61 pages • 2-hour read
The Best at It
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Symbols & Motifs
Bollywood Supply and Their Music
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of mental illness.
Bollywood Supply is Rahul’s dad’s band, which plays Hindi-language covers of songs by the soft rock duo Air Supply. Bollywood Supply and the music they play symbolize the unique cultural hybridity often embodied by immigrants to the United States. This symbol also intersects with the theme of Figuring Out and Accepting One’s Identity, as Rahul’s relationship with the band grows from embarrassment to enthusiasm.
“Bollywood” is the term used to refer to Mumbai’s Hindi-language film industry. Bollywood films often showcase India’s diverse and complex history of dance, art, fashion, music, and more. Bollywood dance and music both have hybrid characteristics that blend traditional Indian dance and music with contemporary music genres. In this way, Bollywood is already a fusion of classics and contemporaries. Bollywood Supply taking English-language soft rock and adding a Bollywood “twist” symbolizes a productive cultural enmeshment.
Rahul is initially embarrassed by the band. When faced with the prospect of Bollywood Supply playing at the International Bazaar held at his school, he worries, “What if people come?” (187). His broad worry that anyone will see the music mirrors how he hides his knowledge of Indian heritage at school. Jai, who was born in India, tells Rahul, “You don’t seem very Indian,” and this makes Rahul realize that he “hid[es] that stuff” around non-Indian people (272).
At the International Bazaar, after Rahul stands up to Brent about his heritage and sexuality, when he hears Bollywood Supply play both traditional Bollywood songs and modern rock songs, Rahul feels happy and proud. He sings along with Bhai and feels like “[he has] never been happier in [his] life” (312). As Rahul grows to accept himself, his relationship with Bollywood Supply and what it symbolizes also changes.
The Audition Questionnaire and Headshot
When he is trying to become the “best” at acting, Rahul goes on an audition for a local bank commercial. Boys trying out for the role have to bring a headshot and fill out a questionnaire about their basic biographical details. Rahul edits his photo so that he appears whiter; this and his answers to his questionnaire symbolize how he initially wants to distance himself from his Indian heritage and appear whiter, which he perceives as normative and desirable.
Initially, Rahul’s mom fills out the questionnaire honestly. She writes his true height, weight, hair color, eye color, and build. Rahul crosses out every answer, making himself taller and heavier, with lighter eyes and hair and a stronger build. He also edits the headshot that Chelsea took of him, making his skin beige and his nose much smaller. Before the audition, Chelsea initially puts light face powder on Rahul’s face for his sweat without thinking about the tone. She tries to take it off, but Rahul wants to keep it, liking “how light it makes [his] skin look” (138). He tries to adopt the features that he manipulates onto his headshot and questionnaire, despite the fact that they are not true to who he is. The audition questionnaire and headshot symbolize what Rahul wants for most of the text; however, he grows to accept his cultural, racial, and physical identity, moving beyond the desire to appear different than he is.
Holi and the Colorful Powder
At the International Bazaar, while Bollywood Supply is playing, there is a Holi celebration. The Holi powder used at the International Bazaar symbolizes Rahul’s final acceptance of himself and the formation of newer, healthier relationships with his friends. This helps explore the themes of Figuring Out and Accepting One’s Identity and The Importance of Positive Support Systems for Young People.
Holi “celebrates the triumph of good over evil, the coming of spring after winter, and the chance to forgive people and repair relationships” (311). People throw colorful powders, dousing each other in colors of the rainbow. When the concert and Holi celebration begin, Rahul has just stood up to Brent, defending his identities, and repaired his relationships with Justin and Chelsea.
Rahul clarifies his new relationship with Justin as colors “swir[l] in every color of the rainbow” around them (314). Rahul says that he does not have a crush on Justin, but they agree to be friends. Rahul continues to repair his relationship with Chelsea as he gets “colored powder all over [his] fingers” and smears them across her face (315), congratulating her on her International Bazaar dance performance, which he had been resistant to throughout the novel.
The celebration and powders also symbolize Rahul’s acceptance of his own identities. Holi is an Indian holiday, but the rainbow symbol is also often associated with the LGBTQ+ community. After the International Bazaar, Rahul looks at how his “brown skin is smeared in every shade of the rainbow” (316). For the first time ever, looking at his rainbow-colored skin in the mirror, Rahul smiles and feels happy about his reflection. He embraces and celebrates both his brown skin and his sexuality.
The Lock
The lock symbolizes Rahul’s OCD, his struggle for control, and his broader journey toward self-acceptance. Rahul’s checking behaviors—like repeatedly ensuring that the door is locked—are manifestations of his OCD, but the lock also takes on a deeper meaning in his personal growth. Throughout the novel, Rahul often returns to the lock as a way to feel secure in an uncertain world. However, this compulsion is also a source of anxiety, showing how his attempts to manage his fears can become overwhelming.
Rahul’s obsession with the lock reflects his desire to protect himself and those he loves, but it also symbolizes the barriers he places around himself emotionally. He tries to hide his true self—his Indian heritage, his sexuality, and his struggles with mental health—locking away these parts of who he is for fear of judgment and rejection. For instance, Rahul’s insistence on double-checking the locks parallels his reluctance to confront his fears or share his vulnerabilities with others.
As Rahul grows throughout the novel, the lock becomes less of a symbol of fear and more of a representation of boundaries he learns to control. By the end, with the help of his family and friends, Rahul begins to open up about his OCD and his identity. This shift mirrors how he moves from using the lock as a tool for obsessive control to learning how to embrace support systems and self-compassion. In this way, the lock connects to the themes of Navigating Bullying and Mental Health as a Teen as well as The Importance of Positive Support Systems for Young People.
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