“Trickle, flood”
Lahiri explains, " But most were refugees (in Calcutta), arriving in waves... A rapid trickle, then a flood. Subbash and Udayan remembered them. A grim procession, a human herd. A few bundles on their heads, infants strapped to parents' chests." The trickle signifies a limited number of the refugees. A flood is representative of the colossal numbers of refugees.
Grass
Lahiri writes, “Subhash had never seen such grass, uniform as a carpet, unfurled over sloping contours of earth. Undulating like dunes in a desert, or gentle dips and swells in a sea. It was shorn so finely on the putting green that it felt like moss when he pressed against it. The ground below was smooth as a scalp, the grass appearing a shade lighter there.” Lahiri employs multiple metaphors (‘dunes, dips and swells, moss, scalp’) to portray the grass at Tolly club. Manifestly the grass is manicured and well maintained to offer a perfect platform for the golf players. The maintenance of the club upholds the class of the individuals who go there most of whom are British.
Hero
Lahiri reports, “He (Richard) told Subhash that Ghandi was a hero to him. Udayan would have scoffed, saying that Ghandi had sided with enemies of the people. That he had disarmed India in the name of liberation." Affirming that Ghandi is a hero confirms that Richard admires him and supports his ideologies which may be unpopular with Udayan. Ghandi influences Richard positively in matters relating to peace and liberation. For Richard, Gandhi is a protagonist in India’s story of liberation.
Assault
Lahiri explains, “Here (at the village) life ceased to obstruct or assault him. Here was a place where humanity was not always pushing, rushing, running, as if with a fire at its back.” Lahiri employs the metaphorical assault to underline the difference between the village and the city. Assaults are rampant in the city due to the omnipresent hurries and pushes among people. Comparatively, life is tranquil and the village and assaults are minimal there.
“Giants and tigers”
Kanu Sanyal explains, “ Internationally and nationally, the reactionaries have grown so weak that they crumble whenever we hit them. In appearance they are strong, but in reality they are giants only made of clay, they are truly paper tigers.” Sanyal argues that the reactionaries’ weaknesses are similar to ‘clay-made giants and paper tigers’ to demonstrate the strength of communism, which is an ideology he vehemently endorses. Clay would break down easily and paper would be torn down effortlessly. The communists’ war against the reactionaries is promising based on Sayal’s double metaphors.
