How did you feel about the ending? What do you imagine happening to Poornima and Savitha next?

The novel's final scene is left ambiguous: we don't actually see if Poornima and Savitha reunite. How did you feel about the ending? What do you imagine happening to Poornima and Savitha next? Do you think there is the possibility of a new life for them in America?

As I said previously, I didn’t care for it. I didn’t really like the idea of coming up with my own ending

I'm with Rebajane. I guess I assumed the bathroom door would be opened and they would find each other -- but then what? I didn't see much of a direction out, even though Poornima and Savitha would have found each other again.

I loved the ending - the reader can imagine the reunion between the women as well as between Savitha and Mohan. I believe that somehow Poornima and Savitha would get help and perhaps Mohan would be involved in some capacity. I don't feel that a book needs to be neatly tied up at the end to be a satisfying read. I never thought that the author didn't know how to end it or just gave up.

I wasn't crazy about the ending. We know they are on opposite sides of the bathroom door and that door is opening. Then— ZERO! I felt let down to not be part of the reunion. I would hope Mohan would further help Poornima and Savitha as he risked his father's rath by helping Savitha. I don't know and I wish I did!

I know we are suppose to come up with our own conclusion for the story, but it's just not as satisfying as reading it. Does that make me a lazy reader, no, just frustrated and wanting more. I agree with the imagined ending that Marcia S came up with too.

I had mixed feelings - I don't believe an author needs to end their book with a neat tidy ending where the reader knows exactly how the situation ends. We know they are reunited and what happens next is another story perhaps for a sequel.

I felt a sense of wanting more. Yes, Poornima and Savitha found each other and I am sure it was a wonderful reunion, but what happens next. What type of man is Mohan? He helped them this far, will he continue to help or take them both back to his father, and gain his father's respect. He has been looking for that. But he definitely had feeling for Savitha, and maybe he will break from the tyanny of his family. I am hoping for the best, he helps them and himself to find a better life.

Honestly? I hated it! Poornima and Savitha had one miserable, hurtful, soul crushing thing happen to them-one after another. The author couldn't have given them ONE moment of relief, of pure joy? The author didn't give them that ONE tangible moment that just may have led them to say, "Yes, yes it was all worth it because of right now." I felt they deserved that. What she did give me though, by ending the way she did, was hope. Both girls should have been dead by this point of the novel. Yet, they weren't. I choose to believe that as soon as I closed the book, the girls enveloped one another in the most genuine, tender, and loving embrace. And when they finally let go, it was to move forward, together.

I wasn't sure what happened to be honest. It made me wonder if Savitha had just dreamed that Poornima had searched for her, come to the US, and found her. She was living under such stressful conditions, it would be plausible for her to dream such a thing, as she slept nightly with Poornima's cloth. I don't feel like I know for sure that they were reunited. Maybe Savitha died in the woods at the gas station and her dying wish was to see Poornima and Mohan, her greatest loves.

I liked the ending. The storyline was their parallel journey towards a future always facing forward, trying to preserve the warmth they shared, never letting their inner spark flame out believing they would find one another. It was perfect, the other side of the door was all that separated them in their search. Poornima, stronger at the end, Savitha, never defeated. I could imagine them and the joy on their faces.

I did not like the ending at all! I wanted the bathroom door to open and the girls would be reunited! I like a happy ending! But I did think a little like ashleyb said and maybe Savitha was dreaming that Poornmina was looking for her.

I guess I want to KNOW what happened instead of having to guess. Maybe I did not understand the ending but it leaves too much unresolved. I want them to find each other and I want to read it in black and white. If the 'Mexican' girl in the bathroom was Savitha, I want to be told that, not guess it. Is that what other people think, That the girl in the bathroom is Savitha? I am not sure.

I thought the ending was startlingly abrupt but also very effective. Their quest to be reunited and to be together was finally realized in the twist of a doorknob. I did not feel disappointed but elated. The story for me came full circle.

I hoped for more conclusion but at least the author led us to a plausible reunion.

It wouldn't be my favorite ending. I think it is sort of a cop out not having to finish developing the story. How ever, i am generally hopeful and so my own idea of the ending would be that both women and Mohan would be able to restart their lives. Not very practical but I get to choose!

I think it was rush and some parts were hard to believe. The timing of things could have been polished up more. I also think with the novel being depressive it would have been nice to have a happy ending. In a way, it like some rules need to be broken for the ending.

Since Poornima kept almost missing Savitha, I thought the same thing might happen here. I was encouraged that they finally reunite! At least that's how I'm imagining it! The eternal optimist in me believes that Rohan takes them on a tour through Spearfish Canyon and sets them up for success. They deserve some happiness! I think they have a better shot at that in the U.S.

I would agree with alwaysdaddygirl about the rushed feeling of the ending. Again, it lacked plausibility and left me feeling let down. I do and did not need a happy ending but I do need a feeling of completeness...I did not get this feeling.

I agree with most people's opinion on this thread. It was extremely disappointing having the ending be so abrupt without a successful reunion of Poornima and Savitha. I personally assumed they found each other, but found it highly improbable that they would be able to make a life in America away from sex trafficking. I think it would have been very interesting to see how two women once reunited could find a new path with limited education, limited English speaking ability, and who spent the majority of their life as sex slaves.

You are right aileen414 about the completeness. That is more important. I have a couple of unanswered questions. If the author wrote another book about this, I probably read it.

I was disappointed at first but then realized it was appropriate that readers had to use their imaginations as to what would happen. I think this was the author's intention to engage the reader in thinking about the meaning of the book on a personal level, as that would likely impact each reader's imagined outcome. I actually was thinking more about the decisionmaking of the author and what her intent might be rather than thinking about what I think actually happened. This is because I'm always interested in the author's construction of the book as well as purpose.

I think the ending fit the story. Maybe Mohan helps them to get lives in this country. Maybe they return to India. Things have to improve for them as they are at last reunited.

I didn't like it. I had to re-read it three times to be sure I didn't miss something. But, maybe that is what the author wanted. But, it would have been nice for the door to open and a gasp or cheer or something. So, I decided that they find each other and Mohan helps them adjust to living here.

I had to read countless parts over and over JuileAB. It did lead to frustration. I try not to assume.