The short story “Face Showing” is Short Story 3 from Tulip Series English Book 7 for students of JKBOSE. This post will provide you with Short Story 3 Face Showing Class 7 Line by Line Explanation. The story“Face Showing” has been written by a famous Dogri writer and dramatist B.P. Sathe. The story is about a little girl who was afraid of her father. This post is about the complete Line by Line Explanation of Short Story 3 Face Showing. My previous post was about Face Showing Short Story Class 7 Summary and Questions. Let’s get started with this post.
Face Showing Class 7 Line by Line Explanation
Introduction
The short story “Face Showing” revolves around a wedding cultural tradition in Jammu and Kashmir. In this culture when a new bride comes home with her bridegroom, all relatives and nears and dears give her gifts to see her face for the first time.
Detailed Explanation of Face Showing
The day Rahimbibi came to our village as the newly wedded bride, all the women of our house went to see her. Each took with her something as masahni, a gift customarily given to see the face of the bride. My mother gave her a pair of bangles. My aunt gave her a pair of anklets. And my elder brother’s wife gave her a pair of small silver toe rings. When they returned home, they lavished so much praise on Rahimbibi’s beauty that even we, small children then, were tempted to see her.
Explanation: Rahimbibi was a newly wedded bride in the author’s village when he was a school-going child. All the female members of his family went to see her face. All of them took gifts to see the face of a new bride. It was custom to present a gift to a newly wedded bride. After they returned home, they all praised the beauty of the bride. Looking at this the small children like the author got tempted to see her face.
My mother said, “What a lovely bride! She looks like a finely chiselled marble statue.”
The aunt joined in, “What eyes! So black and lustrous. Besides, the bride looks fairly tall.”
My sister-in-law who was a bit vain, said, “Only her complexion is fair, the face is full of Freckles. And then how can you know when she is sitting, whether she isn’t lame or hasn’t some other defect?”
Explanation: The author’s mother in praise of the bride said that she was like a finely designed statue of marble. His aunt praised the eyes and height of the bride but his sister-in-law didn’t like that and said that the bride was only fair in her complexion but her face was full of brown spots. She further said that maybe she was lame or have some other health issue who knows. She said all this out of jealousy.
It was my mother who replied, “Who says she is lame? She came out from inside the house and her gait was perfectly normal.”
The aunt added, “Purple spots on a fair face add to the charm.”
The sentence was completed by my elder brother who had come into the room. “That Greek beauty for you. The ornament of some royal place. Who are you talking about?”
Explanation: The author’s mother replied to her sister-in-law that the bride’s walk was perfectly fine and she was not lame. The aunt further added that having purple spots on her fair face adds more to the beauty. In the meantime, his elder brother came there and further said it seems that the person they were talking about was really beautiful and he also asked them about whom they were talking.
Mother said, “The washermen have brought the bride home. We were talking about llamdin’s bride. We had gone to his place to give masahni. The bride is very beautiful and as fair as light.”
My elder brother’s wife had extremely beautiful eyes but her complexion was a bit dark and she was short. Showing her annoyance, she went inside saying, “After all, she is only a washerman bride, not a Brahmin or Rajput bride!”
The aunt immediately retorted, “She is no doubt a washerman’s bride, but don’t people praise beauty even in a lower caste?”
Explanation: The author’s mother told his elder brother that they were talking about the beauty of Ilamdin’s bride. The author’s elder brother’s wife also had beautiful eyes but she had a dark complexion and also less height. She got annoyed by the praise of the bride and went inside the room saying that she may be beautiful but at last, she was the washerman’s bride and not a Brahmin or Rajput bride.
To her this comment, aunt replied immediately that though she may be the washerman’s bride but beauty needs to be praised.
The sister-in-law retraced her steps and shot back, “Bring her sister for your son then.” The reference was obviously to my brother. And yet, she had not understood the meaning of “Greek beauty”.
Ilamdin’s mother was also our aunt but to distinguish her from our own aunt we called her “washerwoman aunt”. Sometimes when both the aunts would be seated together, we just called “auntie” to watch the fun and both responded simultaneously. It made us burst into laughter.
Explanation: The reply from the aunt further irritated the sister-in-law more and went on to suggest aunt that she should arrange her son’s marriage with the bride’s sister then. Ilamdin’s mother was also the author’s aunt but to distinguish between her own aunt and Ilamdin’s mother while calling she would call her “washerwoman aunt”. Several times when they found both of them sitting together, they would call just “auntie” to see the response of them both at the same time. It used to be a funny scene that always made them laugh.
