Chapter 1 — The Portrait of a Lady
By Khushwant Singh
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1. About the Chapter
The Portrait of a Lady is a beautiful story about the author's relationship with his
grandmother. The chapter describes her appearance, habits, religious nature, daily
routine, and the changing relationship between the author and his grandmother as he
grows older.
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2. Main Characters
Grandmother
The grandmother was an old, short, fat and slightly bent woman. She always wore
spotless white clothes and carried a rosary in her hand.
She was deeply religious and spent much of her time praying and reading scriptures.
The Author
The author was very close to his grandmother during his childhood. She looked after
him and accompanied him to school.
, As he grew older, their relationship gradually changed because of his education and
new lifestyle.
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3. Grandmother's Appearance
The author describes his grandmother as:
Old and wrinkled
Short and slightly bent
Always dressed in white
Having a peaceful and calm face
Always carrying a rosary
Constantly praying
Her face appeared so old that the author felt she had always been old.
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4. Grandmother and the Author in the Village
In the village, the grandmother and the author were very close.
She woke him up in the morning and helped him get ready for school.