The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh is a heart-warming biographical sketch included in the Class 11 English NCERT textbook Hornbill. This blog post offers a summary of the story, explores the theme of relationship between a grandmother and grandson, and provides word meanings, questions and answers, extract-based MCQs, and important exam-style questions. This guide is designed to help students improve comprehension and prepare effectively for exams.
- Summary of The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh
- Important Themes in The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh
- Word Meaning of The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh
- Questions and Answers of The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh
- Extract Based Questions from The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh
- Important Questions from The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh
- Character Sketch of Grandmother in The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh
- 20 Comprehension-Based MCQs – The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh
- Summary of The Portrait of a Lady in Hindi
- Summary of The Portrait of a Lady in Urdu
Summary of The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh
The story is a touching account of the author’s grandmother. It is written in first person and shows how their relationship changed over time. The author recalls her appearance, habits, and nature with great affection.
Life in the Village
The narrator lived with his grandmother during his early childhood. She looked the same to him throughout—old, wrinkled, calm. She was deeply religious. Her day began with prayers and reading holy books. She helped the narrator get ready for school and accompanied him to the temple, where she also read scriptures. They were very close then. She was involved in his daily routine and they spent a lot of time together.
Moving to the City
Things changed when they shifted to the city. The narrator started going to an English-medium school. The grandmother could no longer help him with his studies. She disliked the new subjects, especially science and English. She missed the spiritual part of his education. Their shared moments became fewer. Though she was disappointed, she never complained. She kept herself busy with spinning the wheel and praying.
Time Abroad
The final shift came when the narrator went abroad for higher studies. She didn’t show any emotion. She continued praying and saw him off in silence. They stayed in touch only through letters. On his return after five years, she was still the same—peaceful and dignified.
Her Final Days
A day after the narrator returned, she celebrated his homecoming by singing and beating a drum. That night, she fell ill. She refused to talk to anyone and just kept praying. Within a short time, she passed away. After her death, thousands of sparrows came and sat quietly around her body. They flew away only after the cremation. This silent farewell showed the respect even animals had for her.
The story highlights how relationships change with time but deep love and respect can stay the same.
Important Themes in The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh
Khushwant Singh’s story explores several important themes that are relevant to relationships, values, and life.
1. Love and Bond between Grandparent and Grandchild
At the heart of the story is the close relationship between the narrator and his grandmother. They share a strong emotional connection. In the village, they live like companions. As time passes, their bond changes, but the respect and love remain. The story shows that emotional ties can survive distance and silence.
2. Tradition versus Modernity
The grandmother represents traditional Indian values—religion, simplicity, and spirituality. The author’s education introduces modern subjects like English, science, and music, which she does not understand or accept. This theme shows the conflict between old values and modern ways of life.
3. Change and Acceptance
The story gently explores how people and relationships change with time. The grandmother quietly accepts all changes—shifting to the city, the boy growing up, and his going abroad. She adjusts without protest, showing her strength and maturity.
4. Silence and Emotional Strength
The grandmother rarely speaks much. Her love is silent. Even when she is hurt or unhappy, she shows no anger. Her silence is filled with deep feeling. This theme adds depth to her character and shows that emotions do not always need loud expression.
5. Peaceful Death and Dignity
The grandmother’s death is calm and graceful. She prays till the end. Her peaceful acceptance of death and the quiet mourning by the sparrows underline the dignity with which she lived and died.
These themes make the story relatable and emotionally strong. They reflect real-life situations in a simple but moving way.
Word Meaning of The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh
| Words / Expressions | Meaning |
|---|---|
| the thought was almost revolting | the idea felt unpleasant or disturbing |
| terribly old | very, very old |
| hobbled | walked slowly and with difficulty |
| telling the beads | moving fingers over a string of prayer beads |
| serenity | calm and peaceful nature |
| turned to | changed into |
| accepted her seclusion | agreed to live alone or stay away from others |
| a turning-point | an important change in life |
| protested | showed strong dislike or objection |
| lewd | rude or indecent |
| pale | dull or without colour |
| sagging skin | loose skin due to old age |
| absurd | silly or not making sense |
| expanse | wide, open area |
| monotonous | boring, without change |
| snapped | spoke quickly in anger |
| overstraining | doing too much and getting tired |
| breathless | unable to breathe properly |
| scattered | spread in different directions |
| swept | moved smoothly and quickly |
| corpse | dead body |
| shroud | white cloth used to wrap a dead body |
| mourned | felt and showed deep sadness after someone dies |
Questions and Answers of The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh
Understanding the Text
1. The three phases of the author’s relationship with his grandmother before he left the country to study abroad.
Short Answer Type
In the first phase, they were close companions in the village. In the second, their closeness reduced when they moved to the city. In the third phase, as he joined the university, their interaction became minimal, though their bond remained strong.
