How we cite our quotes: (Abbreviated Title.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"But they should do this sort of thing during the day." "When I'm here, you mean," Shukumar said. (ATM 3-4)
A classic Lahiri moment: Shoba, the wife, is commenting on the schedule for rolling blackouts and her husband responds with a kind of subtle sarcasm that shows how much out-of-love these two are with each other. The conversation continues as if Shukumar didn't say anything, but the communication gap between the two is clear in these sharp little asides (mostly from Shukumar).
Quote #2
Something happened when the house was dark. They were able to talk to each other again. (ATM 88)
Go ahead and think about all those typical associations you're taught about "light" and "dark." Like "light" means clarity, "dark" means mystery. Here, the secrets are revealed in the dark. But it's when the lights come on that Shoba tells Shukumar that she's leaving him. Her real intentions are clarified in the light.
Quote #3
"What are these large orange vegetables on people's doorsteps? A type of squash?"
"Pumpkins," my mother replied. "Lilia, remind me to pick one up at the supermarket."
"And the purpose? It indicates what?"
"You make a jack-o'-lantern," I said, grinning ferociously. "Like this. To scare people away."
"I see," Mr. Pirzada said, grinning back. "Very useful." (WMPCTD 39-43)
Here's why Mr. Pirzada's so cool. He knows intuitively how to talk to Lilia without talking down to her (like so many adults seem to do). We really like the fact that he returns Lilia's jack-o'-lantern grin.