The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh

Overview

• Author's Perception of Grandmother: The author remembers his grandmother as eternally old and finds it difficult to imagine her as a child.
• Physical Description: She is described as fat, short, with a wrinkled face, always dressed in white, and constantly praying with a rosary.
• Beauty: Despite not being conventionally pretty, the author finds her beautiful.

Childhood Memories

• Village Life: The author lived with his grandmother in the village while his parents were in the city.
• Daily Routine: Grandmother dressed him, gave breakfast, and accompanied him to school.
• School Routine: While the author learned the alphabet, the grandmother read scriptures at the temple.
• Return from School: They fed village dogs on their way back home.

Changes in the City

• Relocation: The author's family moved to the city.
• Feeding Habits: Grandmother began feeding sparrows instead of dogs.
• Schooling: The author attended a school that taught modern subjects which distanced him from his grandmother.
• Grandmother's Reaction: She was unhappy with the lack of religious education and the inclusion of music at school.

Increasing Distance

• University: The author started attending university and got a separate room.
• Grandmother's Routine: Became more reclusive, focused on spinning wheel and prayers.
• Highlight of Her Day: Feeding sparrows became her favorite activity.

Author's Departure and Return

• Going Abroad: The author left for higher studies abroad.
• Grandmother’s Reaction: Remained unemotional, kissed him on the forehead.
• Return After Five Years: Grandmother unchanged in appearance and behavior.
• Celebration: Broke routine to celebrate author's homecoming with singing.

Grandmother’s Last Days

• Illness: Fell ill the next morning after celebrating.
• Doctor’s Assurance: Family was told she would recover, but she believed it was her time.
• Final Hours: Chose to pray alone and passed away quietly.

After Her Passing

• Funeral Preparations: Family left her body to arrange for the funeral.
• The Sparrows: Thousands of silent sparrows surrounded her body, ignored breadcrumbs, and left silently once the body was taken for last rites.