“However I knew for a fact she was able to speak and had volumes of tales and thoughts on her head. She rambled under her breath all day and night, as long as she and I were alone.” (99)
In this passage Tyler began to think about how the employees at the center thought Mala Ramchandin lacked basic communication skills. He then went on to talk about how she would communicate only when she was around him. This passage shows the connection that has developed between Mala and Tyler through different forms of language and communication.
Despite what anyone around him may say, Tyler feels like he knows who Mala Ramchandin is as a person. By saying that he knows “for a fact”(99) that she is able to talk and communicate shows that he has a special love and appreciation for Mala that no one would be able to change.
This passage also speaks to the special bond that exists between Tyler and Mala. In the beginning of the book it was said that Mala would not talk to anyone, which is why they thought that she was not physically capable of speaking, but Tyler provided her with a sense of comfortability that allowed her to express herself how she saw fit. Tyler says Mala will talk for a long time “as long as she and I were alone”(99) which shows that she had a great level of trust in him.
Later in this passage it says how Mala Ramchandin was talking to Tyler not just for fun, but because she had a story that she wanted to tell. It seems as though through different forms of language and communication, Mala and Tyler are sharing their story with one another. For example, when Mala stole the dress for Tyler and told him to put it on she was showing that she accepted who he was as a person. She then continued to ignore him once he put the dress on to show him that it was okay to be whoever he wanted around her. Although this communication was non-verbal, she was getting a message across to Tyler, and allowing him to be himself and share his story with her. Throughout the book, this is a mutual story telling that adds to the magic of their relationship.