2. Three reasons why the author’s grandmother was disturbed when he started going to the city school.
Short Answer Type
She was unhappy because she couldn’t help him with English lessons, the school had no religious teaching, and music was introduced as a subject, which she considered unsuitable for decent people.
3. Three ways in which the author’s grandmother spent her days after he grew up.
Short Answer Type
She spent her time spinning the wheel, reciting prayers, and feeding birds in the courtyard. She kept herself occupied in a peaceful and religious way, avoiding interference in his life.
4. The odd way in which the author’s grandmother behaved just before she died.
Short Answer Type
She stopped talking to everyone, said her end was near, and focused only on prayer. She even refused food and rest. She spent her last hours chanting and counting beads, which was unusual and unexpected.
5. The way in which the sparrows expressed their sorrow when the author’s grandmother died.
Short Answer Type
Thousands of sparrows came and sat silently around her body. They did not chirp or eat anything. They left quietly after the cremation. Their silent presence seemed like a natural act of mourning.
Talking About the Text
1. The author’s grandmother was a religious person. What are the different ways in which we come to know this?
Long Answer Type
The author describes his grandmother as deeply religious. She spent a major part of her day in prayer and reading scriptures. In the village, she visited the temple daily and listened to religious texts. Even in the city, she remained devoted to her prayer routine and kept telling the beads of her rosary. She disliked modern education as it lacked religious teaching. During her final hours, she refused to speak or eat and continued praying silently. Her death too was peaceful, as if a saint had departed. All these details highlight her spiritual nature and how religion was an essential part of her life.
2. Describe the changing relationship between the author and his grandmother. Did their feelings for each other change?
Long Answer Type
The relationship between the author and his grandmother changed with time and circumstances. In the village, they shared a close bond. She helped him with schoolwork and accompanied him to the temple. When they moved to the city, their interaction reduced as he joined an English school. She could no longer assist with his studies and disagreed with the subjects taught. When he went to university and later abroad, the gap widened, and they barely spent time together. However, the love and respect between them did not fade. Despite changes in closeness, their emotional bond stayed strong till the end.
3. Would you agree that the author’s grandmother was a person strong in character? If yes, give instances that show this.
Long Answer Type
Yes, the author’s grandmother showed great strength of character. She accepted every change in her life calmly. Even when she disapproved of the education system, she did not complain. She quietly adjusted to life in the city and kept herself busy with prayers and spinning. When the author left for abroad, she showed no sorrow or emotion. Her final hours showed her strong will and faith. She spent the time praying instead of resting or speaking. Her calm acceptance of death and the silent mourning by sparrows reflect her moral strength and peaceful nature.
4. Have you known someone like the author’s grandmother? Do you feel the same sense of loss with regard to someone whom you have loved and lost?
Long Answer Type
Yes, many people have known someone like the author’s grandmother. Such individuals are simple, loving, and quietly strong. They become an important part of our lives through their small actions and silent support. When such a person passes away, the sense of loss is deep and lasting. Their absence is felt not just in routine but also in the emotional space they filled. The feeling is hard to explain but remains in the heart for a long time. Just like the sparrows mourned in silence, our grief too is often beyond words.
Thinking About Language
1. Which language do you think the author and his grandmother used while talking to each other?
They most likely spoke in Punjabi, their mother tongue, as they belonged to a Punjabi family.
2. Which language do you use to talk to elderly relatives in your family?
I use Hindi or a regional language, as that helps them feel more comfortable and connected.
3. How would you say ‘a dilapidated drum’ in your language?
In Hindi, it can be said as “tootā-phootā ḍhol” or “purānā aur kharāb ḍhol”.
4. Can you think of a song or a poem in your language that talks of homecoming?
Yes, the Hindi song “Laut ke buddhu ghar ko aaye” or poems that describe a soldier’s return home capture the feeling of coming back after a long time.
Extract Based Questions from The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh
Extract – Set 1
“My grandmother, like everybody’s grandmother, was an old woman. She had been old and wrinkled for the twenty years that I had known her. People said that she once had been young and pretty and had even had a husband, but that was hard to believe.”
