It is a story about India's coming of age, the politics and social unrest of the times, and how Indians reacted to it. Gustad is worried about the events surrounding them, while Dilnava is more concerned about her family than in current events. Again, this shows the difference between the characters and their concerns, and it also relates to the larger picture of the state, and who runs it. The women are largely left out of the operations, even though a woman runs the country, while the men are more concerned and involved. In conclusion, the author uses the son and surrogate son to bring out the parents in depth. Both of these characters are central to the story, although they do not appear in all...

Tehmul is the "jester" of the story that helps Gustad recognize his own emotions and stubbornness, while Sohrab is the wedge that drives the family apart but eventually brings it together in a successful reunion. These two characters illustrate the parents' own relationship, how much they care for their children, and what idiosyncrasies they have. They bring out the strength in their parents, and they bring out compassion, too. They are necessary for the story to succeed, and for the reader to truly understand the parents and their desires for their children.