Status Updates From Arranged Marriage By Divaka...

Immediately thought of Priyam when she describes the sari and of Mom's pink sari from her marriage.

That he continues to be abusive and she continues to return is expected. That the grandpa gave the girl a ring was also expected. I'm glad the girl started standing up to the father, but with the ring disappearing, it feels like her hope is also snuffed. I hate the abrupt, unclear endings of short stories!

God I hate when they put the burden of emotional maturity on a child, especially a girl child. This is such a persistent trope in writing (especially for this book being from 1995) but also so reflective, again, of human nature and societal expectations.

I hate the stupidity of "I couldn't help myself. I reached out to my abuser when we got away clean because of what people were saying/I didn't like being alone." God I hope I'm never in such a situation and don't respond like that. Why is this such a prevalent response in women the world over!?

Oh Mama, don't fall for that lie! Men like him never change. Sigh

Again a not so subtle analogy between the bars returning to poisoned trees instead moving to a safe place and the like upcoming return to the father.

I'm grandpa-Uncle we already have such a strong juxtaposition to the loud, abusive father. Not leaving much room for nuance in a short story I guess.

I wonder how old the child is.

It already feels like they won't actually get to Grandpa's house. I hope I'm wrong.

This is already reminding me a bit of A Guardian & A Thief with the Calcutta setting & the abused Mom & the child's POV.