The Storyteller's Secret

Amisha’s narrative takes place in 1930s to 1940s India, under the Raj, as British rule was known. On the day of her arranged marriage, 15-year-old Amisha is brought by her family to meet her new husband. Amisha and her new husband, 19-year-old Deepak (Jaya’s grandfather) have a traditional Hindu wedding. Afterward, Amisha tries to forge a bond with her new husband. He is surprised that she danced at their wedding after the music stopped, an uncommon thing for a woman to do. Amisha tries to tell him one of her stories to explain why she felt the need to be different, but he doesn’t grasp the message.

Unable to sleep after consummating their marriage, Amisha takes comfort in writing stories. Deepak briefly wakes up and looks at her with “confusion and then dismissal” (54). He falls back asleep as Amisha continues to write.

The next morning, Amisha is woken by her mother-in-law Chara to begin the chores. First, she must wash the sheets, stained with Amisha’s hymen blood, in a nearby river. Chara makes sure to establish Amisha’s low place in the family: “Out of pity, we lowered our stature to allow you to marry my son” (55).