Only Goodness

This short story really played with my emotions. I hated Rahul as he became an alcoholic. I hated even more that fact that Sudah blamed herself for it. Was it really her fault that he became addicted to the substance? Even though she supplied his alcohol in his teenage years, she had no clue that he would become infected with this disease. Then when Rahul finally became sober years later and visited Sudah, Rodger, and Neel, I loved Rahul. He was a completely different person. He played with Neel like he was his own kid. He seemed like a genuinely great uncle He wanted to take him to the zoo and bathe him. He was being the best uncle ever, until he left him in the bath and passed out drunk. I couldn't help but wonder if maybe he put on an act the whole time. Was his playing with Neel and earning Sudah's trust an act so that they would trust him enough to leave him alone in the house so he could find their alcohol? I can't belive this would be true as he flew many, many miles and spent a lot of money getting to London. On the other hand if Elena was very strict with him staying sober maybe he realized this was the only way to get his fix. Either way I hated how Raul made me forgive him and love him only to go right ahead and shatter that trust. I guess Lahiri is commenting on how trust isn't a constant thing. People are always changing. No one can entirely count on someone else. She also is commenting on how everything isn't what it always seems. People aren't always completely honest with other people or really even theirselves.