Chapter 19: Reshma’s Masterplan Unravels

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

After her fight with Audre, Reshma soaks in her bath and strategizes how to apologize while still helping Audre get Bash. She believes her cunning can speed up the process. Sparrow calls, upset that she saw Bash and Audre together at Target, and reporting they were in the sex toys aisle. Reshma, delighted, pieces together that Bash and Audre like each other but Audre won’t act if Bash is taken. To remove that obstacle, Reshma decides to seduce Clio away from Bash. She meets Clio at Prospect Park under the pretense of feeding swans. As they talk, Reshma finds herself genuinely enjoying Clio’s company, forgetting her mission. Clio reveals she is dating someone (Bash) but is uncertain about the relationship. The chemistry between them intensifies. When Reshma asks why Clio is with her, Clio leans close but then pulls away, leaving Reshma speechless. Reshma realizes she has lost control of the game.

Key Events

Reshma reflects on her fight with Audre and feels nauseous – a sign of guilt.
Sparrow calls Reshma to report seeing Bash and Audre together at Target.
Reshma resolves to lure Clio away from Bash to clear the path for Audre.
Reshma and Clio spend an afternoon feeding swans at Prospect Park.
Clio shares her passion for aquatic birds and reveals her uncertain relationship with a boyfriend.
A palpable romantic tension builds, and Clio speaks a Hindi word, surprising Reshma.
Reshma ends the day feeling she has lost the upper hand; she saves a handful of birdseed in an earrings box.

Character Development

Reshma: Her boredom triggers “Naughty Reshma,” a mischievous side that leads to scheming. Yet her interaction with Clio reveals a vulnerable, less-calculating self: she speaks Hindi for the first time in front of someone, and she forgets her strategic objective. The chapter shows her inner conflict between wanting to control situations and craving genuine connection.
Clio: Initially presented as Bash’s girlfriend, she emerges as a fully realized person with passions (swans, veterinary medicine) and doubts about her current relationship. Her playful teasing at the end suggests she may be open to something new.
Audre (mentioned): Though not present, her character drives Reshma’s actions. Audre’s moral boundaries about dating a taken person are a key plot constraint.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Boredom as catalyst: Reshma’s fear of boredom leads her to create drama, a pattern she recognizes but struggles to break.
Swans as mirrors: The swans’ territorial fights and Melba’s outsider status parallel the romantic entanglements among the human characters. The ugly duckling story Clio mentions hints at unrecognized identity and transformation.
Loss of control: Reshma, a self-proclaimed “pagan goddess of mess,” experiences the rare sensation of losing command over a situation, symbolized by her keeping the birdseed as a talisman of vulnerability.
Cultural identity: Reshma’s struggle to learn Hindi in secret reflects her desire to reclaim her heritage, a theme that surfaces when Clio’s use of the word “adbhut” moves her.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 19 shifts the romantic focus from Audre and Bash to Reshma and Clio, complicating the love triangle into a potential quadrangle. It deepens Reshma from a comic-relief sidekick into a nuanced character torn between her manipulative instincts and her growing authentic feelings. The chapter also foreshadows that Clio’s relationship with Bash may be shaky, opening new possibilities for the plot. Reshma’s arc here sets up her future decisions—whether she will continue scheming or follow her heart.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Reshma decide to seduce Clio, and what does this reveal about her character?
Reshma believes that if Clio is no longer with Bash, Audre will feel free to pursue him. This reveals Reshma’s tendency to bypass others’ autonomy for what she sees as their own good—a flaw rooted in her boredom and desire for excitement.
How does the swan-feeding scene symbolize the emotional dynamics at play?
The swans’ rivalries and Melba’s solitary swimming mirror the human conflicts: Reshma and Clio orbit each other warily, while Bash and Audre remain offstage. Clio’s story about the ugly duckling hints at unrecognized identity and transformation, echoing Reshma’s hidden vulnerability.
In what ways does Reshma lose control during this chapter, and what might that foreshadow?
She forgets her strategic mission while enjoying Clio’s company, speaks Hindi out of turn, and is left speechless when Clio pulls away. This suggests Reshma may soon have to confront real feelings rather than simply manipulating situations—a turning point in her development.