The Namesake Nikhil/Gogol Ganguli Quotes

It is a meal he knows it has taken his mother over a day to prepare, and yet the amount of effort embarrasses him. (6.105)

When he is dating Maxine, Gogol is perhaps the most self-conscious about his Indian heritage, and really tries to distance himself from it. How could he be embarrassed about his mother after all that work? If anything, Ashima should be embarrassed by <em>his </em>behavior.

He doesn't feel jealous of her past per se. It's only that sometimes Gogol wonders whether he represents some sort of capitulation or defeat. (9.24)

Ouch. It's not a good sign if you even <em>suspect</em> that your wife associates you with giving up on life. No wonder they both seem so dissatisfied with their marriage.

She accused him of nothing, but more and more he sensed her distance, her dissatisfaction, her distraction […] "Are you happy you married me?" he would ask. But the fact that he is even thinking of this question makes him afraid. (11.4)

Moushumi's unhappiness in their marriage is apparent in her total lack of enthusiasm. Notice that we don't even get to hear her answer to Gogol's question. That's not a very good sign, now is it?