Overcoming Social Boundaries
Many of Subramaniam's observations about Mumbai relate to the strictly held boundaries of society. As a caste culture, Indian society functions according to convention of class. There isn't much mixing between castes. In stories like "Shakti," however Subrmaniam observes how people have overcome the expectations of society. The Boatwalla and Bijlani families were competing with each other for the same social standing, but once they recognized that they could be equals the conflict ended. Subramaniam notices how their differences were based purely upon a scarcity of reputation and social standing which they handled once they could remove the emotional element of their attachment to social status.
Deceptive Appearances
In his experience as a civil servant, Subramaniam has learned not to judge people based on appearances because he has witness how people defy expectations. For example the veteran in "Dharma" appears to be a conscientious, bold person who operates according to duty. As his family history reveals, however, he is actually still just a scared kid trying to compensate for the time he wasn't responsible enough to save his brother. He actually has very few aspirations and a head full of guilty secrets. Similarly, the detective in "Kama" initially suspects very little about Patel's background because on paper he was a such a respectable man, but Singh quickly learns that Patel was mixed in with all sorts of criminal intrigue. His reputation was a carefully constructed farce.
The Transformative Power of Romantic Love
The several sets of lovers in these stories serve a function in their communities. They seem to exist narratively in order to catalyze change, as people who test the boundaries or force disparate groups to reconcile with one another. For example, Roxanne and Sanjeev continue to love one another and get married, despite the controversy between their respective families. They become the purpose of bringing the families together and, in the process, overcoming social stigma. In "Artha" Rajesh must move past his personal distaste for the artist community as well as to place his reputation on the line in order to pursue his love, Iqbal. Finally, Shiv himself helps Ranjit to overcome her timidity in order to establish a relationship in the wake of her husband's disappearance. She was wasting away through grief and worry, but Shiv helps her to find that she is capable and complete in herself already, that she only needs to pursue a man if she desires him.
