NCERT Chapter Summary: The Old - Clock Shop

NCERT Chapter Summary: The Old - Clock Shop

Ray, an old and deaf owner of shop, was still working on a clock. He stopped up to close the shop. Suddenly, he saw two men, one in his twenties and the other closer to fifty, coming towards his shop. He understood that the men were not shoppers.

The younger man stayed at the door while the older man came in with no sign of friendliness in his eyes. Ray was trying to hide his fear and smiled at the unfriendly face. Ray took a notepad and a pencil. He wrote that he was ready to help him. Ray closely looked at the man, paying attention to his gun. The older man looked directly at Ray and smiled for the first time. The two men looked as if they were in a difficult situation and can do anything to come out of it.

Ray Pointed towards a Board with Clocks and Watches

Ray asked the old man whether he wanted to pick up a clock or a watch. Ray was not a person who lends money at interest on the security of an article. But Ray helped people who were in need. People place their old watches or clocks before Ray for anything they could get. Ray loaned more than he should and without interest. 

The Older Man Took out his Wrist Watch

The older man felt a little easier. He asked Ray how much will he give for the wrist watch. He was in a difficult situation and and Ray understood it. The watch was nothing special but can bring the older man out of the bad situation. Ray asked him how much he needed in exchange of the watch. The older man said he wanted money according to the worth of the watch. Ray gave a fifty-dollar note to the older man in exchange of the watch. They shook their hands. They both knew the watch was not worth that much. The man before walking out of the shop wrote that he would be back to take away his watch soon. He also wrote, ‘Merry Christmas’! Soon the clock struck at the midnight, giving timeless message of peace, hope and goodwill in the world.