In A Temporary Matter, Jahpa Lahiri writes on Shoba Shukumar who were once madly in love. After three years of marriage, one tragic event changed the dynamics of their relationship forever. These two used to be joined at the hip now they are rarely in the same room. there is little to no conversation, affection, nor physicality between them. Shoba thought it would be a good idea for Shukumar to go to an academic conference in Baltimore, reluctantly, Shukumar went. While he was at the conference, Shoba went into labor. One 's’ worst nightmare came true: a stillborn child. Shukumar missed the labor and did not mourn the loss of their child with Shoba at that moment.
After her release from the hospital, Shoba, went into a fit of rage once she …show more content…
The first night of truth-telling started off light. She confessed to him her sneaking a look into his address book. He replied with a memory from their first date, his forgetting to tip the waiter due to his astonishment of Shoba . Night after night, they revealed more and more. Night after night becoming more and more comfortable. On the last night the lights did not go off. However, Shoba insisted they continued their game. They sat for dinner as usual and lead up to the game. Shoba abruptly stated, “I’ve been looking for an apartment and I’ve found one.”(313). As Lahiri builds passage after passage, you see the emotional detachment and unawareness of her own feelings that comes about Shoba. Shukumar in shock let her know: “”Our baby was a boy,” he said. “His skin was more red than brown. He had black hair on his head. He weighed almost five pounds. His fingers were curled shut, just like yours in the night.””(314) after this, the elephant in the room for those six months was finally removed. With the reveal of this secret, Shukumar gives personalization to their child. He let her into the precious moments he had with their son. Those moments had give Shoba the ability to connect to the child in a way she wasn’t able to before. The married couple of three years weeps together for the first
After her release from the hospital, Shoba, went into a fit of rage once she …show more content…
The first night of truth-telling started off light. She confessed to him her sneaking a look into his address book. He replied with a memory from their first date, his forgetting to tip the waiter due to his astonishment of Shoba . Night after night, they revealed more and more. Night after night becoming more and more comfortable. On the last night the lights did not go off. However, Shoba insisted they continued their game. They sat for dinner as usual and lead up to the game. Shoba abruptly stated, “I’ve been looking for an apartment and I’ve found one.”(313). As Lahiri builds passage after passage, you see the emotional detachment and unawareness of her own feelings that comes about Shoba. Shukumar in shock let her know: “”Our baby was a boy,” he said. “His skin was more red than brown. He had black hair on his head. He weighed almost five pounds. His fingers were curled shut, just like yours in the night.””(314) after this, the elephant in the room for those six months was finally removed. With the reveal of this secret, Shukumar gives personalization to their child. He let her into the precious moments he had with their son. Those moments had give Shoba the ability to connect to the child in a way she wasn’t able to before. The married couple of three years weeps together for the first