The Irony of Chila’s thoughts during the Wedding
Syal writes, “Ten yellowing, waxy nodules crowned each toe, curled and stiff as ancient parchment, a part of him she had never noticed before, feet that demanded attention because of their glaring imperfection, the feet of a man who might read Gardens shed Weekly every evening instead of loving her. Chila told herself off. This was unfair, sacrilegious even, on your wedding day." Ordinarily, Chila's thoughts would have been about their upcoming bliss. However, she focuses on his imperfection and the possibility that he may not love her. Her ironic considerations mirror her dread for marriage and her doubts as to whether Deepak would be the perfect husband.
The Irony of “Dirty Thing”
Chila's mother thinks, “My poor baby will have the dirty thing done to her tonight. Chila had not had the heart to tell her the dirty thing had already taken place many months ago in a lock-up garage just off the A 406.”The “dirty thing” connotes intimacy. The mother’s sympathy towards Chila is ironic considering that Chila is not sexually naïve. She has been intimate with Deepak already so tonight will not be her foremost intimacy.
