"Mrs. Sen's" by Jumpha Lahiri

All the stories in this book were unique in their own way. The author has used all these characters and situations to represent the Indian culture, feelings, relationships and obligations. The turning points of the stories as well as the foreshadowing’s are not always anticipated and that makes them even more intriguing to the reader. 
 Mrs. Sen’s story is quite interesting. She somehow is a representation of all Indian women who have immigrated; of women who weren’t married with love; of housewives and great cooks. She begins her work as a babysitter of this little kid who is always joyful and very smart. Always wanting to learn and know more as well as very observant. He often compares his mother’s action to those of Mrs.Sen’s. He values this woman and her strength but more than anything he understands her real feelings. He sees through her and the fact that she is unhappy with her life, her marriage and everything else immigration has to offer. One moment in which her unhappiness is reflected when she and her husband are taking a picture and the boy tells them to get closer but they don’t. Moments like these really mark someone’s soul and even shape their concepts of what really is love if you can’t even stay closer to your partner. In the end she has a car accident in which results of her dismissal of being the little boy’s babysitter. But this thing drives her into a greater sadness and she goes to her shell again and closes there. 
Overall this story made me have mixed feelings but I enjoyed getting a broader perspective of Indian culture and knowing more of these kinds of characters.