1. What does the author mean by saying “like everybody’s grandmother”?
A. She was an ordinary woman
B. She was a typical old and caring grandmother
C. She looked young and beautiful
D. She was very modern
2. Why was it hard for the author to believe that she was once young?
A. Because she always looked modern
B. Because she had no photos of her younger self
C. Because she had always looked old to him
D. Because she had white hair even in her youth
3. What do we learn about the grandmother from this extract?
A. She loved watching television
B. She was very active and social
C. She was very religious and liked studying
D. She had always appeared old to the narrator
Answer Key – Set 1
- B
- C
- D
Extract – Set 2
“She used to wake me up in the morning and get me ready for school. She said her morning prayers in a monotonous sing-song while she bathed and dressed me in the hope that I would listen and get to know it by heart.”
1. What does the word ‘monotonous’ mean in the passage?
A. Loud and sharp
B. Sad and slow
C. Flat and without change
D. Fast and cheerful
2. What does this passage show about the grandmother?
A. She wanted the narrator to become a singer
B. She was trying to teach the narrator religion indirectly
C. She wanted him to avoid going to school
D. She disliked chanting prayers
3. What does her routine reveal about her character?
A. She was careless about the boy’s needs
B. She had no interest in religion
C. She was disciplined and devoted
D. She believed in modern ideas
Answer Key – Set 2
- C
- B
- C
Extract – Set 3
“After five years I came back home and was met by her at the station. She did not look a day older. She still had no time for words and while she clasped me in her arms I could hear her reciting her prayers.”
1. What does the author mean by “She did not look a day older”?
A. She had changed completely
B. She looked much younger than before
C. She looked the same as she did five years ago
D. She had coloured her hair
2. What shows that the grandmother’s routine had not changed?
A. She wore new clothes
B. She kept asking questions
C. She ignored the author
D. She was still saying her prayers
3. What does this extract highlight about the grandmother’s nature?
A. She was forgetful and dull
B. She was consistent and deeply spiritual
C. She was not happy to see her grandson
D. She disliked family visits
Answer Key – Set 3
- C
- D
- B
Important Questions from The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh
1. Describe the physical appearance of the author’s grandmother.
(Short Answer Type – 40–50 words)
The author’s grandmother was short, fat, and slightly bent. Her face was wrinkled, and she looked the same for the twenty years the author had known her. She always wore white clothes and kept her hair tied in a bun. She looked peaceful and dignified.
2. What was the author’s daily routine with his grandmother in the village?
(Short Answer Type – 40–50 words)
In the village, the grandmother woke the author, bathed and dressed him, and recited prayers while getting him ready. She accompanied him to school, which was attached to the temple, and read scriptures in the temple while he studied. They returned home together after school.
3. Why did the grandmother stop talking to the author during his university days?
(Short Answer Type – 40–50 words)
The grandmother felt left out when the author began going to university. He now had a separate room and was learning subjects like science and English, which she could not relate to. As a result, their communication reduced, and she spent more time in silence and prayers.
4. What changes occurred in the relationship between the author and his grandmother when they moved to the city?
(Long Answer Type – 120–140 words)
When they moved to the city, the bond between the author and his grandmother started to weaken. In the village, they shared a close relationship, spending most of their time together. However, in the city, the author joined an English-medium school, and the grandmother could no longer help him with his studies. She did not understand the subjects he learned and was especially unhappy about the absence of religious teaching. When the author went to university, their contact reduced even more, as he got a separate room and became busier with his studies. The grandmother accepted the changes quietly but grew more withdrawn, devoting her time to prayers and spinning the wheel. Despite the physical distance that grew between them, their emotional bond remained strong till the end.
5. How did the grandmother react when the author left for abroad?
(Short Answer Type – 40–50 words)
The grandmother showed no emotion when the author left for abroad. She neither cried nor showed disappointment. She accompanied him to the station, kissed him on the forehead, and silently prayed. Her calm behaviour made the author believe it was the last physical contact between them.
6. What were the three reasons that made the grandmother unhappy with city education?
(Short Answer Type – 40–50 words)
The grandmother disliked city education because it offered no religious teaching, focused on science instead of spiritual values, and included subjects she could not understand. She was especially upset that music was taught, which she considered to be unsuitable for gentlefolk.
