The book consists of short stories of struggling Indian women. The characters from the short stories are compelled to obey conventional rules in a patriarchal society. In the first short story, “My Only Gods,” the narrator recalls her upbringing in her grandparents’ house. The story involves a struggling woman who is married to different men. The woman, who is the narrator’s mother, cannot live with the narrator’s biological father. The situation indicates challenges experienced by women in societies domineered by men. The first short story explores the traditional value system of Indian society.
The short story, “Bahu,” presents a difficult marriage where the main character, Bahu, argues that she does not get enough time with her husband. Bahu claims that her in-laws have driven a wedge between her and her husband. Patriarchal societies perceive women as objects. The protagonist’s in-laws do not consider her feelings. The act justifies the treatment of imperiled women in Indian society. Women’s feelings are overlooked in such societies because they are viewed as objects without feelings.
The stories show the struggles for women’s equality in India. The main characters in these stories are women who are portrayed as protesting against the suppression of their freedoms by society. Traditionally, Indian society treats women as subalterns. However, the situation seems to have gradually changed after various women started voicing their grievances and demanding their rights.
