How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Like her maa before her, and her maa, and as far back as anyone could remember, the women in our family embroidered. All their thoughts and dreams went into their work. (1.10)
Embroidery isn't just a past time for these women; it's also how they display their ideas and opinions, how they express themselves. Koly shares with us that each sari or quilt takes months to create, and her family's dreams have been implanted in the material by her mom, one stitch at a time.
Quote #2
Stories were told of girls having to marry old men, but I did not think Maa and Baap would let that happen to me. In my daydreams I hoped for someone who was handsome and who would be kind to me. (1.13)
Koly hopes for a strong hubby who is tall, dark, and handsome—but what she gets is a sickly boy with tuberculosis. The difference between her hopes for her marriage and reality are evident the second she meets Hari. As they say, you can't always get what you want.
Quote #3
I longed to beg my parents to take me home. I would promise to eat very little and work very hard. But I could not ask such a thing. To refuse to go through with the marriage would bring dishonor on my family. (1.59)
Did you notice that Koly is always thinking about what would shame or dishonor her family? That's because she's weighing the pros and cons of running away. On the pro list are freedom, happiness, and hope, but on the con list is shame for her family. It turns out she cares more about her family than her own dreams for the future.