The Power of Music

Consider Pranab's interest in Bhangra dancing, a secret of his that was exposed to Aloka only after their divorce, which he hid from Aloka even while they were engaged. He first explains to Sujata in one of their times alone:

"Bhangra. Not even your sister knows about it. She's so much into classical music and dancing that I can't bring myself to tell her. What little music training I've had is also classical. But recently I have become interested in traditional village dancing...When I am dancing... I feel at one with the simplest of people. Too often we look down on the, and forget that they're essential to our prosperity; indeed to our very own survival." (35)

Pranab has revealed in Sujata the less reserved, more emotional side of himself through his interest in dancing, which dismisses the prim and proper of what Aloka, a representation of the perfect Hindu wife, clings so tightly to. His relationship with Sujata is also, if anything, less controlled and more impulsive--oh, and it's an affair. But his love for dance seems to dig in too deep into his emotions-- his love for Sujata, revealed through dance, overtakes him and severs his marriage with Aloka in New York. Aloka and Sujata both observe that he has only been thinking of Sujata all this time that he has been wed to Aloka. His youthful idealization which has inspired to start a revolution among the tea workers now transcends into music and thus his romance. Perhaps the "perfection" of Aloka's behavior as a Hindu wife has left the relationship static to him.

After the divorce, Aloka visits Pranab one time to accidentally observe him while he is in the middle of a dance. After he reveals to her that he has danced Bhangra before he and Aloka had even escaped Darjeeling embitters Aloka:

"An impenetrable, secretive look on Pranab's face confirmed Aloka's suspicion. When Sujata left Darjeeling, she took his dancing with her. At that instant Aloka had a revelation. Late at night, in deep sleep, when one is immersed in one's truth, she would curl up against Pranab and hear the uneven thump of his chest...That longing.... was for Sujata." (183)

But Sujata at this point in the story has pretty much been close to surpassing a dependence on Pranab's love, while Pranab, excited by the prospect of seeing Sujata again, decides to regress back into happier times, or the past, when he was well respected by many. His dancing and his music, through the powerful emotions that it has given him, has ultimately disillusioned him.