The Portrait of a Lady
–
Khushwant singh
Khushwant singh was one of the best
known Indian writers and coloumnists. In this story the The Portrait of a Lady the author recollects his memories of his
grandmother.
Singh’s parents had gone to live in
the city. So they left their son Singh to live with his grandmother in the
village. His grandmother was an old woman. He and his grandmother were good friends.
Everyday Singh’s grandmother used to take him to school. Then she used to read
scriptures in the temple attached to the school. On the way to school she used
to feed the village dogs with stale chappaties.
When the author’s parents settled
comfortably in the city, they asked Singh and the grandmother to stay with
them. That happened to be the turning
point in their friendship. Singh studied in an English School and used to go in
a motor bus. As years rolled by they ‘saw less of each other.’
When Singh went to the University
he was given a separate room of his own. His grandmother accepted the seclusion
with resignation. She spent her time feeding the sparrows and spinning. From
morning till evening she sat near the wheel spinning and reciting prayers.
Singh decided to go abroad for his
higher studies. He thought that his departure it would upset his grandmother.
On the contrary, his grandmother went to the railway station and silently
kissed his forehead.
Singh returned home after five years. He
couldn’t find any change in his grandmother. In the evening for the first time
she did not pray. She collected the ladies of the neighborhood and sang songs.
However, the next day she was taken ill and died.
The whole family made arrangements for
the funeral. The sparrows mourned the death of the grandmother in silence. They
ignored the bread crumbs and flew away silently.
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