For three or four days, the new bride was pampered, but eventually, she had to join in the household chores. One day the washerwoman’s aunt brought her daughter-in-law along with her to fetch water. The daughter-in-law had a veil over her face right down the throat, a pitcher-rest on her head and a brand-new pitcher on it.
Explanation: After marriage, the new bride was welcomed nicely and made to feel at home for three to four days but eventually she had to look after the work of the household. After a few days, the washer woman’s aunt brought her daughter-in-law with her to fetch water. She had a veil over her face covering her face completely. There was a brand-new pitcher on her head.
The well was near our house. People from far and near came there to fill their vessels. Before going to the well the two women came to our house and the mother-in-law made the daughter-in-law touch the feet of my mother, my aunt and my sister-in-law. All the three ladies of our house blessed her, “May you and your husband live to a ripe old age!” But after they left, they raised another ripple in our house.
“The bride has such a lovely gait, like that of a peacock dancing.”
Explanation: The well was near the author’s house and people from surrounding houses whether near or far came to the well for water. The washerwoman and her daughter-in-law visited the author’s house before going to well. The washerwoman made her daughter-in-law touch the feet of the author’s mother, aunt and sister-in-law. They all blessed her with a long and happy married life. But after they leave his house there was around round of talking in his house praising the beauty of the bride.
Mother and aunt were well-meaning women who appreciated others and also condemned where condemnation was called for. But my sister-in-law was young and did not like another being praised, “Peacocks are dark but she is so fair. Praising her like this would amount to saying that a swan is dancing.”
Cut to the quick, the aunt said, “What do we lose if we call a peacock white?”
Explanation: The author’s mother and aunt were talking about the bride honestly because they would always appreciate the good things in others and also criticise the negative things in them. The sister-in-law, on the other hand, was young and she don’t like another woman to be praised in the home so she said that the peacock was dark but the bride was white so they should say her swan. Replying to this aunt said that there was no loss if they call peacock white rather than calling the bride swan.
The sister-in-law kept quiet – either she could not find a suitable reply or she did not think it expedient to prolong the argument.
The following day, the two women came to our house again on their way to the well and sat down for a little chat. The women of our house enquired from the daughter-in-law about the location of her house in Saruinsar.
Explanation: The sister-in-law did not reply further. It may that she was not able to find a suitable reply to the remark or maybe she doesn’t want to lengthen the argument.
The next day, the washerwoman and her daughter-in-law came to their house again because it was on the way to the well. They sat there for a little chat and during the talking, the woman from the author’s house asked about the location of daughter in law’s house in Surinsar.
The mother-in-law advised her, “You see, the younger aunt is called Chachi, and the elder aunt is called Tai. My sons address them like that, you should also do likewise. And this is bhabhi, my elder son’s wife. Her husband and Gulabdin went to school together. I call her by her first name but you should always address her bhabhi.”
Explanation: The mother-in-law of the bride (Rahimbibi) advised her that her son would call younger aunt Chachi and elder aunt tai and she had to follow the same. She further introduced sister in law as bhabhi to her and said that her husband and Gulabdin were childhood friends and had their schooling together. She advised her to call her Bhabhi.
After a few days, the mother-in-law stopped coming with her daughter-in-law. Probably she was engaged in other domestic chores at home. Rahimbibi came to the well twice in the morning and once in the evening. Going to school in the morning we would see her on the way. One day, while the other boys had gone ahead, I remained behind when I saw her coming from the opposite direction. She had her face covered as usual, right down to the throat. A little hesitantly I said, “Rahimbibi, you can show your face to me. I am so small.”
Explanation: After a few days, the mother-in-law stopped accompanying her daughter-in-law on the way to the well for bringing water. She may be busy with other household work. It was the only bride (Rahimbibi) who would come to well thrice a day (two times in the morning and once in the evening). The author and other children would see her on the way to school daily. One day author decided to see her face and he remained behind when he saw her coming from the opposite direction while other boys went ahead. She had a veil covering her face as usual. When she came near him, he hesitatingly called her and said that she can show her face to him because he was so small.
Rahimbibi kept walking and said, “Bhauji, if you want to see my face, you will have to give masahni.”
