Read the given passage and answer the four questions that follow:-

Swaminathan stretched lazily under the banyan tree, watching a slow trickle of afternoon sunlight filter through its dense leaves. The marketplace across the street hummed with life-vendors shouting over one another, bullock carts trundling along the dusty roads, and the occasional cycle bell ringing in protest. The smell of roasting peanuts drifted through the air, mingling with the earthy scent of Malgudi after a light drizzle.

But Swami wasn't thinking about the town's lively bustle. He had arithmetic homework waiting at home, and his father's stern voice still echoed in his mind: "No excuses, Swami. I expect it done before dinner." He sighed, kicking a small stone into the road. He could hear his friends laughing somewhere behind him, playing cricket in the narrow lanes. The thought of numbers and sums weighed heavy on his mind, making the world outside seem even more tempting.

The street dog, Tiger, sauntered toward him, tail wagging. "You have no homework to do, do you?" Swami muttered, scratching its ears. Tiger responded with an enthusiastic bark, making a passing shopkeeper chuckle.

"Swaminathan! Come home at once," his father's voice boomed from the verandah. Swami winced. He stood up reluctantly, giving Tiger one last pat before trudging home, where ink-stained notebooks and difficult numbers awaited him.

What does the word 'trudging' indicate in the given passage?

He headed home with heavy steps, unhappily.

The correct answer is Option (2) → He headed home with heavy steps, unhappily.

The sentence states: "Swami winced. He stood up reluctantly, giving Tiger one last pat before trudging home, where ink-stained notebooks and difficult numbers awaited him."

• Trudging means walking slowly and heavily, typically because of exhaustion or reluctance.

• The preceding word, reluctantly (unwillingly), confirms that Swami was unhappy and unwilling to go home to face his difficult homework, which is reflected in his heavy, slow walk.