At the same time that the author deals with discriminatory attitudes - against those who are perceived as the "threatening others" - Indians, someone with autism, etc., she also shows that these "others" are also not immune from discriminating - Vikram discriminating based on caste, Ashok's attitude toward those whom he considers lesser than himself etc.
And she also shows those who seem unaffected by fear of the other - Ashley and her mom, the architect.
When Maya steals the expensive necklace, she is not regarded as a threat by the store owner due to her race/origin - she is not suspected at all.
So it seems the author is saying that while fear of the other is certainly real, it is not limited to one race nor is it universal.