Communication is one of the most important factors in a relationship and the main theme in this story. Communication has the ability to make a relationship more stable. In most of her work Jhumpa Lahiri shows the length people go to in order to maintain a relationship. Lahiri focusses on relationship problems and the importance of communication. In Jhumpa Lahiri's "Interpreter of Maladies," all characters communicate with the outcome of having a positive or negative outcome in their relationship. From the children misbehaving to Mrs. Das keeping secrets that could make or break a relationship. Interpreter of Maladies takes place in India and is told from Mr. Kapasi's perception. Jhumpa Lahiri shows how communication can be the success or failure of a relationship.
Mr. Kapasi, who is the tour guide for the das family has lived a life full of disappointment. His whole life was turned around. He went from being fluent in many languages to working as a doctor's interpreter. The interpreter of maladies himself, Mr. Kapasi lacks communication in his loveless, arranged marriage. He compared his and his wife's relationship with Mr. and Mrs. Das, "He wondered if Mr. and Mrs. Das were a bad match, just as he and his wife were." The outcome of lack of communication that Mr. Kapasi and his wife have in their relationship has left him with a love that has lost its spark and a night full of silence drinking tea. The loss of their seven year old son to illness has left a hole in their marriage which makes it more difficult to communicate. Mr. Kapasi is living the opposite of the life he had hoped for. .
Mr. and Mrs. Das have a communication barrier with their kids. Mr. Kapasi describes it as if they are siblings to their kids. The Das family is not like other families, they are all caught up in their own little world. Mr. Das takes pictures almost as if like he is trying to paint this perfect family that he lacks.