Select the correct direct form of the given sentence.

Balaji said that he had already paid the instalment when the notice came to him.

Balaji said, “I had already paid the instalment when the notice came to me.”

The correct direct form of the given sentence is:

Balaji said, "I had already paid the instalment when the notice came to me."

The other options are incorrect:

• "Balaji said, 'I have already paid the instalment when the notice will come to me.'" This is incorrect because the verb "will" is used to express future tense. However, the reported statement is describing an action that happened in the past.
• "Balaji said, 'I already paid the instalment when the notice had come to me.'" This is incorrect because the verb "had" is used to express the past perfect tense. However, the direct statement is describing an action that happened at the same time as the notice came to Balaji.
• "Balaji said, 'He has already paid the instalment when the notice came to him.'" This is incorrect because the pronoun "he" is referring to Balaji, but Balaji is the one who is talking.