How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
It came to me then: it was not my family that was having trouble letting me go to Paris, it was me not wanting to let go of them. This, I would say, was the moment when I finally grew up, because it was in that wet forest that I was able to say to myself, Good-bye, Papa! I am off to see the world! (12.227)
Hassan resists growing up because he doesn't want to lose that close family connection that's been so much a part of his life for so long. From now on, he's going to have to honor the Haji legacy on his own, and understandably, that kind of scares him. When he's able to walk away with confidence, he officially becomes an adult in his family.
Quote #8
"So I think you should consider taking her in as a partner in your fancy Parisian restaurant. Nah? She will be a great help to you, Hassan, and of course, she brings her own share of the capital to invest. It will also be a great relief to me, to know you are looking after her." (13.22)
Always there to remind him of his family, Papa takes care of Hassan and makes sure that his daughter is taken care of in one package deal. This is a good move for both of Papa's children, and Mehtab ends up being really useful to Hassan.
Quote #9
And I was filled with an ache that hurt, almost to breaking. A sense of loss and longing, for Mummy and India. For lovable, noisy Papa. For Madame Mallory, my teacher, and for the family I never had, sacrificed on the altar of ambition. For my late friend Paul Verdun. For my beloved grandmother, Ammi, and her delicious pearlspot, all of which I missed, on this day, of all days. (19.30)
Not only is Hassan missing all of his family on the night of his biggest success, but also he's including those people who aren't technically related to him but who he counts as part of his family. Plus, he's regretting that he chose a career over a family of his own. It all comes out here: All those years of Hassan making it in the big world without his family by his side is catching up to him at last.