Dreams are more perceptual than conceptual. Akhila’s dream in the coupe expresses her wishes, fears, concerns, and worries; so undoubtedly the study and analysis of
Dreams reveals different aspects of a person’s psyche. Akhila dreams of a man beside her who says “You are Akhila the woman. Every one else might have forgotten about the woman within you. But I see her … desire in her heart.”She dreams of her parents and brothers and sister calling her “You shameless creature.” There is the dissatisfaction of staying
single for the advantage of her sister and brothers. Simultaneously the fear of society and humiliation among her people is haunting her. Padma depicts the psyche of an ordinary woman, who takes it for granted her elder sister’s sacrifices and hardships. She shows the reflection of her Amma in herself and is impetuous and always manipulating Akhila’s life for her convenience. Moreover she boasts of taking care of Akhila’s needs like a mother though she is a lot younger to Akhila. “Why my seven-year-old Madhavi is a better housekeeper than she is. I have to do everything for my sister, cook for her. Iron her clothes even sew on the missing buttons on her blouses.” Padma was counting on Akhila’s help until her kids grew up and the girls got
married and settled in their lives. When Akhila tells Padma of her decision to buy a single bedroom flat, Padma asked “But how can we all fit in a
flat that size?” Akhila expressed her wish to live alone at which Padma bursts out, alluding to Akhila’s age and being offensive to her “It’s something to do with hormones…Menopause can play havoc with a woman’s mind.” She is a learned and informed female at the
end of the journey. Listening to the others she recollects her parents’ attitude and their love for each other. She realizes her own sister Padma’s selfishness in not allowing Akhila any personal space. She does not feel that her sacrifice has gone waste for she had the experience of living like a ‘man of the house’ and gained a respect that only the provider can expect. She had the dissatisfaction of not being married, which was wiped out after the train
journey and her interaction with the ‘women’. In the end Akhila, having made it to Kanyakumari, to a hotel called Sea Breeze, extremely aware of everyone’s surprise at her as a ‘woman-on-a-beach-alone’, decides to make her own private rebellion.
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