To my younger brother, scolding him for having neglected his studies.
8C, Sonia Apartments,
Mango colony,
M.G. Road,
Dharavi,
Mumbai - 400 016.
13th February, 2013
My dear brother,
I am keeping myself well up in my studies. From the marks you have obtained in the last Quarterly Examination, I find that your marks in English, Mathematics and Marathi are very poor.
You are not wanting in intelligence. So the poor results must be due to your gross neglect of studies. I do not condemn you for your interest and activity in games. No doubt the body must be improved. But how can we ever afford to neglect the proper cultivation of the mind on that score?
Remember what amount of trouble father undergoes in keeping us at school and college! May I hope for a decided improvement in your studies in the next course at least? Kindly assure me that you have turned over a new leaf as regards your studies.
I hope that father, mother and our little brother are all keeping well.
Your ever loving brother,
A B C
Glossary of Terms
- Neglected
- Failed to care for or pay attention to properly.
- Obtained
- Gained or acquired something.
- Quarterly Examination
- An exam that occurs every three months, or four times a year.
- Wanting in intelligence
- An idiomatic expression meaning lacking intelligence or not being smart enough. In this context, the writer means the brother *is* intelligent.
- Gross neglect
- A very serious or extreme failure to pay attention to studies.
- Condemn
- To express complete disapproval of; to criticize strongly.
- Cultivation of the mind
- The process of developing and improving one's mental abilities and knowledge.
- Undergoes
- Experiences or is subjected to something, typically something unpleasant or difficult.
- Decided improvement
- A clear and noticeable improvement.
- Turned over a new leaf
- An idiomatic expression meaning to start behaving in a better or more responsible way.
- Assure
- To tell someone something positively to dispel any doubts; to make confident.