Unmarriageable Quotes
"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a girl can go from pauper to princess or princess to pauper in the mere seconds it takes for her to accept a proposal."
"Being financially independent is not a Western idea."
"It is unfortunately not a truth universally acknowledged that it is better to be alone than to have fake friendships."
"Every marriage, no matter how good, will have ups and downs."
"Marriage should be a part of life and not life."
"Life certainly does not end just because you choose to stay single."
"The purpose of life without children is the same as with children – to be a good human being and contribute to society."
"Not every woman wants to keep home and hearth, and not every man wants to be the breadwinner."
"Jane Austen is ruthless when it comes to drawing-room hypocrisy."
"I don’t believe marriage is for everyone."
"You live the life I’d like to lead. To be able to contribute happiness to the less fortunate."
"Love is love and will never change its nature. One look is all it takes."
"Girls who are dainty but also tough. And their wombs will produce just as well."
"If one is going to get infected and die, it should be in a facility such as this."
"You can take your lineage and shove it up your rear end."
"My womb has produced those rare creatures: girls who are dainty but also tough."
"Even Qitty’s womb is in tip-top shape; all she needs is a bit of dieting."
"If he proposes while she’s in extreme pain, then he’s a sadist."
"Being modern does not mean being inappropriate."
"Live and let live does not mean living consequence free."
"Even if my entire family was willing to overlook Jena’s hailing from a low-class prostitute, which we aren’t, her family has issues."
"Money is a safety net for everything that may not work out in life."
"I’m going to make my own money and live happily ever after on my own terms."
"I don’t care how much you’ve had to drink."
"Every lady should have a knight as gallant as eligible bachelor Fahad ‘Bungles’ Bingla to come to her rescue."
"Demand is so high for up-and-coming designer Boobee Khan’s Nangaparbat Lawn Collection."
"It’s not as if I was about to walk down the aisle and she coiled herself around him."
"You are alienating your daughters. You are losing your mind."
"Trust me, Alys, I expected your parents to have instilled some manners in you and some sense of protocol."
"But charity is dependent on goodwill, and serving is a job that should be highly paid."
"It’s like they break your legs, then give you a wheelchair, then expect you to be grateful for the wheelchair for the rest of your life."
"I believe that if Wickaam had money, or I did, I would have been his first choice."
"Life can change from good to bad so fast, and it follows that just as fast it can change from bad to good."
"I think every woman should have her own income, even married women."
"The lucky woman is one whose husband can provide well for her in his lifetime as well as after his death."
"Do you know what is wrong with you, Laila? All those books you read. You just talk like a book now, with no sense of reality."
"It’s hard to let go of geography. Although – and I’ve told Alys this several times – I believe people like her and me have an advantage having grown up for a time period without any set roots."
"A lot of people have money but do not have giving hearts. Your brother is a saint. God bless him."
"It’s that he doesn’t shy away from who he is and where he comes from. He celebrates his origins."
"It’s my fault. I’ve always said one’s opinion regarding anyone is only as good as how one is treated, but I confess, I’m to blame for the generally unfavourable impression of Darsee."
"Actually, that man is no friend of mine. And please, Hammy, do not be absurd. Of course my sister has not gone to stay with any man."
"Hammy has no idea about … how upset Juju gets at Wickaam’s mention."
"In fact, if she reprimands Lady, it may have more of an effect than our doing so."
"It was clear that the two shared nothing but a sibling-like camaraderie."
"I wish … I wish we could all find the courage to tell our truths."
"Life is short," Alys said joyfully. "I'm not sleepy."
"Lack of sleep is not good for your health," Darsee said.
"I just finished it," Alys said. "I was rereading the ending. What a beautiful meditation on memory and place."
"I’m sure you want me gone," Darsee stood up abruptly.
"My poor Lady. My poor Lady. Kidnapped by that ganda aadmi, dirty man."
"God has abandoned us," Mari said, gripping her inhaler.
"Nona jee, my sweet sister-in-law, someone has done bura jadoo – ill-will magic – on us."
"The explanation," Alys said, "is that he targeted Lady and she likes to make you-you eyes at everyone."
"You were the one who brought Jeorgeullah Wickaam into our house."
"My sister Lady has run away with Jeorgeullah Wickaam."
"I can’t believe Lady actually went ahead with it. She always wanted romance."
"We will never starve," said Jena. "We have educated girls who can earn."
"But even on a full stomach one can lose the will to live. We will be forever hungry for better things."
"He’s never going to marry her," Alys said. She tried not to think of Darsee and how fast he’d fled.
"Someone hand me my tranquillisers. I want to be tranquil. Better yet, I want to be dead."