Question 2
Read the following passage and answer the given subquestions:
At five-thirty in the morning the doctors examined the Swami. They wrote and signed a bulletin saying: “Swami's condition grave. Declines glucose and saline. Should break the fast immediately. Advise procedure.” They sent a man running to send off this telegram to their headquarters. It was a top-priority government telegram, and it fetched a reply within an
hour: “Imperative that Swami should be saved. Persuade best to cooperate. Should not risk life. Try give glucose and saline. Persuade Swami resume fast later.”
They sat beside the Swami and read the message to him. He smiled at it. He beckoned Velan to come nearer.
The doctors appealed, “Tell him he should save himself. Please, do your best. He is very weak.“ Velan bent close to the Swami and said, “The doctors say—”
In answer Raju asked the man to bend nearer, and whispered, “Help me to my feet,“ and clung to his arm and lifted himself. He got up to his feet. He had to be held by Velan and another on each side. In the profoundest silence the crowd followed him down. Everyone followed at a solemn, silent pace. The eastern sky was red. Many in the camp were still sleeping. Raju could not walk, but he insisted upon pulling himself along all the same. He panted with the effort. He went down the steps of the river, halting for breath on each step, and finally reached his basin of water. He stepped into it, shut his eyes, and turned toward the mountain, his lips muttering the prayer. Velan and another held him each by an arm. The morning sun was out by now; a great shaft of light illuminated the surroundings. It was difficult to hold Raju on his feet, as he had a tendency to flop down. They held him as if he were a baby. Raju opened his eyes, looked about, and said, “Velan, it's raining in the hills. I can feel it coming up under my feet, up my legs—” He sagged down.
– The Guide, R K Narayan
Choose an appropriate word to replace flop.
Fall
Fly
Uneasy
Struggle