A Devoted Son

“But there was more envy than rancor in their voices and it was, of course, inevitable—not every son in that shabby little colony at the edge of the city was destined to shine as Rakesh shone, and who knew that better than the parents themselves?”

This quote comes after the party that was thrown to celebrate Rakesh’s high scores in school. It comes after the neighbors’ comments about how certain foods should have been served and that Varma takes credit for his son’s successes. It shows how much the neighbors wish their children could be as successful as Rakesh and that they would engage in traditional behaviors to bring glory to the family.

“As for his mother, she gloated chiefly over the strange fact that he had not married in America, had not brought home a foreign wife as all her neighbors had warned her he would, for wasn’t that what all Indian boys went abroad for?”

This quote gives the reader some insight into Rakesh’s mother. While she doesn’t gloat quite as loudly or often as Varma, she holds it over others’ heads that her son is devoted and traditional. The idea of going abroad to find a “foreign wife” implies that the women available in India may not be as desirable. Looking for companionship elsewhere is seen as a sign of success and being able to break free of tradition and culture.

“Thereafter his fame seemed to grow just a little dimmer—or maybe it was only that everyone in town had grown accustomed to it at last—but it was also the beginning of his fortune for he now became known not only as the best but also the richest doctor in town.”

This quote occurs right after Rakesh opens his clinic, which is the pinnacle of his career. Not only has he achieved success and brought fame to his family, but he has also given back to his community. His fame isn’t as grand as it had because it’s now expected he’s will do great things (and he does).