Rukmani and Kenny are good friends. However, their views of the world differ significantly. Rukmani is an Indian woman who faces adversity with strength and determination, but also with a resigned attitude. She is patient and does not believe in the idea of going against fate.
On the other hand, Kenny is a white doctor who helps Rukmani overcome her infertility. Kenny is appaled by the poverty he encounters in India. He is also frustrated by the passive and accepting attitude of the locals. This opinion is a consequence of his Western background. The different origins, cultural background, and life circumstances of the characters cause them to have very different perspectives on life.