep. Straining their necks with desperate persistence, they would pull and pull at their tether ropes until the fibers snapped. Once free, they would bolt through the door and dash joyfully up into the towering hills. But their euphoric liberty was always tragically brief:

• The Lurking Predator: High in the rugged mountain crags lived an old, monstrous, bloodthirsty wolf. The cunning predator frequented the mountain passes, waiting for escaped domestic animals.
• The Inevitable Slaughter: Within hours of reaching the high pastures, the solitary goat would be ambushed, killed, and devoured by the savage wolf.
• Abbu Khan's Grief: The next morning, discovering a snapped rope and bloodstains near the mountain trail, Abbu Khan would weep inconsolably, crying: "Why do my goats run away into the jaws of death when I give them the finest green grass, sweet grains, and all the love in my heart?"

The Loss of Kalua: The Deer-Sized Champion

The most devastating blow came with the loss of Kalua, Abbu Khan's finest, largest, and most cherished goat. Kalua was as magnificent and graceful as a wild deer. She was deeply attached to the old man, and Abbu Khan believed she would never abandon him. Yet, even Kalua could not resist the siren call of the hills. One dark night, she snapped her tether and vanished into the heights. She put up a fierce, desperate fight against the wolf, battling through the night, but by dawn, her mangled remains were found on the rocks.

The Vow of Solitude Shattered by Loneliness

Utterly crushed by Kalua's gruesome demise, Abbu Khan broke down in despair. He made a solemn, binding vow: "No more goats in my house ever again! I shall live alone for the rest of my days without any pets." However, solitary confinement proved unbearable for the gregarious old man. Within a few months, the oppressive silence of his empty hut drove him to despair. Craving warmth and affection, he visited the market and purchased a very young, newly born female goat, reasoning: "A young goat will stay with me much longer. She will know no other home, grow fond of me, and never dream of running away to the hills!"

BSEB Important Detail: Remember that Kalua was as big as a deer and fought the wolf courageously all night before being killed, causing Abbu Khan to vow never to keep a goat again.

Enter Chandni: The White Beauty and the Illusion of Contentment

The young goat that Abbu Khan brought home was an exquisite creature of rare, pristine beauty. From the first moment she stepped across his threshold, she brought radiant joy, light, and warmth into the old bachelor's desolate existence.

Physical Splendor and Sweet Disposition

The new pet was endowed with remarkable physical grace and charming innocence:

• Snow-White Fleece: Her coat was dazzlingly white, resembling freshly fallen Himalayan snow, soft as silk to the touch.
• Twin Horns and Crimson Eyes: On her delicate head sat two shiny, sharp little horns, and her eyes sparkled like a pair of gleaming red jewels, full of vivacious intelligence.
• Affectionate Nature: Unlike older, wilder goats, she possessed a remarkably sweet, docile temperament. She would follow Abbu Khan around the courtyard like a puppy, nuzzle her soft muzzle against his knees, and listen intently to his endless stories with bright, responsive eyes.

The Naming: Chandni (Moonlight)

Enamored by her spotless white fleece and radiant demeanor, Abbu Khan bestowed upon her the poetic name Chandni, which translates from Hindi/Urdu as 'Moonlight'. He looked at her with paternal pride, convinced that Providence had finally rewarded his lifelong affection with a loyal companion who would brighten his declining years.

Years of Domestic Bliss: A Fool's Paradise

For several happy years, peace reigned in Abbu Khan's compound. He lavished Chandni with the most delectable feeds—fresh, tender green clover harvested from riverbanks, sweet corn grains, and pure mountain water. He caressed her silky coat and spoke to her for hours. Seeing Chandni frolic happily within the fenced perimeter of his garden, Abbu Khan foolishly convinced himself that she loved him too much ever to leave. He proudly proclaimed to his neighbors: "Chandni will never leave me! She loves the food I give her and enjoys my company; she will stay with me until my dying day!" But poor Abbu Khan was living in a tragic fool's paradise, completely oblivious to the irresistible wild instinct sleeping inside his pet's breast.

BSEB Character Trait: Chandni was named for her snow-white coat (meaning 'Moonlight'), had two sharp little horns, and gleaming red eyes, creating an illusion of eternal domestic contentment.

The Call of the Hills and the Open Window

Natural instincts can be suppressed by comfort and affection for a time, but they can never be extinguished. As Chandni blossomed into full maturity, the ancestral spirit of the mountain goat awakened within her soul with overwhelming, volcanic intensity.

