Family

Like many of Desai's stories, this one focuses on the theme of the individual struggling to define her- or himself in the face of overwhelming family and societal pressures. Thus, the role of the family is central to the story. Suno is overwhelmed by his family's intrusions into his life. In the first place, it is his family that is putting so much pressure on him to study for the exam: "study, study, study," they tell him. Yet it is also the activities of the family members which make it impossible for Suno to focus on his studies. His father listens to the radio news in six different languages. His mother makes noise in the kitchen with the sizzling sounds of her frying and the sounds of water sloshing around. His younger brothers and sisters tease and harass him when they return home from school. Even the sounds...