7. How did the grandmother spend her time after the author grew up?
(Short Answer Type – 40–50 words)
After the author grew up, the grandmother spent most of her time sitting by the spinning wheel and chanting prayers. She fed the sparrows every afternoon and became more withdrawn. She rarely spoke to the author but seemed peaceful and occupied with her spiritual routine.
8. Describe the events that occurred on the day the grandmother died.
(Long Answer Type – 120–140 words)
On the day the grandmother died, she seemed unusually peaceful and spiritual. The previous evening, after the author returned from abroad, she sang devotional songs, beat an old drum, and celebrated with the neighbourhood women. She said it was the right way to end her life. The next morning, she fell ill with a slight fever. Although the doctor said it was nothing serious, she refused to speak and spent her last hours in prayer. She died peacefully, with a rosary in her hands. After her death, thousands of sparrows came and sat quietly around her body. They did not chirp, eat, or fly about. The family offered them crumbs, but they refused to eat and flew away only after the cremation. This showed the deep silent respect the birds had for her.
9. How did the sparrows react to the grandmother’s death?
(Short Answer Type – 40–50 words)
The sparrows came in large numbers and sat quietly around the grandmother’s dead body. They did not chirp, fly, or eat the bread crumbs offered to them. They mourned silently for hours and left only after the body was taken away. Their behaviour was a silent tribute.
10. What do we learn about the character of the grandmother from this story?
(Long Answer Type – 120–140 words)
The grandmother in the story is portrayed as a strong, deeply religious, and affectionate woman. She led a disciplined life and was content with simple routines like spinning, praying, and feeding sparrows. She had great love for her grandson and took an active role in his upbringing. Though she could not understand modern education, she accepted the changes in her grandson’s life with calmness and grace. She never complained or expressed disappointment, even when left alone. Her religious devotion remained steady until her last breath. The quiet dignity with which she accepted death shows her strength of character. Even the sparrows, who silently gathered after her death, seemed to understand her spiritual depth. Overall, the story highlights her simplicity, selflessness, and inner strength.
Character Sketch of Grandmother in The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh
The grandmother in The Portrait of a Lady is a deeply religious, traditional, and strong-willed woman. She is portrayed as old, with a wrinkled face, white hair, and a calm expression that makes her seem timeless. She always wore white clothes and moved around quietly, with a rosary in her hand and prayers on her lips.
She was closely attached to her grandson in his early years. She looked after him, got him ready for school, and accompanied him every day. Her affection was quiet but constant. When they moved to the city, their closeness weakened, but she never complained.
The grandmother was simple in her habits. She spent most of her time spinning the wheel, chanting prayers, and feeding sparrows. She disliked modern education, especially the lack of religious teaching.
She accepted all changes with grace and did not show emotion when her grandson went abroad. Before dying, she showed unusual energy in singing devotional songs, which reflected her spiritual nature.
Her peaceful death and the silent mourning of the sparrows reflect her quiet strength and the love she had earned. She was a woman of great dignity, inner strength, and devotion.
20 Comprehension-Based MCQs – The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh
- According to the passage, what was always present in the grandmother’s hands?
a) A broom
b) A rosary of beads
c) A piece of bread
d) A wooden cane Answer: b - What does the author say about his grandmother’s appearance?
a) She looked middle-aged
b) She was always dressed in bright colours
c) She had a wrinkled face and always wore white
d) She was tall and had shining black hair Answer: c - What is the main idea of the story The Portrait of a Lady?
a) The importance of city education
b) A nostalgic tribute to the author’s grandmother
c) Life in Indian villages
d) The art of growing old Answer: b - What does the word ‘bedlam’ most likely mean in the sentence: “It was a veritable bedlam of chirrupings”?
a) A peaceful silence
b) A noisy confusion
c) A dark shadow
d) A loud cry Answer: b - What is the author’s attitude towards his grandmother throughout the story?
a) Distant and indifferent
b) Humorous and mocking
c) Affectionate and respectful
d) Critical and judgemental Answer: c - What happened first in the author’s life with his grandmother?
a) She took him to school in the city
b) She prepared him for university
c) They lived together in the village
d) She fed the sparrows Answer: c - What is implied by the grandmother’s silence when the author left for abroad?
a) She was upset and didn’t want to talk
b) She accepted the change without emotion
c) She had grown too old to speak
d) She disliked foreign education Answer: b - What caused the grandmother to feel unhappy about the city school?