We were walking in different directions and before I could give any reply, she had gone some distance.
The next day. I managed to remain behind again. As I crossed her path I said, “Rahimbibi, what would you like to have as masahni? I shall get it for you from mother.”
Explanation: The pride (Rahimbibi) continued her walk and said to him that if he wanted to see her, he had to present a gift (masahni) to her.
As they were walking in different directions before the author could say something she had gone away from the place.
The following day the author remained behind again and as soon as she reached near him, he asked Rahimbibi what she would like to have as mahasni. He told her that he will get it for her from his mother.
Rahimbibi replied, “No, no, not from Chachi. I shall show you my face only when you give masahni out of your own earning. Until then, I will not lift my veil.”
Rahimbibi stuck to what she said. For years, she kept her veil. In the next three years, I did my eighth class and went to Jammu for further schooling. From Jammu, I went to Srinagar and could not go to the village for another year and a half. I was now fifteen and had failed in the ninth class. When I went home during the vacation and met Rahimbibi, she asked, “Bhauji, in what class are you studying now?”
Explanation: She refused that she doesn’t want it from Chachi’s money instead she wanted mahasni from his own earnings and only then she would show her face to him. She told them till then she would not lift her veil to him.
She kept her words for years and did not reveal her face to the author. After three years author completed his class 8th and went to Jammu for further studies. He went to Srinagar from Jammu and could not be returned to his village for the next one and half years. He was 15 years old by then and had failed in 9th class. When he returned home during the vacation and met Rahimbibi she asked him in which class she was reading then.
“Ninth.”
“Last year also you were in the ninth.”
I felt at a loss for words and couldn’t bear to stand in front of her and moved away, mumbling, “Yes, yes.”
As ill-luck would have it, I failed in the ninth a second time and did not go home for a whole year. After three years in ninth, I got promoted to the tenth and then went home. I came across Rahimbibi again and she asked, “Now you must be in college?”
Explanation: The author replied that he was in ninth class. Rahimbibi replied that he was in class ninth last year too.
The author had no answer to Rahimbib’s question because he got failed in ninth class. Due to this, he was not able to stand in front of her and left the place saying yes yes.
It was the author’s bad luck that he failed in class the ninth second time too and did not return home that year. After spending three years, the author was promoted to class tenth and then he went home. After he reached home, he met Rahimbibi and she asked him that he must be in college by then.
“No, bhabhi, I am in the tenth now. I’ll pass this time and then get a job. I shall arrange for your masahni from my first pay.”
“No, bhauji. Place the first pay at the feet of Chachi. Chachi has to incur a lot of expenses to make offerings to deities, she will purchase things for the puja. I shall wait for my masahni for another year.”
Explanation: The author replied that he was not in college instead he told her that he was in class 10th. He told her that he will pass the exam that year and will get a job. He further said that he would arrange mahasni for her from his first pay.
Rahimbibi said that he should place his first pay at his mother’s feet because she had to manage a lot of expenses for arranging things for puja. She further said that she will wait for her mahasni for one more year.
“Rahim bhabhi, I did not know that it would be so difficult to see the face of my own bhabhi.”
“Bhauji, the more you wait, the stronger will the desire grow. On crossing over to the threshold of youth, the desire to see a face does not go. One wishes one would go on gazing.”
Up to this time, I had thought that seeing Rahim Bhabhi’s face was a bit of fun, a mere play. But now this desire to see her face took on a different colour. I was determined that I would give her masahni out of my own earnings.
Explanation: The author told Rahimbibi that he was unaware of the fact that it would be so difficult for him to see the face of her own Bhabhi.
Rahimbibi replied that the more he would wait to see her face stronger the desire will grow. He was in his teenage by then but still, the wish to see the face of her Bhabhi was the same.
But by this time this desire has taken a different colour. Till then he was taking it as fun but now he was fully determined to see her face only when he will arrange mahasni for her out of his own earnings.
After some years I was also married. But Rahim Bhabhi did not lift her veil. I could not give her masahni and every now and then when I met her, she repeated, “Bhauji, I am not going to lift the veil without having masahni.”
Explanation: After a few years, the author got married but Rahimbibi did not lift her veil to show her face to him. He was not able to give her mahasni and whenever she would meet him she used to say that she will not lift her veil to him without having mahasni from him.
One day my wife said, “Why does this Rahimu talk to you with such a long veil over her face?”
