A Short Story: The American Auntie In India

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When she landed at Bombay her relatives are all at the airport to welcome her. She is introduced as ‘the American auntie’ to the little nephews. Her stay in America has given her this sort of introduction. She is in a confused state whether to accept this with a smile or a shock. Her depression starts at this stage when she notices the variation found in the behavior of her own relatives. Tara compares and contrasts her ideas on India that she had seen during her childhood days and India she sees now. The Bombay relatives request her to tolerate the small and shabbiness in the area of marine drive, “You must promise not to look at the bad parts of India.” (TTD 18) The relatives are reluctant to send her alone in train. But, she asserts that she had no fear and she can travel with two men who happen to be her co – …show more content…

Tara and her mother visit her aunt Jharna’s house in the Southern Avenue. Her husband Sachin died of Cancer and the child of her is clubfooted. Tara in order to spare herself the humiliation of the scene asks aunt Jharna whether she has tried plaster casts and special shoes. But the words of Aunt Jharna make her embarrassed. She considers her as an American and does not consider her consoling words. The care and concern shown by Tara after her return from America is not received well as she is not accepted as one among them. Tara’s friends look at her as an American and they call her an ‘Americanwali.’ They make indelicate and damaging remark about her appearance. They question about her identity. “Tara, Don’t you think Calcutta’s changed unbelievably? I mean can you recognize this place at all?” (TTD 42). The friends somehow give a horrible description about present Calcutta and its culture, “I’m telling you at the first hint of riot, Tara’s going to run away to America, no? How dare you suggest she’ll run away? At least Calcutta isn’t uncultured like Bombay!”

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