Situational Irony: The Priest
The family takes off on the boat to mourn Anamika and scatter her ashes, but before they can get far, the priest starts screaming at them from the shore. He is loud, frazzled, and rude, and is in direct contradiction to the solemnity of the event. The irony here is in the religious figure, who is supposed to be peaceful, loving, and understanding, is causing a huge fuss and taking the focus off of the dead and putting it on himself.
Situational Irony: Uma's "Possession"
While at the ashram, Uma falls into a fit. It is exacerbated by Mira-masi's claim that she is possessed by Lord Shiva, for Uma is frightened of this. The only thing that saves her from swallowing her tongue is a random man at the ashram, someone not holy at all but rather a person with medical training. It is this secular personage who delivers Uma, not one of the priests or spiritual tourists.
Situational and Verbal Irony: Pictures of Suitors
When it comes time for Uma to be readied for marriage, the family shows her pictures of the potential men. They pride themselves on this example of their modernity and progressivism, something Desai notes with a twinge of irony in her tone. She also points out it is rather ironic because there is very little that is modern or progressive about a family picking out their daughter's spouse based on photos and stats.
Verbal Irony: Papa's Work
Uma has a note of irony in her voice when she describes her father's work after retirement: "the less there was of it... the more fiercely he made sure it was known to everyone" (127). She clearly thinks he is a little absurd in making sure that the family knows he is busy and important, yet what they actually know is that he does not have much work and is no longer moving in the sorts of circles he once was.
