My Predictions Played Out

Just as I had previously suspected, Ammu does have her faltering moments as a mother. There is a moment described where Ammu and the twins' father are shoving the children back and forth amongst themselves, both trying to come up with excuses for why they don't want them. No child should ever have to feel unwanted by their parents in this manner. Also, after Rahel makes a sarcastic remark to her mother, her mothers way of reprimanding her was, in my opinion, completely heartless. She tells Rahel that she hurt her in saying that, she hurt her feelings and "when you hurt people, they begin to love you less. That's what careless words do. They make people love you a little less" (107), therefore implying that she loves her daughter less after what she had said. Nothing should make a parent love their child less, no matter how severe, let alone a naive remark made from a child. Rahel is deeply affected by this 'lesson' that her mother has given her and constantly worries that her mother loves her less no matter what she does and spends her time trying to earn her mother's love back. From Rahel's perspective: "But now that Estha wasn't well and Love had been re-apportioned (Ammu loved her a little less), Rahel would have to sleep with Chacko, and Estha with Ammu and Baby Kochamma" (109). Ammu has forgotten about the comment she made to Rahel, but Rahel hasn't. To a child's mind, one who is so very dependent on the love and affection of her mother, this remark was nothing but solemn sincerity. This has truly made my respect for Ammu's character deteriorate drastically.