The Morning Epiphany and the Choking Tether

Every morning, as dawn broke over Almora, Chandni would stand at the edge of the compound, gazing longing across the valley at the sun-drenched mountain peaks. Bathed in golden rays, the green slopes appeared like a celestial paradise. She inhaled the crisp mountain breeze and whispered yearningly to herself:

"How beautiful those hills are! How refreshing the breeze that blows through them! How glorious it would be to run, leap, and dance across those boundless green pastures, instead of being tethered like a prisoner in this dusty yard!"

Overcome with longing, she would suddenly bolt toward the sunlit hills. But after running only a few yards, the short rope tied around her neck would snap taut with a violent, choking jerk. Falling backward into the dust, Chandni would gaze with tears of rage and humiliation at the rope around her neck. She grew to despise that tether as the hateful symbol of her servitude.

The Decline and the Open Declaration

From that pivotal day, Chandni's demeanor underwent a drastic, heartbreaking transformation:

• Refusal of Nourishment: She stopped eating the succulent green grass Abbu Khan lovingly harvested; she ignored the sweet grains in her bowl.
• Physical Emaciation: Deprived of food and devoured by longing, her sleek, snowy body became gaunt, bony, and thin.
• The Desperate Ultimatum: One afternoon, unable to bear the agony any longer, Chandni looked directly into Abbu Khan's bewildered eyes and spoke with calm, desperate finality: "Dear Abbu Khan, please let me go to the hills. If I remain tethered in your compound any longer, I will surely die!"

The Warning and the Fateful Small Window

Abbu Khan was terrified. Weeping profusely, he warned her of the monstrous wolf living in the crags. Chandni defiantly replied: "God has given me two sharp horns; I will fight the wolf!" Realizing words were useless, Abbu Khan dragged her into a small, windowless wooden hut, slammed the heavy door, and locked it from the outside to save her life. But in his frantic emotional distress, he forgot to close the small ventilation window at the back of the hut. The moment his footsteps faded, Chandni leaped gracefully onto the sill, squeezed through the opening, and vanished into the twilight toward the high hills.

BSEB Plot Turning Point: Abbu Khan locked Chandni in a small hut to protect her, but in his agitation, he forgot to close the small back window, through which Chandni escaped to the hills.

The Ecstasy of Unbound Freedom on the Hilltops

Escaping through the small window of the hut, Chandni bounded up the rugged mountain slopes with the lightness of an ethereal spirit. Within an hour, she had crossed the boundary of human habitation and arrived upon the wild, untamed crest of the hills.

Nature's Royal Welcome

To Chandni, stepping onto the open mountain pasture felt like an orphaned child returning to the loving, protective embrace of her long-lost mother. Every element of the mountain environment seemed to celebrate her liberation:

• The Welcoming Grass: The tall, fragrant mountain grass rose high, brushing gently against her white flank as if extending soft arms to embrace her.
• The Blooming Wildflowers: Hundreds of colorful alpine wildflowers nodded their vibrant heads in joyful amusement at her energetic leaps.
• The Chanting Wind: The crisp mountain breeze whistled through the pine needles, humming a triumphant melody of freedom, welcoming the captive home.

Chandni ran, gamboled, and danced in ecstasy. She rolled in the soft clover, grazed upon wild herbs bursting with tangy alpine flavors, and leaped across cascading mountain brooks. It was the happiest, most radiant day of her entire life. She felt that the world had been reborn just for her.

Rejecting the Wild Herd: Sovereign Independence

During her afternoon frolics, Chandni encountered a herd of indigenous wild mountain goats grazing peacefully on a high ridge. Recognizing her rare beauty and elegance, the leader of the wild herd warmly invited Chandni to join their collective group for security and companionship. Remarkably, Chandni politely declined the offer. Having just broken free from the constraints of human ownership, she had no desire to subordinate herself to the rules of a herd. She wished to experience her hard-won liberty in complete, undiluted sovereignty—alone under the vast sky, answering to no master, leader, or fence.

BSEB Thematic Insight: Chandni refused to join the herd of wild goats because she wanted to savor her newfound freedom all by herself, without any rules, herd conformity, or restrictions.

