My Dad
If you come across someone looking like Abraham Lincoln in a blue dungaree somewhere in the Industrial Area, the chances are you are looking at my dad Mr. Ashok Godbole, a 45-year-old car mechanic. Such is his expertise that he can tell you what is wrong with your car by just hearing its noise! His customers admire him for his honesty, hard work, punctuality and customer care. He is so tall and well-built that my friends keep asking me about the gym he goes to, but the secret of his fitness is a simple diet and a strict routine. Whenever he is not at his garage, he is either at home helping mom with her chores or reading car magazines or on a long drive with us kids. Don't be afraid of his heavy hoarse voice; he is gentle to the core and loves to crack jokes, sometimes at his own cost. I think he is the world's best dad!
Practice Exercise
1.Ans: A BeggarIn our neighborhood roams an old beggar, whom everyone calls Uncle Joe, though that is not his real name. At the age of about 65, his primary occupation has become to wander the streets, his hands extended in hope for some kindness. Uncle Joe has a weather-beaten face, marked by deep lines that narrate a thousand untold stories. His hair is a salt-and-pepper tangle, and his clothes, although threadbare, are always clean.
Each morning, as the sun peeks over the horizon, Uncle Joe shuffles along the sidewalk of Baker's Street. He pauses at the same spots: outside the bustling café, by the park bench, and under the shade of the old oak tree near the library. These are his stations, where he greets passersby with a nod and a weak smile.
He speaks in a low, gravelly voice, the words spilling out in a mixture of English and a dialect unknown to many. Though his leg limps from an old injury, his spirit stands firm. On a good day, he collects enough coins to buy a modest meal; on others, he relies on the generosity of local restaurants.
Uncle Joe has become a fixture in our neighborhood. Some people look upon him with pity, others with a blend of respect and concern. Despite his dire circumstances, there’s an unspoken agreement that he belongs to our community. We all hope for a turn in his fortunes, but until then, we offer what we can, acknowledging the strength it must take to live a life such as his.