Swami and Friends: Chapter 3 Summary & Analysis

The reader learns about Swami’s grandmother, who lives with him in a passageway of his parents’ house and whom he calls Granny. Swami spends time with his grandmother after eating dinner, feeling warm and safe with her. He tells his grandmother about his new friend Rajam and how wonderful he is, and he expresses particular excitement that Rajam’s father is the Police Superintendent. Swami goes on to list all of Rajam’s good qualities, often cutting his grandmother off rudely when she tries to speak. She tells him about his brilliant grandfather, but Swami ignores her and continues talking about Rajam.

Swami becomes suspicious that his grandmother is not listening to him and that she does not believe how wonderful Rajam is, but she emphasizes her approval of Rajam and Swami is comforted. She begins to tell him a story that Rajam reminded her of, but Swami falls asleep halfway through her telling.

Swami sits at home studying at his father’s orders, trying to understand the meaning of a poem. His mother brings him a snack and then, finally, his father leaves for work at the court. As soon as his father is gone, Swami runs out of the house to visit his friends, ignoring Granny when she calls to him. He goes first to Mani’s house and then, together, they go on to Rajam’s house. Although they are nervous at first, the policeman outside Rajam’s house is polite to them and takes them inside to see Rajam.

Swami and Mani are impressed by Rajam’s house, which is large and tidy. Rajam comes to meet them and shows off his amazing collection of toys. Then, Rajam orders his cook to bring in a plate of snacks. Rajam bullies the cook in order to impress his new friends, but the cook talks back to Rajam, at which point Rajam brings the snacks in himself while telling his friends that he left the cook lying unconscious in the kitchen.