The Storyteller's Secret

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2018

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Part 5: “Amisha”Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 5, Chapter 25 Summary

Amisha and Stephen reunite before the Christmas holiday. Amisha is aware that “though their time apart was brief, they had missed each other more than friends do” (174). Stephen briefly grasps her hand. Amisha knows that the proper thing to do would be to walk away from Stephen; however, she finds herself unable to leave him. They exchange gifts. Amisha opens her gift: a beech tree seedling. Stephen “wanted to give you something of your home, for you to have here” (176). Stephen’s gift from Amisha is a story written in English about the hopeful relationship between a dead man and his brother. She decides to plant the seedling in the school garden.

Neema has been absent from Amisha’s class for over a week, Neema’s father arrives in Stephen’s office and explains that his daughter was hurt in an accident and will be unable to continue attending the school. Panicked, Amisha asks to visit Neema, but the father says no and leaves. Stephen reminds Amisha that “The Raj can’t force Indians to send their children to our schools. If the parents feel we’re using their children’s attendance to police their family’s home life, then they will pull their children out” (180). Amisha has to accept that she will most likely never see Neema again.

Part 5 Analysis

Exchanging gifts at Christmas allows Amisha and Stephen to express their emotions for each other without making declarations of love and commitment. The thoughtfulness of the gifts points to a love hidden by friendship and restraint. Still, Stephen tests their physical boundaries: “He grasped her hand in his only for a second before releasing it” (174).

Their different approaches to English-Indian relations again become an issue when Neema’s father withdraws her from the school. Amisha is driven by emotion, motherly instinct, and kindness to check on Neema and possibly bring her back to the school despite what Neema’s father has decided. However, Stephen disagrees. Though Stephen is sorry for Neema, he resolutely believes that it is not their place to intervene. Stephen’s reaction to Neema’s situation reflects his behavior toward colonialism. Stephen believes his position in India to be one of duty, policing, and keeping the boundaries between Indian and British populations distinct. Amisha is driven by her emotions and desires to act out of goodness rather than what larger governmental institutions compel them to do. Stephen therefore represents colonial power, while Amisha represents Gandhi’s notion of nonviolent resistance.