Only a single day has passed—the story began as the sun rose and now ends with it setting, a natural parallel to Bakha’s own journey. But even though minimal time has elapsed, so much of Bakha’s worldview is radically different. Instead of freezing under an English blanket, Bakha questions if he even admires British clothing anymore. Rather than dreading an eternity of latrine-cleaning, Bakha allows himself to hope for a world of mechanized toilets. The next time the sun rises, the novel seems to imply, Bakha’s hopes and goals will be different, more focused, more practical—a miniature coming-of-age journey.