Point of View

The story is told from the third person, omniscient point of view. The protagonist is the patriarch of the family, Mir Nihal, a conservative Muslim in Delhi. Mir Nihal is watching his family and the world around him change as he grows older. Although Mir Nihal is the main focus of the novel, the subplot involves his son Asghar and Asghar's romantic woes.

Asghar's narrative is also told in the third person. This allows the reader to see contrasting points of view as the conservative father and the more progressive son live with life's constant changes.

Language and Meaning

The novel is rich with descriptive language that prompts the reader to visualize the main story lines, as well as he vibrant settings. To further enhance the imagery, the author relies heavily on the use of metaphors and similes,

Usage of various Indian, Hindu, and Muslim...