When Maxine comes into his life, he is still getting used to New York and wants to establish something there (126). Maxine quickly catches his attention at the party, noticing her beauty and she reminded him of Ruth because "they lived so close like strangers (128)." Nikhil was much more comfortable with Maxine than with Ruth. With Ruth he had no experience with women, but this time he did, and his outgoing personality made him part of her family almost immediately when she welcomed him into her home on the first date (129). Nikhil falls in love with Maxine, something the book never said about Ruth, suggesting that he was more serious about this relationship than he was with Ruth (137). Maxine helps Nikhil open up more about his family and childhood, something that was missing in his relationship with Ruth, and although he didn't really want it, he eventually let Maxine meet his parents (146). Their relationship ended due to the death of Nikhil's father, because Nikhil became mentally unstable. He began to spend almost all his time with his mother, when he went to his father's house he did not want Maxine to accompany him (177), and when she tried to help him he rejected her (182). Maxine suggests, shortly after his death, that Nikhil should take some time to escape, and he takes it the wrong way, becoming a