The narrator, bent down removing shoes in Pi Patel’s home, is surprised when Pi says, “I would like you to meet my wife.” Pi introduces Mrs. Patel, revealing a part of Pi’s life the narrator did not know existed.

Meena Patel greets the narrator warmly, saying Pi has spoken about the narrator, while the narrator admits he cannot say the same about her. They only talk briefly because Meena is on her way out to work on a Saturday.

The narrator observes Meena’s appearance and notes details that suggest she is Indian with a more Canadian accent, likely second generation. Meena carries a dry-cleaned white lab coat and explains she is a pharmacist; she asks the narrator to call her “Meena,” not “Mrs. Patel,” and she and Pi share a quick kiss before she leaves.

After Meena goes, the narrator reassesses Pi’s home, realizing it is “more than a box full of icons.” The narrator begins noticing everyday signs of married life that were present all along but went unseen because the narrator was not looking for them.

The narrator interprets Pi’s silence about his marriage as shyness and protectiveness over what matters most to him. Pi then mentions he has made a “special chutney,” and the narrator, wary about his stomach, recognizes Pi is simply smiling with quiet pride and hospitality.