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Kanta Agarwal
Manu Agarwal is Kanta’s husband and the Director of Facilities for the maharaja of Jaipur. Though his mother (Kanta’s saas) is one of the more traditional characters in the novel, Manu is proudly modern; he insists on marrying Kanta in a love marriage instead of an arranged marriage, and he is devoted and patient even as Kanta struggles with fertility (a struggle that was often seen as shameful in Jaipur at the time). Manu is handsome, charming, and skilled at political schmoozing.
Manu Agarwal Quotes in The Henna Artist
The The Henna Artist quotes below are all either spoken by Manu Agarwal or refer to Manu Agarwal. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 12
Quotes
“You're just saying things to hurt me. You always do. Just like you never wanted me to find you. Never wanted me to live with you.” [Radha] turned her red rimmed eyes toward Kanta. “That's why I want a family, Auntie! She's not my family. Not really. Not in the way that counts! You and uncle are more of a family to me than she is!”
Her words felt like a hammer blow. Kanta looked at me sympathetically.
No one said anything for a while. Finally, Kanta released a long sigh and stood. She went to sit on the arm of Radha’s chair and lifted her chin with two fingers. “Listen to Lakshmi. She is your jiji. She has done everything she can to make sure you have a good future—the best. You cannot talk to her like that. Not in my house.”
Related Characters:
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Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 21
Quotes
“The gossip-eaters were right. I'll always be the Bad Luck Girl.”
I pulled my head back to look at her. I lifted her chin. “No, Radha, you won't. You never were. You never will be. I'm sorry I ever said that of you. You've brought so much good luck into my life, into our lives. If it hadn't been for you, do you think I'd be going to Shimla? Building my own healing garden? Working with Dr. Kumar? How would I have done any of that without you?”[…]
“And look how you've helped me create a family. Malik. Kanta and Manu. And Nikhil. And, of course, you. You, Radha, Krishna’s wise gopi.”
What a miracle that she had found me, and I, her.
“So, Rundo Rani, burri sayani…are you coming to Shimla with us?”
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Manu Agarwal Quotes in The Henna Artist
The The Henna Artist quotes below are all either spoken by Manu Agarwal or refer to Manu Agarwal. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 12
Quotes
“You're just saying things to hurt me. You always do. Just like you never wanted me to find you. Never wanted me to live with you.” [Radha] turned her red rimmed eyes toward Kanta. “That's why I want a family, Auntie! She's not my family. Not really. Not in the way that counts! You and uncle are more of a family to me than she is!”
Her words felt like a hammer blow. Kanta looked at me sympathetically.
No one said anything for a while. Finally, Kanta released a long sigh and stood. She went to sit on the arm of Radha’s chair and lifted her chin with two fingers. “Listen to Lakshmi. She is your jiji. She has done everything she can to make sure you have a good future—the best. You cannot talk to her like that. Not in my house.”
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 21
Quotes
“The gossip-eaters were right. I'll always be the Bad Luck Girl.”
I pulled my head back to look at her. I lifted her chin. “No, Radha, you won't. You never were. You never will be. I'm sorry I ever said that of you. You've brought so much good luck into my life, into our lives. If it hadn't been for you, do you think I'd be going to Shimla? Building my own healing garden? Working with Dr. Kumar? How would I have done any of that without you?”[…]
“And look how you've helped me create a family. Malik. Kanta and Manu. And Nikhil. And, of course, you. You, Radha, Krishna’s wise gopi.”
What a miracle that she had found me, and I, her.
“So, Rundo Rani, burri sayani…are you coming to Shimla with us?”
