Even if Shaheed had been able to hear me, I could not then have told him what I later became convinced was the truth: that the purpose of that entire war had been to reunite me with an old life, to bring me back together with my old friends. Sam Manekshaw was marching on Dacca, to meet his old friend the Tiger; and the modes of connection lingered on, because on the field of leaking bone-marrow I heard about the exploits of knees, and was greeted by a dying pyramid of heads; and in Dacca I was to meet Parvati-the-witch.
The narrator reflects on a profound realization regarding the true purpose of the war, which was not just conflict but an effort to reconnect with his past and friends from his earlier life. The mention of Sam Manekshaw advancing towards Dacca symbolizes this reunion, underscoring a sense of nostalgia and shared history amidst the chaos of war.
As the narrator experiences the brutality of the battlefield, he perceives connections that transcend the violence surrounding him. The imagery of physical suffering juxtaposed with memories of camaraderie reveals how personal ties endure, even in dire circumstances, culminating in his anticipation of meeting Parvati in Dacca, representing a bridge to his former self.