“Rahim bhabhi will lift the veil only after she gets masahni from me. As for talking, she talks to me in the same way as Saryu bhabhi does.”
“Saryu bhabhi is your own bhabhi but Rahimu is Muslim. What is your relationship with her?”
“My dear, relations among brothers remembering God by different names do not separate them. llamdin is like my real elder brother.”
Explanation: After the author’s marriage, one day his wife asked him about the matter. She asked him why Rahimbibi keep a long veil covering her face while talking to him. Also, she why she talks to him like his own bhabhi.
She further said that Saryu Bhabhi was his own Bhabhi but Rahimbibi was a Muslim and so she questioned him what was his relation with her.
The author explained to her wife that the relationship between their families is above religion. He told her that Ilamdin was like a real elder brother to him.
“You may say so but people don’t.”
“Well, I do not follow what others say. I wish that others would follow what I say.”
“The whole world follows what people follow.”
“But have you ever thought who people follow?”
She could not reply to this.
The month of Ramzan came. Muslims started their fasts. I asked Rahimbibi, “You do not keep fasts?”
“I cannot fast for many days. I fast just for one day. I am not feeling well.”
“On which day will you fast?”
“On the day that I do not come to fetch water, you can take it that I am fasting.”
“I shall bring sweets for you on that day, to break the fast with.”
“No, no, it is not proper for you to bring sweets for me. Sweets will be brought by him who is supposed to bring them.”
“Then what should I bring that will be proper?”
“For you, the only proper thing is that masahni. When I get it, I’ll see the Id moon.”
Explanation: The author’s wife replied that he may look at his relationship with Rahimbibi in the right way but people don’t. he replied he hardly follows what others say but wanted others to follow what he says.
He further said that the whole world follows what people follow. He questioned her if she had ever thought about whom people follow. She was not able to answer this question.
The month of Ramzan approached and Muslims started fasting. The author asked Rahimbibi if she keep fasts or not. She replied that she could not fast for many days due to her health issue and told her that she fasted for one day only.
The author asked her the day on which she would be fasting. She replied that on the day when she would not come to fetch water she would be fasting. The author said that he will bring sweets for her to break the fasts but she refused that she would not accept sweets from him because her husband was supposed to do that for her. The author asked then what she wanted him to bring for her. She replied that she will accept mahasni from him and for which she waiting for years.
After some six months, Rahimbibi started having fever which turned into typhoid and then pneumonia. More complications followed. The hakim gave up hope. A doctor was called but he also held out no hope.
One morning Shamsu came running to our house and said to me, “Since last night, my aunt has been sinking and telling everybody around to go and call bhauji. When I said I would go, she said, ‘Tell bhauji that I am going and that he should come to show me his face for the last time.”
Explanation: After a few months, Rahimbibi fell ill, she was having fever which turned to typhoid and finally to pneumonia and followed by more health complications. The hakim had no hope of her revival. A doctor was called for her treatment but he said there was no hope of his revival.
Then one-morning Shamsu came in hurry to the author’s house and said to him that his aunt (Rahimbibi) was sinking since last night and was calling him (author). Shamsu said when he told her that he would go to call the author she sent a message to her that she was about to leave the world and she asked him to show his face to her for one last time.
I understood the situation and set out immediately with Shamsu. Rahimbibi was lying straight on her back on the cot and her face was uncovered. A fair face on a fair frail frame, black eyes and purple spots spread on the cheeks reminded me of a Greek statue. Slowly, she turned her “gaze towards me and said in a very low voice. “Bhauji, I have removed my veil today to get masahni.
Explanation: The author understood the whole situation and left for Rahimbibi’s home immediately. She was laying on the cot with her face without a veil on it. She had a fair face but her illness has degraded her beauty. When she looked at her she said in a low voice that she had removed her veil that day to get mahasni from the author.
You may see my face now. My life was stuck in my eyes just to see your face. You must come along up to the graveyard and place a handful of soil on my face as your masahni. Otherwise, I will carry my craving for your masahni with me to my grave.”
Explanation: She further said that the author could see her face now. She further said that her life was about the end and she was waiting only to see his face one last time. She said to him that he must come to her graveyard and place a handful of soil on her face as mahasni otherwise her desire for mahasni will remain unfulfilled forever.
That’s it for Face Showing Class 7 Line by Line Explanation. Hope it has helped. Do share your views about this post in the comment section below
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