Describe Anju and Sudha's schooling and marriages in "Sister of My Heart". How do their fates in marriage differ?

In the story, Sudha and Anju live with their mothers, Nalini and Gouri, and their aunt Pishi. The girls attend a convent school together and consider themselves sisters even though they are really second cousins. In due time, the nuns notice the unusual relationship the girls share; to Anju and Sudha's consternation, the nuns decide to separate the girls into different classrooms because they consider such closeness unbecoming for girls. Both girls end up planning and carrying out afternoon escapades so that they can be together. They return when the school bell rings, in time to be picked up by the family driver, Singhji. The girls are put back into the same classroom eventually when Anju's mother, Gouri, intervenes and speaks to the principal on their behalf.

As for marriage, Sudha's mother, Nalini threatens Sudha with an early marriage when both girls are discovered to have skipped afternoon classes to go to the cinema. Nalini is further incensed when she discovers that both girls have put on make-up and worn sexually alluring clothing on their escapade. To make matters worse, a young man, Ashok, sits next to Sudha during the movie, and the self-righteous Nalini immediately decides that her daughter is a loose woman and should be married as soon as she finishes high school.

Anju is incensed on Sudha's behalf and tries to persuade her to fight for her right to attend college. However, Sudha does not want to hurt her mother's feelings; she would rather just do what her mother wants. Besides, Ashok belongs to a lower caste, and Sudha knows that her mother will never consent to their marriage. So, despite her attraction to Ashok, she decides to humor her mother by marrying Ramesh.

Meanwhile, Anju's mother, Gouri has a heart attack. To make matters worse, the family bookstore is struggling financially. Gouri finally comes to the conclusion that the only way to provide for Anju would be to marry her off. She decides that Sunil, a computer programmer who works in the United States, would be a good match for Anju. In the meantime, Gouri tries to find a buyer for the bookstore.

With events spiraling out of control, both girls find themselves marrying on the same day. Despite this, both girls are not entirely happy. Although Anju is pleasantly surprised at her attraction to Sunil, she soon discovers that Sunil is deeply attracted to Sudha, and this distresses her. Meanwhile, Sudha is miserable after turning down Ashok's offer to elope; she knows that she doesn't love Ramesh but will have to go through with the marriage anyway.

After marriage, both girls find that their problems have not entirely disappeared. Sunil and Anju eventually leave for America, and Anju finds herself missing Sudha terribly. Both women become pregnant in due time. Sunil is not initially happy with Anju's pregnancy but soon warms up to the idea of having a son. Meanwhile, Sudha's mother-in-law is angry when she finds out that her grandchild will be a girl. She orders Sudha to have an abortion, but Sudha refuses. Her mother-in-law's misogyny causes Sudha to agree to a divorce from Ramesh, who refuses to fight for the right to keep the baby.

Anju decides to bring Sudha and the baby, Dayita, to America. She secretly works at the college library to earn enough money for Sudha's airfare. However, Sunil is furious when he finds out; he is not especially enthusiastic about Sudha coming to America, as he realizes that his attraction for Sudha has never really gone away. Also, he worries that Anju is taking on too much during the pregnancy. In the end, when Anju loses the baby she is carrying, she blames herself; however, Sunil refuses to let her continue on such a destructive path. Eventually, Sunil comes to accept that Sudha and Dayita will be coming to America.

At the airport, a stranger mistakes Sudha for Sunil's wife and exclaims how lucky Sunil is to have such a beautiful wife. Sunil does not correct the stranger, and this creates a pang in Anju's heart. So, in the marital area, Sudha never really finds happiness with the man she loves. Instead, she is forced to agree to a divorce just to keep her daughter. On the other hand, Anju finds that, although she is deeply attracted to her husband, she must endure her husband's attraction for Sudha, the sister of her heart. What a difficult trial! Interestingly, the author does not tell us what happens after the three return to Anju and Sunil's home; instead we are left to imagine for ourselves what ultimate fate these two women, closer than sisters, will face.

How did Sudha and Anju marry in Sister of My Heart? How do their marriages differ?

Sudha's and Anju’s marriages came about at the same time, and they were caused by the same circumstances. They both had ambitions of attending college and being more than the housewives Indian society expected them to be. However, circumstances conspired to prevent them from doing so. Specifically, they were caught skipping school and there were some health problems in the family.

Even though Sudha and Anju got married in the same way, their lives afterwards were quite different. Sudha moves in with her husband and his family, including his overbearing mother. Anju eventually moves to the United States to be with her husband. Both men treat their wives relatively well, but Sudha is confined to being a traditional Indian housewife while Anju attends university and has more freedom. Sudha is unhappy with this, and the breaking point occurs when she becomes pregnant with a baby girl and her mother-in-law insists she get an abortion, as a male firstborn is highly valued in Indian society. Her husband doesn’t insist on an abortion, but is complacent. In contrast, Anju is pregnant at the same time, and her husband is overjoyed. This dynamic leads Sudha to eventually move to the United States to be with Anju.

Describe Anju and Sudha's weddings in Sister of My Heart.

The novel, Sister of My Heart, is a celebration of the spirit of sisterhood. It describes the solidarity that goes on to become the source of security, strength, and empowerment between two women.

The story revolves around the theme of an arranged Indian marriage. In this institution, parents choose partners for their children according to a set of social criteria and conventions. The welfare of the family supersedes individual interests. Sudha sacrifices her happiness to save her family's honor. Anju enters an arranged marriage to fall in line with her ailing mother's desire. The novel highlights the fact that the institution of an arranged marriage deprives young girls of their dreams and ambitions.

Divakurni describes the wedding day on a canvas of varied colors and hues. The ceremony reflects both the ancient traditions and the contemporary nature of Indian culture. She introduces the reader to the marriage rituals, the exotic Indian cuisine, and the importance of horoscopes. She also raises pertinent questions about the cost of the Indian wedding and the social stigma of dowry. The struggle of the widowed mothers to meet societal norms and expectations is heart-wrenching.

Anju’s idyllic vision of a man who loves Virginia Woolf collapses as she discovers that her husband secretly admires Sudha. A disillusioned Anju hopes that distance would help Sunil to overcome his infatuation for Sudha. The marriage separates the otherwise inseparable cousins physically as well as emotionally.