AND SO IT EVENTUALLY HAPPENED (Short Summary)

 

Stanza 1: The poem opens with the anticipated event of a family gathering following the passing of their grandfather in 1959. The family, which had drifted apart after his death, is reuniting after many years of separation.

Stanza 2: In the second stanza, the reunion occurs "this year," with the speaker's cousins arriving in Tiruchchanur on overcrowded private buses. It's evident that there has been a significant disconnect among family members for an extended period.

Stanza 3: The third stanza reveals a difficulty in recognizing each other due to the long absence, clouding instant familiarity. After the initial meeting, family members adopt a cross-legged sitting position, symbolizing their reunion.

Stanza 4: Continuing with enjambment, they gather near the choultry (village hall), reminiscing about past experiences like cracking coconuts, sitting around bonfires, and enjoying rice and pickle in the afternoons. The speaker fondly remembers Sundari, a family member who used to clandestinely climb tamarind trees to gather fruit, which they would then share every morning.

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