"A Temporary Matter" is a short story written by Jhumpa Lahiri. It was first published in the New Yorker in 1998 and later became the opening story in Lahiri's debut collection, "Interpreter of Maladies," which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2000. The story revolves around the lives of Shoba and Shukumar, an Indian American couple in their thirties living in Boston.
The narrative unfolds during a planned series of power outages that last one hour each evening over five nights. As the couple navigates the darkness, both literal and metaphorical, they reveal deeply buried secrets and emotions that have strained their relationship. The loss of their stillborn child six months earlier serves as a pivotal moment that has left them emotionally distant.
Throughout the story, Lahiri explores themes such as loss, grief, intimacy, and deception against the backdrop of cultural integration and identity. The power outages become a symbolic space for Shoba and Shukumar to confront the shadows in their marriage, leading to confessions and a reevaluation of their connection. The narrative is poignant, offering a glimpse into the complexities of love and loss within the context of a multicultural relationship.
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