Pashmina

Content Warning: This section contains descriptions of racist and xenophobic bullying.

In a series of black-and-white illustrations, the novel depicts teenage Priyanka Das receiving a driving lesson from her mom, Nimisha, who is nervous about her daughter learning to drive. Priyanka’s mom panics because she thinks that Priyanka is going to hit a tree, but Priyanka points out that the tree is not close to them at all. Priyanka’s mom explains that in India, where she is from, women are not allowed to drive, so she didn’t learn until she was 20. At that point, she had already been living in the US for two years. (They currently live in California). Priyanka’s Uncle Jatin once told Priyanka that in India, women have other people to drive them around, so they don’t need to drive. However, in the US, women do need to drive, so Jatin has been giving Priyanka lessons. Priyanka urges her mom to calm down by meditating like the goddess Shakti, but her mom doesn’t seem to understand what Priyanka is saying. Priyanka is frustrated because her mother often tells stories about Shakti to make a point, but when Priyanka does it, her mom acts like the stories don’t make sense.

At school, Priyanka and her friend Eddie draw comics together while waiting for English class to begin. Eddie thinks that Priyanka is better at drawing comics than he is. A girl named Kristy makes fun of Priyanka for wearing thrift store clothes. Kristy also purposely mispronounces Priyanka’s name, calling her “Priyucka.” When the teacher, Mr. Perry, sticks up for Priyanka and tells Kristy that she prefers to be called “Pri,” Kristy quietly calls Priyanka a “teacher’s pet.” After class, Mr. Perry suggests that Priyanka enter a comics contest, but Priyanka declines because she is intimidated by the number of entries they usually get. She gives the flier back to Mr. Perry and goes outside, where other girls continue to laugh at Priyanka’s thrift store clothes.

Uncle Jatin, who doesn’t have any children, picks Priyanka up from school and offers to let her drive, but she doesn’t want to; she is in a bad mood because of the other students’ taunting. However, she doesn’t share the reason for her bad mood with Jatin. Priyanka suggests that Jatin could call her “Pri” because it’s “easier,” but Jatin says that “Priyanka” is easy for him to say, as a person of Indian heritage, although it might be difficult for some Americans to say. Jatin wants to practice driving with Priyanka and her mother that weekend, but Priyanka is worried that her mother will be too anxious. Jatin taught Priyanka’s mother to drive years ago, and he assumes that it is hard for Priyanka’s mother to watch her grow up. They make plans to see a movie and practice driving that weekend.

At home, Priyanka’s mother’s suitcase is always falling down from the shelf in Priyanka’s bedroom closet. A corner of a pashmina is peeking out of the suitcase, but Priyanka doesn’t investigate; she just puts the suitcase back on the shelf. Before dinner, Priyanka’s mother instructs her to pray to the goddess Shakti. They have an area for prayer with a picture of Shakti and some incense. Priyanka’s mother says that Uncle Jatin and his wife, Auntie Deepa, are “like family” (14); they helped her when she first moved to the US and have been in Priyanka’s life since she was a baby. Priyanka asks if Jatin knew her dad, but her mom looks uncomfortable and quickly changes the subject. Priyanka points out that her mother always avoids questions about her dad. After dinner, Priyanka goes to her bedroom to listen to music and draw. On her nightstand are family photos, including some of Jatin.

On Diwali, an Indian holiday celebrating the Festival of Lights, Uncle Jatin reveals that Auntie Deepa is four months pregnant. Priyanka does not look happy about this and burns herself on a sparkler. Deepa is older, so her doctor is concerned about the pregnancy, but Jatin believes that she and the baby will be healthy. Priyanka congratulates Jatin and Deepa, but she looks upset, especially when Deepa says that Jatin looks forward to being a “real” father now, after training with Priyanka. Priyanka’s mother points out that Jatin and Deepa will be much busier, and this also bothers Priyanka.

A few days later, Uncle Jatin picks Priyanka up from school like he does every Tuesday, but he’s late. They go out for samosas and mango lassis, a weekly occurrence. However, Jatin says that they may not be able to continue their weekly outings once the baby is born. Priyanka is disappointed but says that she understands. At home that night, Priyanka prays to Shakti not to “take Uncle Jatin away” from her, claiming that “he doesn’t NEED a baby” (27). She feels guilty after saying this prayer, but she does not try to take it back.

Time passes, and Uncle Jatin and Auntie Deepa’s baby is born prematurely. Priyanka and her mother go to visit Deepa, Jatin, and the baby girl, Shilpa, in the hospital. Priyanka doesn’t want to hold baby Shilpa but won’t explain why. The adults fawn over the baby while Priyanka looks sad. The adults are distracted with the baby, so they don’t notice that Priyanka is bothered.

At home, Priyanka’s mother prays to Shakti, but Priyanka argues that praying is pointless and “doesn’t work.” Priyanka’s mom insists that praying does work if it is done from the heart. She also says that she never would have spoken to her mother as disrespectfully as Priyanka speaks to her now and that she sometimes doubts her decision to come to the US. Priyanka says that maybe her mom should have stayed in India. Priyanka’s mom admits that life is complicated everywhere and states that although there are good things about the US, it isn’t perfect. She says that she will never discuss the subject of Priyanka’s dad.

At night, Uncle Jatin calls to say that baby Shilpa has become very sick. Priyanka goes to visit the baby in the hospital with Jatin and Deepa. Priyanka shares the news of the baby’s illness with her friend Eddie, who is supportive, but Priyanka doesn’t want to talk about it.

At home, Priyanka’s mother’s suitcase has fallen from the closet shelf again. Priyanka opens it and finds old photographs of her mother, letters, and a pashmina inside. One letter is from Meena Mausi, Priyanka’s mother’s sister, who writes that Priyanka’s mom hasn’t replied to her previous letters, but she’s going to keep writing anyway because she misses her sister. The pashmina is incredibly ornate and beautiful, much fancier than the clothing that she and her mother normally wear. Priyanka puts the pashmina on, and the world starts to become colorful. Something happens to her eyes, and her vision seems to swirl.