Sociology professor Morrie Schwartz once said, “I know the rules about love and marriage are true: If you don't respect the other person, you're going to have a lot of problems. If you don't know how to compromise, you will have a lot of problems. If you can't talk openly about what happens between you, you will have a lot of problems..." (Albom 149) in a concise way, the vast majority of Jhumpa Lahiri's stories tell the truths told above. “A Temporary Matter,” “When Mr. Pirzada Comes to Dinner,” and “The Third and Last Continent,” especially exemplify the quote above; In these stories Jhumpa Lahiri writes of the difficulties Indians face in building new relationships as they try to assimilate into American culture. Lahiri illustrates that to strengthen any relationship it is necessary to show compassion, respect and honesty. portrait of a young Indian couple, Shoba and Shukumar, who have become cold and distant after the birth of their stillborn child. Both Shoba and Shukumar are very well assimilated into American culture, so much so that their Indian culture has slowly dissolved and they often struggle to reconnect with their Indian roots. Wife Shoba decides to play a truth game every night when the lights go out. She says it reminds her of her grandmother in India. Shukumar jumps at the chance to spend this time with his increasingly distant wife. Shukumar thinks the game is a way to help Shoba reconnect with her past in India, but later discovers that there is much more to the game than he thought. After the death of her son Shukumar says that Shoba "treats the house like a hotel" she avoids her husband as much as a...... middle of paper ......b. February 17, 2010. .Lahiri, Jhumpa. “A temporary matter.” The interpreter of diseases. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1999. 1-22. Press.- - -. “The third and last continent”. Interpreter of diseases. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1999. 173-198. Press.- - -. "When Mr. Pirzada came to dine." Interpreter of diseases. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1999. 23-42. Print.Morace, Robert A. “Interpreter of Diseases: Stories.” Magill Literary Annual 2000 1999: 198. Literary Reference Center. Network. April 6. 2010. .