a) She did not want to be alone
b) She was against education
c) The school did not teach about God or scriptures
d) The school was too far Answer: c - How does the grandmother’s daily routine change when they move to the city?
a) She becomes more active and social
b) She gets involved in city events
c) She becomes more silent and stays indoors
d) She starts teaching at the school Answer: c - It can be inferred that the grandmother was not fond of the subjects taught in the city school because…
a) She didn’t understand English
b) She felt it lacked spiritual value
c) She wanted the author to become a priest
d) She thought science was too difficult
Answer: b
- How does the grandmother spend her time once the author gets busy with university?
a) Listening to the radio
b) Feeding dogs and cats
c) Spinning the wheel, praying, and feeding sparrows
d) Sleeping all day
Answer: c
- Which of the following best describes the grandmother’s behaviour before her death?
a) Fearful and panicked
b) Calm and peaceful
c) Joyful and playful
d) Sad and regretful
Answer: b
- What was the effect of the grandmother’s death on the sparrows?
a) They chirped loudly and flew away
b) They broke into the house
c) They sat quietly and did not eat
d) They died too
Answer: c
- How does the narrator contrast the sparrows’ behaviour with people’s behaviour at funerals?
a) Sparrows sang, but people cried
b) Sparrows were silent; people were noisy
c) Sparrows brought flowers; people didn’t
d) Sparrows chirped in prayer
Answer: b
- What does the author feel about the photograph of his grandmother as a young woman?
a) He finds it realistic
b) He cannot believe she was once young
c) He prefers it to her older image
d) He thinks she looked the same
Answer: b
- Why did the grandmother stop helping the author with his lessons?
a) He changed his subject
b) She could not read English
c) He joined a different school
d) She was unwell
Answer: b
- What does the author suggest about his grandmother’s character?
a) She was weak and emotional
b) She was narrow-minded
c) She was strong-willed and self-disciplined
d) She was forgetful
Answer: c
- How does the author describe the end of the grandmother’s life?
a) Painful and long
b) Peaceful and silent
c) Unnatural and sudden
d) Strange and confusing
Answer: b
- How does the author react to the grandmother’s death?
a) He feels relieved
b) He expresses deep sorrow
c) He compares her with nature
d) He respects her calm acceptance
Answer: d
- How does the relationship between the narrator and his grandmother evolve over time?
a) From closeness to distance
b) From dislike to friendship
c) From hatred to love
d) From respect to indifference
Answer: a
Summary of The Portrait of a Lady in Hindi
लेखक: खुशवंत सिंह
दादी का चित्रात्मक वर्णन
कहानी की शुरुआत लेखक की दादी की एक पुरानी छवि से होती है। लेखक उन्हें एक वृद्धा के रूप में ही जानता है—झुकी हुई पीठ, झुर्रियों वाला चेहरा, सफेद बाल और हाथ में रुद्राक्ष की माला। वह हमेशा सफेद कपड़े पहनती थीं और भगवान का नाम जपती रहती थीं।
गाँव में लेखक और दादी का जीवन
