A Real Durwan

The monsoon rains’ symbolism is multifaceted. First, they represent change and hardship, as they cause an ache in Boori Ma’s already weary knees when the story opens. This hardship adds to her characterization as an industrious person, as she continues with her duties despite the pain. Additionally, when torrent finally comes, she is in the middle of her sweeping tasks but pushes through the work:

[A]t the time, Boori Ma was working all the way down on the second-floor landing. She looked up the ladderlike stairs, and as the sound of falling water tightened around her she knew her quilts were turning into yogurt. But then she recalled her conversation with Mrs. Dalal. And so she continued, at the same pace, to sweep the dust, cigarette ends, and lozenge wrappers from the rest of the steps, until she reached the letter boxes at the bottom (157).

Furthermore, the monsoons illustrate the disparity in lived, socioeconomic reality. The rains shred Boori Ma’s bedding, forcing her to sleep on newspapers for the night. They also ruin Mrs. Dalal’s lemon peels, which causes her to be cross even before Mr. Dalal returns with the two water basins (which provokes a day-long fight between them).