Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
The sentence "We came here yesterday" is a foundational statement, a simple declaration of arrival. However, within its brevity lies the potential for a rich tapestry of narrative. 'Here' is deliberately ambiguous, inviting the reader to construct a setting, while 'yesterday' anchors the event in the recent past, suggesting a continuation of experience. This response will expand upon this initial statement, building a scene and exploring the implications of this arrival, focusing on descriptive detail and evocative language to transform a basic sentence into a compelling narrative fragment.
We came here yesterday. The dust, fine and ochre, coated everything – the chipped paint of the veranda railings, the drooping leaves of the mango trees, even the air itself tasted of it. ‘Here’ is the ancestral home, a sprawling, decaying mansion in the heart of the Bundelkhand region. It hadn’t seen a proper cleaning, let alone renovation, in decades.
The Journey and the Arrival
The journey itself had been arduous. A twelve-hour train ride from Delhi, followed by a bone-jarring jeep ride over rutted, unpaved roads. We – my parents, my sister, and I – had returned after nearly twenty years, summoned by a telegram announcing the failing health of our grandmother, Dadi.
The House and its Atmosphere
The house felt… expectant. Not welcoming, exactly, but as if it had been holding its breath, waiting for our return. The silence was profound, broken only by the chirping of cicadas and the distant call of a peacock. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the shutters, illuminating swirling motes of dust. The scent of old wood, dried flowers, and something indefinably ancient hung heavy in the air.
First Impressions
- The main hall was dominated by a portrait of our great-grandfather, a stern-faced man in a military uniform. His eyes seemed to follow us as we moved.
- The furniture was covered in faded velvet, and the floors were polished to a dull sheen.
- A thick layer of dust lay on everything, a testament to the years of neglect.
Meeting Dadi
Dadi was frail, her skin paper-thin, but her eyes still held a spark of the fierce intelligence I remembered from my childhood. She lay in bed, surrounded by family photographs and religious icons. Her greeting was simple, a weak smile and a murmured, “Finally, you’ve come.”
A Sense of Unease
Despite the reunion, a sense of unease permeated the atmosphere. The house held secrets, whispers of past tragedies and long-forgotten grievances. The local villagers spoke of the house being ‘cursed’, a rumour dismissed by my parents as superstition. But as the sun set, casting long, eerie shadows across the courtyard, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we had stepped into a place where the past was not quite dead.
The Weight of Yesterday
Yesterday, the day of our arrival, felt like a prelude to something significant, a turning point. The weight of family history, the burden of expectation, and the unsettling atmosphere of the house all converged, creating a sense of foreboding. We came here yesterday, but we entered a world far removed from the one we had left behind.
Conclusion
The simple sentence, "We came here yesterday," served as a portal to a complex and evocative scene. By focusing on descriptive detail, sensory experience, and the subtle nuances of human interaction, a narrative fragment was constructed that hints at deeper themes of family, memory, and the enduring power of the past. The arrival is not merely a physical event, but a symbolic return to a place steeped in history and shrouded in mystery, promising a journey of rediscovery and perhaps, confrontation.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.