The Duel at Dawn: A Soldier in the Dark

As the glorious afternoon waned, the fiery golden sun slipped behind the western mountain peaks, plunging the heights into rapid shadow. A chill crept through the mountain air; the rustling breeze suddenly died down, and an ominous, terrifying silence blanketed the darkening plateau.

The Monster Emerges: Shining Eyes in the Thicket

Standing alone on the darkening ridge, Chandni suddenly heard a sinister sound emerging from the dense thorn bushes: a guttural, wet snarl—"Hrr... hrr...". Looking toward the shadows, she froze. Peering through the leaves were two burning, yellow, predatory eyes, accompanied by the gleam of long, pointed fangs. The monstrous old wolf had stepped onto the clearing, licking his black lips in cruel anticipation. Seeing the plump, beautiful goat, the wolf knew she could not escape; he savored the moment with wicked patience.

Chandni's Sovereign Choice: Honor over Cowardice

At that terrifying crossroads, two paths lay open before Chandni:

1. The Path of Servitude: She could turn her back, sprint down the slope to Abbu Khan's hut, beg for shelter, and submit to the rope around her neck for the rest of her life.
2. The Path of Dignity: She could stand her ground, face the deadly monster, and fight for her liberty to the bitter end.

Chandni did not hesitate for a single second. Looking down the mountain, she said resolutely to herself: "Death in an open field is a thousand times more honorable than life in a dark hut with a rope around one's neck."

The Epic Battle of the Night

Transforming herself from a gentle pet into an indomitable warrior, Chandni assumed the classic battle posture of a heroic soldier: head lowered, legs firmly planted into the rocky soil, her two sharp little horns pointing straight like lances at the predator's chest. When the wolf leaped with a ferocious roar, Chandni met him head-on with her horns!

The titanic battle raged without pause through the long, freezing night. The wolf attacked repeatedly with slashing claws and snapping jaws; Chandni countered with agile dodges and piercing thrusts of her horns. The earth was torn; her pristine snow-white fleece was soaked with her own crimson blood. Yet, she refused to back down an inch, fighting with superhuman valor until the stars faded and the first grey light of dawn touched the horizon.

BSEB Core Quote: Chandni declared that "Death in an open field is far better than life in a small hut", choosing to die fighting like a brave soldier rather than return to a life of safety in captivity.

The Wise Old Bird's Verdict and BSEB Exam Strategy

As the dawn broke over the Himalayan ranges, Chandni's exhausted, blood-drenched body finally gave way. Pierced by dozens of wounds, she collapsed onto the blood-soaked grass, whispering her last breath. Above her stood the victorious, gluttonous wolf, panting heavily and preparing to devour his fallen prey.

The Debate Among the Birds

Perched high upon the branches of an overlooking oak tree was a flock of wild birds that had witnessed the entire night-long spectacle from their secure vantage point. As the wolf prepared his feast, a heated debate erupted among the feathered observers:

• The Majority View: Almost all the birds declared pragmatically: "The wolf has won! Look, Chandni lies dead on the ground, and the wolf is alive and victorious. The wolf is the clear winner!"
• The Wise Old Bird's Verdict: But a solitary, venerable wise old bird, who had observed the struggle with deep moral insight, ruffled his feathers and proclaimed with unyielding conviction:

  "No! You are all mistaken! Chandni is the real winner!"

The Philosophical Victory of Freedom

Why did the wise bird declare Chandni the true victor? Because in the realm of moral character and spiritual dignity, victory is not determined by physical survival, but by uncompromising loyalty to one's principles. Chandni did not cower, she did not flee, and she never begged for mercy. Against an invincible adversary, she chose death in freedom over a long life of comfortable slavery. Her death was not a defeat, but a glorious martyrdom that immortalized the triumph of the sovereign spirit.

BSEB Examination Mastery Blueprint

In the BSEB Class 7 English examination, questions on 'Chandni' require students to articulate both factual details and philosophical themes:

• 2-Mark Questions: Answer directly in 20–30 words (e.g., Abbu Khan's pet names, why he bought a young goat).
• 3-Mark Questions: Focus on contrast: why goats loved freedom, or why Chandni refused to join the wild herd.
• 4 and 5-Mark Questions: Detail the climax: the night-long fight against the wolf, Chandni's soldier-like stance, and the profound moral verdict of the wise old bird.

BSEB Topper Wisdom: In essay answers, always emphasize that Chandni is the real winner because she conquered fear and chose honorable resistance in freedom over ignoble safety in bondage.