Equality.

The search for equality is one of the main themes of Vidya's story. Vidya is raised as an equal to her brother, her mother and her father. She is respected and she is encouraged to go to college. Vidya's mother and father teach their children that women and men are equal, and they also teach them that the caste system is unfair because it discourages equality.

Men and Women:

Vidya's parents respect each other and each other's opinions. They move to Bombay so they can live their lives free of the traditional values which rule Thatha's home. Vidya is suprised when Malati is married because she did not expect the wedding vows to address marriage equality. Vidya has a hard time living in thatha's home because of the way women are treated differently than men. Men live above stairs, women below. It is a very literal symbol of...