As I said earlier, call me Raja the Gullible.
-- Narrator (II)

Importance: This line establishes Raja’s self-deprecating voice and frames the entire book as a confession told by someone who has internalized blame for his misfortunes. By inviting readers to “call” him gullible, he both mocks and defines himself, turning a wound into a kind of persona. The sentence encapsulates the tension between Raja’s sharp intelligence and his belief that he should have seen every trap coming. Throughout The True True Story of Raja the Gullible, this nickname becomes a lens through which he revisits past choices, questioning whether his trust in family, banks, and institutions was foolish or simply human.

If there was an oblivion Olympics, you’d win a gold medal in every category.
-- Zalfa (I)

Importance: Zalfa’s insult mixes affection, irritation, and hyperbole in a way that typifies her relationship with Raja. On the surface she teases him about his...