Poor Paul

Sang's abrupt departure to England really bothered me.  Throughout the story she had a bad relationship with her husband, Farouk, and very superficial ones with the rest of her suitors from Calcutta.  Her defection excluded one key person: Paul.  Paul was the one person in her life that truly loved Sang for who she was.  Sang instead of seeing Paul as an opportunity for love, left him behind without even saying a proper goodbye.  In many love stories, it is the patient, loving friend who ends up in a romantic final scene.  This is what I was expecting, but once again Lahiri eluded my predictions.