...he wanted to relive those confused days, that life of discovery, to be bound to those round tables and lectures and exams. There were things he had always meant to understand better {...} He wanted to read what he was told each evening, to do as he was told. There were great writers he had never read, would never read. His daughters would begin that journey soon enough, the world opening up for them in its entirety.
The character reflects on a longing to revisit his youthful days filled with uncertainty and exploration. He feels a strong desire to engage in the academic structure of lectures and exams, which symbolize a time of growth and learning. There is a sense of regret over the knowledge he has never acquired and a recognition that certain literary works remain beyond his reach. This indicates a yearning not just for education, but for the process and excitement of discovery that comes with it.
He also acknowledges that his daughters are on the brink of this enlightening journey, where the vast world of knowledge will soon unfold before them. This realization highlights a parental hope, as he wishes for them to embrace the opportunities he missed. The juxtaposition of his own unfulfilled aspirations with their potential experiences underscores the themes of regret, growth, and the passage of time in Lahiri's story.
