Originally, as I thought about this, I was going relate to the character Sanjeev, because I feel that I have some similarities with him which would be easy to write. Instead, I chose to learn more about the other main character, Twinkle, and push myself to learn more about her and see her perspective.
First off, Twinkle is not her real name. It's Tanima, but she was nicknamed, Twinkle, because of a nursery rhyme. Twinkle is an Indian woman with "thick, unruly hair, streaked here and there with henna" (139). Although she is twenty-seven, Sanjeev thought that she "had not grown out of her girlhood" (142-143). She didn't have worried eyes, and hadn't fully settled into the "face" that she was going to have. Sanjeev thinks that Twinkle is pretty, and some of Sanjeev's friends mention that she is beautiful as well. There is no indication that she is corpulent, so I am assuming that she is skinny, and fairly tall, close to her husband's height, since he doesn't like when she wears heels (140). Other than there, there is no description about her eyes, nose or any other facial feature besides the general "pretty"(148). She could just have an average face, yet people are drawn to her by her charisma (152).
I think that Twinkle doesn't have a job, but is just working on her master's degree at her desk all day. That's why she keeps typing "all day" (141, 145). Because how could she just leave a workplace in the middle of the day because she is bored? She would get fired. Because Sanjeev's so rich, it doesn't matter if she doesn't work (148). She is finishing her master's degree. That's her "job" right now. Since she is doing that, I would say that she is fairly intelligent and hard-working to be pursuing that much education.
Twinkle dresses fairly casually, like in sweaters and T-shirts, but also wears traditional outfits for an occasion, such as the party Sanjeev and Twinkle hosted (142, 146, 152). She also accessorizes with heels, and on that occasion, a pearl choker with a sapphire (152). Her parents live in California, though I think they were from Calcutta, where Sanjeev's parents live (142). That's how those families would know each other. Twinkle also went, and still goes, to Stanford in California, so I'm assuming that she grew up with quite a bit of American culture in her life, while still acknowledging her roots.
Twinkle has a bubbly and curious personality. She finds a lot of Christian paraphernalia in odd places around their new house, and she calls it a treasure hunt, hoping to find something each time she walks around. I'd even venture to say that she is silly. Yet, Twinkle is also sensitive to other cultures, and carefree. I like how Sanjeev said it, "content yet curious" (141). To me, compared to Sanjeev, she comes across like she grew up in America. She smokes, she drinks, she wants to dance in public, rolls her eyes and hollers (yes, I'm stereotyping Americans) (139-141). Twinkle is also self confident, and she can get what she wants (139-140, 152).
Twinkle is friendly and gets along with everyone. There is only one part when she tells Sanjeev, "I hate you," but there is no indication in her thoughts that she thinks about him this way all the time. Her actions reveal that she cares for him by giving hugs and other touches (144, 147, 149, 152, 157).
Twinkle enjoys being in the world, and taking in all that is out there to enjoy. The biggest challenge that she faces is finishing her master's degree and making peace with her husband over all of the Christian paraphernalia in their house (145,157). That is the biggest conflict shown in the story. Another one could be that Sanjeev wants her to work harder around the house and take care of it, but she isn't concerned about those things probably because Sanjeev is left with all of the work and then she just expects that he will do it (141, 150). I don't think that she does things like that intentionally, but can be forgetful.
I think that Twinkle wants a good marriage with Sanjeev. She had a previous relationship with an American who failed as an actor and left her (143). So I think she wants a stable relationship: someone that she can depend on to take care of her. She is also twenty-seven, and rushed really quickly into the marriage (143). These two people knew each other for two months, then they got married and have been together for only another two months (142). Maybe Twinkle wanted to be settled down with someone because she was getting older and didn't want to be single much longer. It may be an insecurity, or a desire in her heart to be married. Regardless, I think that Twinkle wants this marriage to work out, and just like a fairy tale, live happily ever after. Cause that's part of the American Dream, right? She wants to live a normal, American life.
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