The person that Bibi was the closest to in life was her father.
Bibi's father was a math teacher that eventually devotes his entire life to discerning a pattern in the occurrences of Bibi's seizures. This obsession with solving the equation of Bibi's seizures, though in good faith has deprived Bibi of a more fulfilling relationship with her father. He observed her at all times and actually quit his teaching job to do so. He became so involved with figuring out the disease that he forgot about the person that was behind it. .
In addition to having to deal with her illness she is constantly verbally and mentally abused by her cousin, Haldar and his wife. This duo serves to crush every hope and dream that Bibi has left. Haldar's wife states, "Besides who would marry her? The girl knows nothing about anything, speaks backward, is practically thirty, can't light a coal stove, can't boil rice, can't tell the difference between fennel and a cumin seed. Imagine her attempting to feed a man"(Lahiri 163). Abuse has ruled the life of Bibi and has aided in causing her destructive behavior. In addition to the contempt that her cousin and his wife have for Bibi, the new baby of her cousin has gotten sick and it is blamed on her. Once Bibi is separated from the baby the baby becomes well, thus adding more hurt and depression to Bibi's person. As a result of Bibi's so called affect on the baby, she is forced to live in the stockroom of the shop to cure the baby of its sickness where she is completely alone. They consistently remind her of her illness by their actions such as keeping the new baby from her or telling her that no one will ever marry her. The combination of Bibi's illness, lack of meaningful relationships, and constant abuse has made Bibi a sick woman. However, Bibi does attempt do change things in her life.
Bibi attempts to get married but fails miserably. In conversation with her family members Bibi states, "Is it wrong to envy you, all brides and mothers, busy with lives and cares? Wrong to want to shade my eyes, scent my hair? To raise a child and teach him sour from sweet, good from bad?" (Lahiri 222).