लेखक अपने जीवन के आरंभिक वर्षों में अपनी दादी के साथ गाँव में रहता था। दादी सुबह-सुबह लेखक को उठातीं, नहलातीं, और लकड़ी की तख्ती पर पाठ याद करवातीं। वे उसे स्कूल छोड़ने जातीं और रास्ते में रोटियाँ तोड़कर कुत्तों को खिलाती थीं।
शहर में परिवर्तन
जब लेखक और उसके माता-पिता शहर में रहने लगे, तो उनका जीवन बदल गया। लेखक का दादी से मेलजोल कम हो गया क्योंकि वह अब इंग्लिश मीडियम स्कूल जाने लगा। दादी को स्कूल की पढ़ाई पसंद नहीं थी, क्योंकि उसमें भगवान या धार्मिक बातें नहीं सिखाई जाती थीं।
विश्वविद्यालय और विदेश यात्रा
जैसे-जैसे लेखक बड़ा हुआ, वह विश्वविद्यालय गया और फिर उच्च शिक्षा के लिए विदेश चला गया। दादी अब पूरी तरह चुप रहतीं, प्रार्थना करतीं और चरखा काततीं। जब लेखक विदेश जा रहा था, तब भी उन्होंने कुछ नहीं कहा।
अंतिम दिन और मृत्यु
लेखक की वापसी पर दादी ने पहली बार अपनी चुप्पी तोड़ी और अपने पोते का स्वागत किया। अगले दिन उन्होंने यह कहकर खाना छोड़ दिया कि यह उनका अंतिम समय है। वह अपने कमरे में बैठकर प्रार्थना करती रहीं और धीरे-धीरे शांत हो गईं।
चिड़ियों का विदाई-सम्मान
दादी की मृत्यु के बाद हजारों चिड़ियाँ घर के आंगन में आकर चुपचाप बैठ गईं। उन्होंने कोई शोर नहीं किया, न ही कुछ खाया। यह एक भावुक दृश्य था, मानो वे भी दादी को श्रद्धांजलि देने आई हों।
निष्कर्ष
यह कहानी लेखक के दादी के प्रति प्रेम, श्रद्धा और लगाव को दर्शाती है। दादी एक धार्मिक, सादा जीवन जीने वाली स्त्री थीं, जिन्होंने आधुनिक जीवन के बावजूद अपने सिद्धांतों और परंपराओं को नहीं छोड़ा। यह कहानी पारंपरिक भारतीय दादी और उनके अप्रत्यक्ष प्रभाव को मार्मिक रूप से चित्रित करती है।
Summary of The Portrait of a Lady in Urdu
مصنف: خوشونت سنگھ
دادی کی تصویر
کہانی کا آغاز مصنف کی دادی کی ایک پرانی یادگار تصویر سے ہوتا ہے۔ مصنف انہیں ہمیشہ ایک بوڑھی عورت کے طور پر ہی جانتا تھا۔ ان کے چہرے پر جھریاں، سفید بال، جھکی ہوئی کمر اور ہاتھ میں تسبیح ہوتی تھی۔ وہ ہمیشہ سفید لباس پہنتی تھیں اور اللہ کا ذکر کرتی رہتی تھیں۔
گاؤں کا وقت
مصنف نے اپنی زندگی کے ابتدائی سال دادی کے ساتھ گاؤں میں گزارے۔ دادی اسے صبح جگاتیں، نہلاتیں، نماز پڑھواتیں اور ہاتھ پکڑ کر مدرسے چھوڑنے جاتیں۔ واپسی پر راستے میں وہ گلی کے کتوں کو روٹیاں کھلاتی تھیں۔
شہر میں تبدیلی
جب مصنف اور اس کے والدین شہر منتقل ہوئے، تو دادی اور پوتے کے درمیان قربت میں کمی آ گئی۔ اب مصنف انگریزی اسکول جانے لگا۔ دادی کو اسکول کا نصاب پسند نہیں آیا کیونکہ اس میں مذہب، اللہ یا عبادات کا ذکر نہیں تھا۔
یونیورسٹی اور بیرون ملک روانگی
وقت گزرنے کے ساتھ مصنف یونیورسٹی میں داخل ہوا اور پھر مزید تعلیم کے لیے بیرون ملک چلا گیا۔ دادی کا وقت تنہائی میں تسبیح پڑھنے اور چرخہ کاتنے میں گزرنے لگا۔ جب مصنف بیرون ملک گیا، تو دادی نے کچھ نہیں کہا لیکن انہوں نے خاموشی سے اس کا ساتھ دیا۔
دادی کی وفات
مصنف کے واپس آنے پر دادی نے اس کا پرجوش استقبال کیا۔ اگلے دن وہ خاموش ہوگئیں اور کہا کہ ان کی زندگی مکمل ہو گئی ہے۔ انہوں نے کھانا پینا بند کر دیا اور اللہ کا ذکر کرتے ہوئے اپنے کمرے میں خاموشی سے انتقال کر گئیں۔
چڑیوں کا غم
دادی کی وفات پر ہزاروں چڑیاں گھر کے آنگن میں جمع ہو گئیں۔ وہ خاموشی سے بیٹھیں، نہ کوئی شور کیا اور نہ ہی دانہ چُگا۔ یہ سب دادی کے لیے قدرتی خراجِ عقیدت تھا۔
نتیجہ
یہ کہانی ایک نیک، سادہ اور مذہبی دادی کے کردار کو پیش کرتی ہے جو جدید زندگی کے اثرات کے باوجود اپنی روایات پر قائم رہیں۔ مصنف نے دادی کے ساتھ اپنے جذباتی تعلق کو سادہ مگر گہرے انداز میں بیان کیا ہے۔
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