About the Author
Vaikom Muhammad Basheer was a famous writer from Kerala, born in 1908. He lived until 1994. People call him "Beypore Sultan" because he was like a king of simple, real-life stories. Basheer wrote in Malayalam, his mother tongue, but his tales are loved all over India. He faced many ups and downs – he left school young, joined the freedom fight, travelled a lot, and even stayed in small rooms like the doctor in this story. His books are full of humour, kindness, and truth. "The Snake and the Mirror" is from his collection Poovan Banana and Other Stories. He makes us smile even in scary moments!
What’s the Story About?
Imagine a hot summer night. A young doctor (our storyteller) lives in a small, rented room. It's not fancy – just a table, chair, bed, a mirror on the table, and some books. No fan, no cool air, just heat and rats running around. The doctor comes home tired after a long day of seeing patients. He earns little money, eats simple meals (sometimes at a hotel, sometimes nothing), and dreams of a better life – good food, nice clothes, maybe marriage one day.
He sits on his chair in front of the mirror, holding a lamp because there's no light bulb. He looks at himself – "Not bad," he thinks with a smile. He combs his hair, decides to shave daily, keep a thin moustache, and smile more to look handsome. He even plans to marry a rich, fat doctor lady who runs fast (so she can't catch him if angry – funny thought!).
Suddenly – thud! Something heavy falls on the table behind him. He turns slowly... and freezes! A big, fat snake has landed there. It slithers off the table, coils around the doctor's chair, and then – oh no! – it climbs onto his shoulder and wraps around his left arm! The snake's hood spreads wide, inches from his face. Its cold body touches his skin. The doctor can't move, can't shout. He feels like a stone statue.
In that scary second, he thinks: "If I move, the snake will bite. Poison will finish me in minutes." But then, a tiny voice in his head says, "God is watching. Stay calm." The snake turns its head... and looks straight into the mirror! It sees its own reflection and gets busy admiring itself – twisting, turning, like it's saying, "Wow, I'm beautiful!"
The doctor, still like ice, waits. Slowly, the snake leaves his arm, slides down, and coils in front of the mirror, staring at its shiny face. This is the doctor's chance! He jumps up quietly, runs out of the room, and spends the night at a friend's house.
Next morning, he returns with friends. Guess what? Thieves had visited in the night! They took almost everything – his books, coat, even dirty shirts – but left the mirror. The doctor laughs: the snake loved its looks, and the thieves loved his things! He moves to a better room soon after. The story ends with him saying he now keeps a clean home – no rats, no snakes!
It's a mix of fear, fun, and relief – like a roller-coaster ride in words.
Who’s Who in the Story
- The Doctor (Narrator): The main person telling the story. A young homeopathic doctor, poor but hopeful. He lives alone, dreams big, and faces the snake bravely. His funny thoughts make us laugh even in danger.
- The Snake: Not a person, but the surprise guest! A thick, poisonous cobra. It falls from the roof, sits on the doctor, then falls in love with its own beauty in the mirror. It saves the doctor without knowing!
- The Rats: Small trouble-makers in the room. They run on the beams and make the roof dirty, so the snake falls down. Not main, but they start the drama.
- The Thieves: They come at night when no one is home. Greedy and quiet, they steal everything except the mirror. We never see them, but they add a twist.
- The Friend: The doctor stays at his house that night. Not much detail, but a safe helper.
Themes and Moral
This story hides big ideas in its small events:
- Pride and Vanity: The doctor smiles at his own face and plans to look better. The snake does the same in the mirror! It shows we all like to feel good about ourselves – even animals.
- Danger and Calmness: Life can scare us anytime (like the snake). But staying cool and waiting for the right moment can save us. The doctor didn't panic – smart move!
- Humour in Hard Times: Even with fear and loss (thieves took his things), the doctor laughs. It teaches us to find fun in tough days.
- Simple Living: The doctor has little but dreams more. In the end, he learns to keep things clean and safe.
The Moral: Don't let fear win – think clear and act wise. Also, too much love for your own looks can be funny (and helpful!). Keep your space neat, and face surprises with a smile. Like the doctor says, "A little danger makes a good story!"
Important Vocabulary and Phrases
Here are the main words and lines, explained like a teacher talking to you:
- Homeopathic: A type of medicine using tiny doses of natural things to cure. The doctor is a "homeopathic doctor" – he treats with small pills.
- Meagre: Very small amount, not enough. His income is "meagre" – he earns little, so simple food only.
- Gabled: Roof with two slanting sides, like a triangle house. His room has a "gabled, tiled roof" – old-style, hot, and full of rats.
- Vermin: Nasty small animals like rats that spoil things. "The place was infested with rats" – rats everywhere, dirty and noisy.
- Slithered: To move smoothly like a snake on the ground, no legs. The snake "slithered" onto his arm – quiet and scary.
- Coiled: Twisted round and round like a rope. The snake "coiled around" his arm – tight but not biting yet.
- Hood: The wide part a cobra spreads near its head to look big. Its "hood was spread out" – ready to strike, but didn't.
- Taken abode: Made a home. The snake "had taken abode on my shoulder" – it sat there like it belonged!
- Phrase: "Made at once for": Went straight towards something fast. The snake "made at once for the mirror" – rushed to see itself.
- Phrase: "A stone in a fleshly form": The doctor felt like a rock, no movement. He sat "like a stone in a fleshly form" – frozen with fear.
There you have it, friends! Read the story again, laugh at the snake's mirror love, and share it in class. What would you do if a snake sat on you? Stay calm like the doctor – you're the hero! Keep reading and smiling! 😊