CBSE Class 9 English Moments Chapter 2: The Adventures of Toto - NCERT Solutions

Toto was initially in the possession of a tonga owner. The grandfather, upon seeing the monkey, felt a sense of sympathy for its condition and believed that his own private zoo would be a much better and more suitable environment for Toto. Consequently, the grandfather purchased Toto from the tongawallah for a sum of five rupees.

Toto is described as a 'pretty' monkey due to his charming and lively appearance. His eyes were bright and sparkled with mischief, set deep beneath his eyebrows. He had teeth that were as white as pearls, which he often bared in a smile, though this smile could be quite startling to elderly ladies. While his hands appeared somewhat shriveled, as if they had been dried by the sun for a long time, his fingers were remarkably quick and mischievous. Furthermore, his tail added to his good looks and served as a versatile 'third hand', allowing him to hang from branches and even scoop up delicacies that were out of his reach.

Grandfather decided to take Toto to Saharanpur because Toto was proving to be a significant nuisance and a menace to the other animals in the household's private zoo, and even to the people. His presence caused distress to other living beings, and the grandfather felt it was best to provide some relief to the other animals by removing Toto temporarily. Grandfather carried Toto in a large black canvas bag when travelling by train to Saharanpur. The ticket collector insisted on calling Toto a dog because there was no specific rule or fare category defined for carrying monkeys on the train. In the absence of such a rule, the ticket collector, perhaps using his own interpretation or adhering to a general policy for pets of a certain size, classified Toto as a dog to charge a fare.

Toto takes his bath meticulously in a tub of water. He would first test the temperature with his foot and then step into the tub, applying soap all over his body with his own hands. Toto learned this bathing ritual by observing the narrator perform the same actions. He seemed to enjoy the process, especially bathing in warm water. This fondness for warm water led to a near-disastrous incident: one cold evening, Toto found a large kettle of water on the stove, presumably for his bath. He sat inside it, enjoying the warmth. However, as the water began to boil, he did not realize the danger and kept his head above the boiling water, popping it up and down. It was only when the water reached boiling point that the grandmother intervened and rescued him from almost boiling himself alive.

The author states that Toto was not a pet they could keep for long because, despite his attractive appearance and intelligence, he was extremely mischievous and destructive. Toto caused considerable damage to the household; he would tear clothes and curtains, break dishes, and generally create chaos. He also frightened visitors by tearing their dresses. His inability to coexist peacefully with other animals in the house further complicated matters. The final straw came when Toto snatched a dish of pullao and ran away with it, and when scolded, he threw the plate, breaking it. Witnessing these persistent and costly acts of mischief, the grandfather realized that keeping Toto was becoming unsustainable due to the constant damage and financial losses incurred.