Sentence:  All about me there <WSD>was</WSD> a hectic interplay of meetings taking place , like abrupt , jerky scenes in old silent movies , joyous greetings and beginnings , huggings and kissings , enthusiastic forays into the festive night . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  happen, occur, take place; this was during the visit to my parents' house"