NCERT · Class 10 · Hindi · Kshitij Prose: Lakhnavi AndaazDescribe the physical appearance and initial reaction of the Nawab of Lucknow towards the author when he entered the train compartment.

When the author entered the second-class compartment of the train, expecting it to be mostly empty for privacy to write and contemplate, he was surprised to find a middle-aged Nawab sitting comfortably on the bench opposite the window. The Nawab sported a physical appearance that exuded a sense of fading royalty and aristocratic vanity. He had a white, sophisticated mustache that twirled with a certain pride, and his eyes carried a mixture of hesitation and unwelcome expression upon seeing a fellow passenger disrupt his solitary state. His posture was relaxed yet rigid with self-consciousness, reflecting a man who was deeply conscious of his social standing, even in reduced circumstances. Initially, the Nawab did not welcome the author; his eyes expressed clear displeasure at the intrusion, as he was evidently lost in deep thoughts or perhaps feeling embarrassed about being seen traveling in a lower class. This silent communication set the psychological tone for the entire encounter, highlighting the themes of class consciousness and human ego.