“That the last two letters in her name were the first two in his, a silly thing he never mentioned to her but caused him to believe that they were bound together.”
In this quote from Jhumpa Lahiri, the narrator reveals a small, seemingly insignificant detail that holds significant meaning for him. The fact that the last two letters in the woman's name are the first two in his own name symbolizes a connection or bond between them that he believes exists. This detail highlights the narrator's attentiveness to seemingly minor details and his desire to find meaning in them, suggesting a deeper level of connection and intimacy between the characters.
In Jhumpa Lahiri's quote, the idea of being "bound together" by similar letters in names may seem like a trivial detail. However, in today's world of dating apps and social media, finding connections and similarities with potential partners has become more important than ever. People often look for small signs or coincidences that make them feel connected to someone, just like the shared letters in a name. This subtle detail can create a sense of closeness and understanding between individuals, highlighting the significance of seemingly insignificant details in modern relationships.
“That the last two letters in her name were the first two in his, a silly thing he never mentioned to her but caused him to believe that they were bound together.” - Jhumpa Lahiri.
Upon reading this quote by Jhumpa Lahiri, take a moment to reflect on the following questions:
“With the birth of Akash, in his sudden, perfect presence, Ruma had felt awe for the first time in her life. He still had the power to stagger her at times--simply the fact that he was breathing, that all his organs were in their proper places, that blood flowed quietly and effectively through his small, sturdy limbs. He was her flesh and blood, her mother had told her in the hospital the day Akash was born. Only the words her mother used were more literal, enriching the tired phrase with meaning: "He is made from your meat and bone." It had caused Ruma to acknowledge the supernatural in everyday life. But death, too, had the power to awe, she knew this now-that a human being could be alive for years and years, thinking and breathing and eating, full of a million worries and feelings and thoughts, taking up space in the world, and then, in an instant, become absent, invisible.”
“He still had the power to stagger her at timessimply the fact that he was breathing that all his organs were in their proper places that blood flowed quietly and effectively through his small sturdy limbs. He was her flesh and blood her mother had told her in the hospital the day Akash was born.”
“She had listened to him, partly sympathetic, partly horrified. For it was one thing for her to reject her background, to be critical of her family's heritage, another to hear it from him.”
“They were things for which it was impossible to prepare but which one spent a lifetime looking back at, trying to accept, interpret, comprehend. Things that should never have happened, that seemed out of place and wrong, these were what prevailed, what endured, in the end.”
“In so many ways, his family's life feels like a string of accidents, unforeseen, unintended, one incident begetting another...They were things for which it was impossible to prepare but which one spent a lifetime looking back at, trying to accept, interpret, comprehend. Things that should never have happened, that seemed out of place and wrong, these were what prevailed, what endured, in the end.”
“By now she has learned that her husband likes his food on the salty side, that his favorite thing about lamb curry is the potatoes, and that he likes to finish his dinner with a small final helping of rice and dal.”