The Storyteller's Secret

Amisha prepares her family for Holi celebrations in the beginning of spring, something rare for them with Deepak often away on business. Amisha notices that her sons and husband’s “interactions remained limited in scope and rare” (202).

Her mind constantly returns to Stephen although “her feelings were not allowed” (203). Amisha is excited that Stephen will see the dissolution of social boundaries during Holi: “For just one night, people were not divided based on social hierarchy” (203). As a woman struggling to make her voice heard, Amisha relishes the opportunity to be on equal footing with the other villagers.

At the celebrations, the wealthy and influential circle of Deepak’s acquaintances, which include Stephen and Vikram, gets together. Stephen maintains “a subtle distance” (203) from Amisha out of respect for Deepak. The men largely ignore the topic of British colonialism to appease Vikram and the other powerful men in attendance.

However, when Amisha joins the women’s circle with her friend Sujata, their talk immediately turns to the inappropriateness of the British soldiers’ presence at the celebration. Sujata says, “The soldiers need to return to where they came from” (204). When Amisha cautiously defends them, Sujata berates her for her sympathies, mocking, “Our Amisha wishes she were British” (205).