Reading and comprehension: The Mirror We Carry.

 The Mirror We Carry.

Rohit was twenty-three and proud of being “busy.”

His phone never rested, his calendar overflowed, and his conversations often ended with, “I’ll call you later.” Later rarely came.

He worked at a fast-growing company and believed success demanded speed. Friends invited him out, but he declined. His parents called, but he replied with short messages. In his mind, slowing down meant falling behind.

One evening, while returning from work, Rohit noticed an old man sitting outside a small roadside repair shop. The man was struggling to fix a broken mirror of a bicycle. Curious but impatient, Rohit watched for a moment.

“Sir,” Rohit said, “that mirror is useless. You should just buy a new one.”

The old man smiled gently.

“Maybe,” he said, “but this mirror has already shown me many roads. I want to try once more.”

Rohit shrugged and walked away. But something about the man’s words stayed with him.

A few days later, Rohit’s company announced massive layoffs. Shocked and anxious, he returned home early. For the first time in years, his house felt silent. He scrolled through his phone but realized there was no one he felt comfortable calling.

That night, he remembered the old man and the broken mirror.

The next morning, Rohit visited the repair shop again. The old man was still there, polishing the same mirror.

“Why don’t you give up?” Rohit asked.

The old man looked at him and said,

“Because not everything broken is useless. Some things only need patience and care.”

Those words hit Rohit harder than any office announcement.

He began to reflect—not just on the mirror, but on his life. He had treated relationships like replaceable objects. When they cracked, he moved on instead of fixing them.

That day, Rohit called his parents and spoke without checking the time. He apologized to an old friend and met him after years. He learned to pause, listen, and value people over pace.

Months later, Rohit found a better job. But more importantly, he found balance.

Sometimes, when life feels rushed, Rohit remembers the mirror—and the truth it reflected:

Growth is not only about moving forward fast, but also about looking back with care.

Moral of the Story:

👉 In the race to succeed, do not forget to value relationships, patience, and reflection. Not everything broken needs replacement; some things need attention.

Comprehension Questions:

A. Short Answer Questions:

1. How old was Rohit and what was he proud of?

2. Why did Rohit believe slowing down was dangerous?

3. What was the old man trying to fix?

4. What did the old man mean by saying the mirror had “shown many roads”?

5. What major event changed Rohit’s perspective on life?

B. Long Answer Questions:

6. How did Rohit treat relationships at the beginning of the story?

7. Explain the symbolic meaning of the broken mirror.

8. What lesson did Rohit learn from the old man?

9. How did Rohit’s life change after reflecting on his actions?

10. Do you agree that success without balance can be harmful? Give reasons.

C. Vocabulary & Interpretation:

11. Find a word from the story that means: thinking deeply about something.

12. What does the sentence “Growth is not only about moving forward fast” mean in your own words?

D. Opinion-Based Questions:

13. What is one habit from the story that you want to change in your own life? Why?