Cultural Studies of Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's The Vine of Desire ?

This paper seeks to explore the complexities and the dilemma of the immigrants in Exile literature with Cultural Studies, by focusing upon its attraction, repulsion and their exploitation by the vested interests. Expatriates leave behind their home and look for new home in their host culture. The Vine of Desire continues the story of Anju and Sudha, the two young women at the center of Divakaruni?s novel Sister of My Heart. Far from Calcutta, the city of their childhood, and after years of living separate lives, they rekindle their friendship in America. Anju, adjusts well in the U.S., a place totally foreign to her nature, culture and traditions with her husband?s support.She leads a more independent life, independent to the extent of believing that one should not attach to any relationship which lacks love and compatibility. Whereas Sudha who comes with big dreams to America, but she ends up doing odd jobs there and is dissatisfied with her life in the U.S. and finally wants to return to India. This story of the two sisters epitomizes a paradigm of becoming accustomed to a conventional American culture and its effects on a person?s individuality.