Pregnancy is a recurring motif in the book. Maya and Dinaz’s pregnancies are juxtaposed against each other frequently. Maya’s pregnancy brings shame, despair, and the loss of a good future. In contrast, Dinaz’s pregnancy is a source of great joy to Sera and represents hope for the future through a new generation. Each pregnancy affects the other family as well—Bhima envies Viraf and Dinaz their good fortune, while Sera is anxious to get Maya an abortion as her pregnancy is casting a gloom over Dinaz’s and affecting Bhima’s ability to work.

The two pregnancies highlight the differences in socioeconomic circumstances between the two women, while also tying them together through narrative parallels. Maya and Dinaz’s unborn children share a father. In Dinaz’s case, her child is considered legitimate, as it was conceived within wedlock. The marriage between Viraf and Dinaz is seen as an acceptable one, as they are on equal footing in terms of religion and class. In Maya’s case, her child through Viraf would only ever be illegitimate, as any kind of relationship between them is made impossible by their differences in background.

The motif of pregnancy illustrates how differently the world treats people due to their socioeconomic backgrounds. Maya is forced to have an abortion and cannot even openly name her child’s father for fear of retribution. She drops out of college, losing her access to education to move upwards in the world. Maya’s family is punished through Bhima’s dismissal, despite Viraf being the one to initiate their affair and take advantage of a teenager. In contrast, Dinaz’s pregnancy is protected and cherished, to the point where she will possibly never learn about her husband’s affair and other, unborn child. The pregnancies explore the theme of India’s Social Fabric of Class, Caste, Gender, and Religion.