"A Temporary Matter" Summary

Shoba and Shukumar are young married Indians. An electric line is down from the last snowstorm. Power to their neighborhood is being turned off at eight nightly for an hour over the next five days to make repairs. They live in a house within walking distance of stores and a trolley stop. The late March evenings are mild.

Shoba reads the electric power notice out loud. She leaves her briefcase in the hallway and walks into the kitchen wearing a raincoat over her sweatpants and sneakers. Shoba is coming home from the gym. Her face has traces of cranberry lipstick and eyeliner on it. Shukumar thinks she looks like she does after a party or a bar when she is too lazy to wash her face. Shoba comments they should fix the power during the day. Shukumar...