Secondary characters who represent different facets of Chander’s emotional and physical turmoil after he loses Sudha. Pammi, an independent Christian woman, becomes a temporary outlet for Chander's suppressed desires, while Binti offers a quiet, unrequited devotion. Major Themes
It highlights how caste differences and societal expectations can devastate individual lives, even when the characters themselves appear "liberal" or "modern".
The novel is a scathing critique of impractical, abstract idealism. Chandrakant’s love for Sudha is real, but he prioritizes a fabricated moral code over her happiness and his own. He is not evil; he is tragically misguided.
The plot is deceptively simple: Chander and Sudha fall in love. But Chander refuses to marry her. Why? Because of a twisted sense of nobility. He feels he is poor and unworthy of her wealth. He believes that by sacrificing his love, he is doing a greater good. He pushes Sudha to marry her childhood friend, Dr. Shashi.
