Mind over matter

First, a quick reminder to myself-- I read somewhere in a review that the characters are stereotypical. Will need to research Indian stereotypes later.

But all that aside, considering my observations on music, I was wondering if one of the ideas of the novel is that you shouldn't let your instinct/emotions betray, but rather you need to find an equilibrium between logic and your heart.

Take Aloka at the beginning of the novel. Despite her success and ability to reach out to others as advice columnist Seva, she is still emotionally driven at heart in an almost unhealthy and maybe delusional (but not completely, that's more Pranab) sense.

Aloka starts out at the beginning of the novel (not the story) in more of a jealous rage, as the divorce has betrayed her trust in being able to be a good housewife to Pranab. Her possessiveness did not simply begin there-- in helping Pranab escape Darjeeling, Aloka had also rationalized that she could kept Pranab away from his lover Sujata:

"Pranab would forget Sujata. Surely he would. Over time that name would carry no more significance that a fallen tree on the streets of his memory.This notion,if illusory, gave Aloka the sense of optimism she needed to go on." (85)

Aloka feels as if she is best for Pranab, and tries to care for him and remain loyal to him and convince him, also, of his worth in the only way she knows best. It is in this way that she attempts to salvage their crumbling marriage:

"In India she'd been taught to cater to a man's wishes, not challenge them. Modern woman that she had been, she still couldn't quite shake herself. She offered him larger servings at dinner, let him sleep on the window side of the bed, even made sure he got first chance at the front section of the New York Times in the morning." (98)

However, their marriage still fails.

Another thing to note is the subsequent paranoia that Aloka feels when she discovers proof in a letter that Pranab had hidden regarding his love for Sujata. Aloka can only be angry with Sujata, and although Sujata herself is overwhelmed by Pranab's declaration of his undying love, this is not apparent to Aloka (at the moment I can't find the quote, but there's one part where she assumes Sujata to be evilly plotting against her, to put it simply).

Obviously, jealousy takes huge root in this, and does take over not only Aloka but also Sujata and Pranab. There seems to be in their jealousy some idealized sense of what things should be... Aloka continually discusses that she and Pranab will reunited upon their return to Darjeeling, due to feelings of nostalgia. Or rather, to me, given that Aloka is around 40, it just doesn't seem believable.