Chapter 9 Spices That Heal Us Summary & Notes
05/11/2024Chapter 11 The Winner Summary & Notes
05/11/2024Detailed Summary: Change of Heart
Key Points of the Story
- Prabhat’s fear of losing and his strong desire to win in all situations.
- Introduction of Surya, an excellent badminton player who approaches games with a carefree attitude.
- Prabhat and Surya face off in a badminton match where Prabhat resorts to cheating to win.
- Despite winning, Prabhat feels unsettled while Surya remains unfazed by the loss.
- Prabhat learns from Surya’s carefree approach and starts enjoying games for the sake of playing.
Detailed Summary
Once upon a time, there was a boy named Prabhat who had a strong desire to win in everything he did. Winning made him feel good, and he couldn’t stand the thought of losing, even in small games like marbles. Losing was like a nightmare to him. If Prabhat thought he might lose a game, he simply wouldn’t play. He only participated when he was certain of winning, especially in games like badminton, where he excelled.
One day, a new student named Surya joined Prabhat’s school. Surya was an exceptional badminton player, and this caught Prabhat’s attention. The school had a tradition of holding friendly matches every last Friday of the month during the games period. When the teams were chosen, it was no surprise that Prabhat and Surya were paired against each other. Prabhat was assigned the task of keeping score for their match.
Prabhat prepared diligently for the match, while Surya appeared carefree and relaxed, not taking the game seriously. However, on the day of the match, Surya’s skills shone brightly. He effortlessly won point after point, all the while laughing and joking around. In a surprising turn of events, Prabhat managed to cheat and win the match by tampering with the scoreboard while Surya was distracted.
Despite his victory, Prabhat didn’t feel the usual joy of winning that night. Strangely, Surya seemed unfazed by his loss. The next day, to Prabhat’s surprise, he saw Surya playing basketball, a game he wasn’t good at. Surya struggled to score but had a smile on his face throughout, enjoying the game regardless of his performance.
This observation led Prabhat to realize that the true essence of a game lies in enjoying it for what it is, not just in winning or losing. He understood that the pleasure comes from the experience itself, not the outcome. As days passed, Prabhat started changing. He began to enjoy games like hide and seek and started joking around during badminton matches.
Others noticed this change in Prabhat’s attitude. They admired his newfound sporting spirit and began to enjoy playing with him. Prabhat had learned that the real joy of a game comes from trying your best and relishing every moment, irrespective of the outcome.
In the end, Prabhat’s transformation not only made him a better sportsperson but also earned him the respect and admiration of his peers. He learned that true happiness in games comes from the joy of playing, not just from winning.
Theme/ Message
Theme
- Importance of enjoying the process rather than focusing solely on winning.
- Recognizing the value of sportsmanship and the spirit of play.
- Learning to appreciate the joy of participation over the obsession with victory.
Message
- Winning isn’t the only measure of success; enjoying the game is equally important.
- Sportsmanship and fair play are essential attributes in any competition.
- It’s crucial to find happiness in the process rather than fixating on the outcome.
Difficult Words
- Phenomenon: An exceptional or unusual person or thing.
- Observed: Noticed or perceived.
- Sporting spirit: The attitude of fair and generous competition.
- Appreciate: To recognize the value of something.
- Obsession: An unhealthy fixation on something.
- Sportsmanship: Conduct and attitude considered as befitting participants in sports.
- Participant: One who takes part in an activity or event.
- Carefree: Free from worry or responsibility.
- Unfazed: Not perturbed or affected by something.
- Appreciation: Recognition and enjoyment of the good qualities of something.