Theme

Culture clash and homesickness

The theme of the short story “Dusk over Atlantic Wharf” by Susmita Bhattacharya is culture clash, leading to culture shock and homesickness. 

Lata, a native of Mumbai, India, moves to Wales after an arranged marriage. Her support system from India is, therefore, suddenly gone, and she misses her friends and the places where she grew up. For instance, she repeatedly thinks about her best friend, Mina (l. 50, ll. 87-90), and she is so excited to see her native town in the Bollywood movie, that she is unable to follow the action.

Lata is lonely, surrounded by people who behave differently, dress differently, and whose accents she can barely understand. Even when she wants to mingle (ll. 84-87), she has difficulties doing so...