Jayanti was raised in Calcutta, India. “I’ve looked forward to this day for so long” (Divakaruni 37). She was glowing with excitement as she boarded the plane to Chicago, there she would meet up with her aunt and uncle. Jayanti had made arrangements with them to live with them as she attended a school at the University. She had many expectations for her new life. It wasn’t long before she came to the alarming conclusion “the grass is NOT always greener on the other side.”
Having been told by her family back in Calcutta that her dear aunt had married a man from America that owned his own automobile business, she made the assumption that she was going to live with a wealthy family. Jayanti was surprised to learn as she arrived at the Chicago airport that her initial accusation was not at all a reality. “Bikram-uncle is a short, stocky man dressed in greasy mechanic’s overalls that surprises me” (Divakaruni 38). Someone who she expected to be dressed well because of a false metal image she had made up for him surprised her by wearing what was normal apparel for him. This left her disappointed and confused at what to expect next.
Jayanti was expecting a nice house, one that would have been found in a magazine. When she came to her new home she was shocked to find that the house she expected was nothing but another false image her mind formed to satisfy her imagination. She took her suitcases to the room where she would stay, “it is the same size as my bathroom at home” (Divakaruni 41). Her room makes her think of the greatness of her house back home, she remembers her mother’s flowers that grew directly outside her bedroom window, The memory makes her want to cry.
Despite the major disappointment she has experienced, Jayanti still has hope. She expresses to her aunt how excited she is to have the opportunity to live in the U.S. and how she is grateful to be able to study at the university in the approaching fall. Her aunt is supportive of Jayanti’s excitement and encourages her by telling her how great she will do. Almost immediately her uncle turns the conversation around, making it negative but also showing the true reality of the matter. “Things here aren’t as perfect as people back home like to think... The Americans hate us” (Divakaruni 42-43). Although he could have been nicer about it, he had a point. He was honest about how he felt, he gave warning to Jayanti about how life is in the U.S.
The truth is things aren’t as perfect as people like to think, no matter where it may be that we are trying to escape to. Jayanti learned this lesson many times in the short story Silver Pavements, Golden Pavements. It is a lesson to be learned by all, the grass is NOT always greener on the other side.
No comments:
Post a Comment