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Chapter 22
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Absurdity and Chaos
Nature vs. Modernity
Traditions, Customs, and Expectations
Exploitation of Spirituality
Summary
Analysis
Meanwhile, the Hungry Hop boy’s family has kept him locked up as they plan an arranged marriage that will make any further romance with Pinky impossible. Concerned about their plans, the boy sends a secret letter to Pinky by way of the milkman, letting her know that time is of the essence. She agrees, and the two of them resolve to meet on the last day of April. Everyone will be distracted by the monkey-catching scheme, so it’ll be the perfect time for both of them to sneak out and elope in the ice cream van. Both of them feel thrilled at the thought of finally running away from their unreasonable families together.
Through their secret correspondence and plans to elope, Pinky and the Hungry Hop boy continue to defy cultural norms and the expectations of their families. The circumstances of their relationship are as strange as can be, but this doesn’t deter them in the least. For a brief moment, it seems that their plan will go off without a hitch, and that they can live happily together at last. But it’s also very possible that it won’t be that simple, as it hasn’t been thus far.
Themes
As she busily packs her belongings and prepares to elope, Pinky begins to feel sorry for Sampath once more. She thinks it’s unfair that his happiness seems to be coming to an end, just as her own better life is finally beginning. One night, she excitedly offers to let him come along with her and the Hungry Hop boy, and to leave this place forever. But Sampath only feels more ill when he imagines the smell and the noise of life on the endless road. Feeling suddenly angry with everyone, he refuses Pinky’s offer and lashes out at her, urging her to leave him alone. Pinky silently wonders what happened to her brother’s nerve.
In this moment, Pinky attempts to bond with Sampath over their shared desire for freedom one last time. But once again, the siblings have two different ideas of what freedom means to them. Neither has much interest in adhering to society’s expectations, but unlike Pinky, Sampath can only feel free in nature. The thought of life on the road disgusts him because it would still be a modern life, no matter if he was always on the move. To Sampath, freedom is more than just travel. His anger in this moment reveals his desperation as he realizes there’s no clear escape from his situation. Pinky might be free at last, but Sampath is still trapped by modernity invading his orchard.
Themes
On the day before the last day of April, the Hungry Hop Boy’s family introduces him to his bride-to-be. The boy spends most of the day sulking and throwing tantrums, completely refusing to even look at the girl they’ve chosen for him. But eventually, curiosity gets the best of him, and he enters the room to see her. Immediately, he stops in his tracks and finds her beautiful and perfect, to the great satisfaction of his family. For the rest of the night, his head spins with a painful new dilemma: will he elope with Pinky the following morning as promised, or will he take the easy road and marry this beautiful young woman who was chosen especially for him?
This twist throws a major complication into the relationship between Pinky and the Hungry Hop boy. Not only is Hungry Hop torn between two women; he’s caught between two opposing values. To him, Pinky represents excitement, chaos, and the thrill of taking the road he isn’t “supposed” to take. On the other hand, the woman his family chose for him is the complete opposite. She embodies tradition, conformity to cultural norms, and most importantly, stability.
Themes
Tossing and turning all night, the Hungry Hop boy turns the options over in his mind. He’s attracted to both Pinky and his bride-to-be, and both of them have a hold on his heart. Pinky is thrilling and unique, but the young woman his family has chosen is especially beautiful, and his family has also promised a luxurious wedding and dowry were he to accept her. Unable to decide, he gets in the van at 4 in the morning, driving around the dark streets as he struggles with his indecision. At one point, he holds up the large group of monkey-catchers in a narrow street. They order him to get out of their way as they journey to the orchard to enact Mr. Chawla’s plan. Nervously, still unable to make his decision, the Hungry Hop boy continues his restless driving through the streets of Shahkot.
Hungry Hop’s future with Pinky would be uncertain, which is part of the allure. But the new potential bride offers something equally tempting: a safe, comfortable life with the approval of his family. While this dilemma is a difficult one, Hungry Hop’s 4 a.m. drive takes his indecision to an absurd extreme. His constant back-and-forth is both comical and tense. The dilemma highlights how appealing the idea of safety and conforming to expectations can be when faced with uncertainty.
Themes
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