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Unit 23: Jhumpa Lahiri’s “This Blessed House”: Detailed Study

• They are preparing for a housewarming party at the end of October, to which they have invited Notes
thirty people, all of them Sanjeev’s acquaintances. Twinkle, who is still a student at Stanford
University, knows no one in the area. The weekend before the party, Twinkle finds a plaster
Virgin Mary in the yard, behind an overgrown bush. Twinkle wants to keep it but Sanjeev says
the neighbors will think they are insane. As they argue about it, Sanjeev begins to realize that he
does not know Twinkle very well, and he is not sure whether he loves her. Nor is he sure that
she loves him.
• That evening, when Twinkle is lying in a bubble bath, Sanjeev says he is going to remove the
statue of the Virgin from the front lawn and take it to the dump. Twinkle stands up and says
she hates him. She gets out of the bath, wraps a towel around her waist, and follows him down
the staircase. She says she will not let him throw the statue away. He notices that she is crying,
and his heart softens. They agree on a compromise. The statue will be placed in a recess at the
side of the house so passersby will not see it, although it will still be visible to anyone who
comes to the house.
• They make extensive preparations for the party, cooking and cleaning. The first guests to arrive
are Douglas and Nora. Having seen the statue of the Virgin, Douglas inquires whether Sanjeev
and Twinkle are Christians. Sanjeev replies that they are not.
• Soon all the guests have arrived. Everyone is elegantly dressed. They congratulate Sanjeev and
admire the house. They admire Twinkle even more, and gather around her, laughing at her
anecdotes and observations. Twinkle takes them on a tour of the house, and she tells Sanjeev
that they all loved the poster of Christ in the study.
• After Twinkle explains about how they found all the Christian items, everyone starts to search
around the house to see if they can find any more. They climb up a ladder to get to the attic,
although Sanjeev has no desire to join them. He hears a shriek, followed by waves of laughter.
When Twinkle descends from the attic, she is carrying a large silver bust of Christ. Sanjeev
takes it from her and finds it is heavy, weighing about thirty pounds. Twinkle asks if she can
display it on the mantel just for the evening. After that, she says, she will keep it in her study.
But Sanjeev knows this will never happen. Twinkle will keep the bust of Christ on the center of
the mantel along with all the other items he dislikes. But he does not argue with her. Instead, he
follows her into the living room, carrying the statue.

23.5 Key-Words

1. Paraphernalia : Personal belongings, the article used a particular activity.
2. Knickkhacks : Ornamental article, a trinket A amsll statue, figures, or ornamental.

23.6 Review Questions
1. Why do people admire Twinkle?
2. What do you think Sanjeev and Twinkle’s relationship, is the true love like he thought?
3. Why is Twinkle charmed Christ, but Sanjeev against it?
Answers: Self-Assessment
1. (i)(d) (ii)(a) (iii)(b) (iv)(b) (v) (d)

23.7 Further Readings

1. “English for Competitive Exams” By Dr. R.P. Bhatnagar
2. “Unique Quintessence of General English” Edited By Dr. S. Sen and Others and
revised by Dr. G.S. Mansukhani.

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