Final answer:
The narrator chooses to give the jack-o'-lantern a smile when Mr. Pirzada asks whether it should smile or frown, conveying themes of hope and innocence.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Mr. Pirzada asks the narrator whether the jack-o'-lantern should have a smile or a frown, the narrator chooses a smile. The narrator chooses to give the jack-o'-lantern a smile when Mr. Pirzada asks whether it should smile or frown, conveying themes of hope and innocence.
This choice reflects a desire for a positive or hopeful expression in the midst of the uncertain times depicted in the story. The question is based on a scene from Jhumpa Lahiri's short story "When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine," which is part of the book "Interpreter of Maladies." Through the narrator's choice, Lahiri subtly conveys themes of hope and innocence in a world filled with conflict and anxiety.