A Game of Chance

EnglishClass 6Honey Suckle

Introduction

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Games of chance called "lucky dips" allow players to choose little prizes or presents that are wrapped in boxes at random. In the lesson "A Game of Chance," a child called Rasheed, his uncle, and the owner of the Lucky Shop are the main characters. The discussion between the boy and the shopkeeper is presented in an engaging way in the lesson. Readers and students can figure out the boy's feelings and emotions.

Summary with Explanation

In Rasheed's village, a fair was held every year on the occasion of Eid. While Eid was only celebrated for one day, the fair was held for many days following Eid. At the fair, merchants and shop owners from faraway regions came to sell their goods. One may purchase everything at these kinds of fairs, ranging from little pins to buffaloes. During this time of celebration, Rasheed accompanied his uncle and the person who worked in their home, Bhaiya, to visit the fair. It was really crowded. When Rasheed's uncle met his friends, he asked Rasheed to have a look around the fair and told him not to buy anything or go too far away as he was about to leave with his friends. Rasheed was now alone with Bhaiya, and the two of them wandered throughout the fair admiring the many goods on show. Rasheed was drawn to several products and considered purchasing them, but he refrained. Showing that he is an obedient and self-controlled boy who obeys his uncle's instructions.

Exactly at this time, he ran into "The Lucky Shop." Anyone with 50 paise could participate in the game, which required them to choose six discs from the shopkeeper's stock. Each disc had a number, which was added together. The store owner then gave the buyer a present that had a number equal to the sum of all the numbers on the discs. In the lucky store, an old man arrived to play the game. He chose six of the discs on the table after paying 50 paise. He added up the numbers on all six discs and found the answer to be 15. He was given a lovely clock as a present by the shopkeeper. He returned the clock to the shopkeeper who offered to purchase it back for Rs. 15 since he did not like it and left the shop with joy.

Next, a youngster who was only a little older than Rasheed was the next client to enter the lucky store. The young man tried his luck and was rewarded with a comb worth 25 paise. The shopkeeper's expression did not seem to be either joyful or sad. When the shopkeeper offered to purchase it back for 25 paise, the young man decided to sell it to him. The young man tried once again and was successful in obtaining a fountain pen valued at Rs 3. When he attempted for the third time, he won a wristwatch for Rs 25. He then tried his luck once again and won a table lamp that was more expensive than ten rupees. The young man left the store happy having received more gifts from the shop.

Rasheed wanted to try his luck after seeing the elderly man and the young man win several things from the lucky store. Rasheed was also persuaded by Bhaiya to give it a try. Rasheed selected six discs from the table after paying 50 pence. On his initial attempt, he only managed to get two pencils, which was not great for him. The shopkeeper offered to purchase the two pencils back for 25 paise. Rasheed tried again and was rewarded with an ink bottle that had some little value. Rasheed once again sold it to the store owner who had previously purchased it back for 25 pence. He gave it another go, but he had bad luck. Rasheed kept trying his luck in the hopes that it would get better. He kept playing the game by spending 50 paise every time, but each time he attempted, he received an object of little value. He finally had only 25 paise left. Being kind, the shopkeeper gave him one final opportunity to settle his account. Rasheed made the decision to continue playing, but he also lost his last 25 paise. There were others watching him. Some even started laughing at Rasheed's misfortune. Nobody expressed any sympathy for him. After some time, he and his Bhaiya returned to the location where his uncle had left them.

After a while, his uncle arrived and discovered him to be upset. Uncle asked Rasheed about his sadness. Rasheed remained silent. The whole situation was explained to him by Bhaiya. Rasheed's uncle didn't seem upset about the situation at all. He wasn't upset or irritated. Though Rasheed lost all his money, he wasn't scolded or beaten. Instead, he gave him a smile and a gentle, loving pat. His uncle even took him shopping and bought him a beautiful umbrella, sweets, biscuits, and a few other small gifts and they returned home.

On the way back, Rasheed's uncle told him that the guy at the lucky shop had fooled him. Rasheed said that wasn't true and said it was just his bad luck. Rasheed's uncle told him it had nothing to do with good luck or bad luck. Rasheed replied that he had seen an old man buy a clock and a boy receiving two or three expensive things. His uncle then revealed to him that it was actually the shopkeeper's friends who were the lucky shop winners. The shopkeeper cheated customers in order to get a profit. In order to draw players to the game, he was employing false winners. He told Rasheed to forget about the whole thing and not tell anyone about his foolishness or bad luck.

Conclusion

Through this tutorial, students are taught to learn more about and have a better understanding of the world around them. The story teaches students to analyse or differentiate between the good or negative intentions of others, based on their encounters with others.

The tutorial reminds the students to put up with all kinds of fraud, cheating, and humiliation from others. Also, it aims to raise awareness among kids on how to cope with loss and interact with the world intelligently. Finally, to educate kids to respect their elders and to exercise self-control over their desires.

FAQs

Q1. Why do you think Rasheed’s uncle asked him not to buy anything in his absence?

Ans: Rasheed was told by his uncle not to make any purchases while he was away since the shopkeepers may trick him and steal his money.

Q2. Why was the shop called ‘Lucky Shop’?

Ans: Lucky Shop was given its name to attract customers to try their luck and win prizes.

Q3. An old man won a clock and sold it back to the shopkeeper. How much money did he make?

Ans: The old man earned 15 rupees by selling the clock to the shopkeeper.

Q4. How many prizes did the young man win? What were they?

Ans: The young man received four prizes: a comb, a fountain pen, a watch, and a table lamp.

Q5. Why was Rasheed upset?

Ans: Rasheed felt he had been unlucky in the game of chance, which made him upset.