"A Fine Balance" was written by Rohinton Mistry and published in 1995. The extract I am discussing is about two tailors named Ishvar and Ashraf, and an apprentice named Omprakash. Due to the arrival of a new, ready-made clothing store in the town, business dwindles for the characters, causing Ishvar to consider taking Omprakash with him to the big city and finding a job. The main theme of the extract is tradition versus progress. The narrative perspective of the extract is written in third person and the narrative voice is Rohinton Mistry himself. The author uses the third person perspective to introduce the reader to the discussion between Ishvar and Ashraf on Omprakash’s future. Rohinton Mistry uses the dialogue between Ishvar and Ashraf to elaborate how occurrences in the extract relate to the outside world beyond Ashraf’s household and shop, Muzaffar Tailoring Company. The reader can presume that the setting takes place in India due to Ishvar calling Ashraf “Chachaji” (line 35) which means ‘uncle’ in Hindi. Also, the author uses the term ‘paan’ (line 49) in the extract, which is a chew, used in India. The characters, Ishvar and his nephew Omprakash have “given up their lodging in the rooming house” (lines 1-2) and moved into “the room over the shop”, (lines 4-5), which is located in town. “But what if he goes back to the village, does something foolish” (line 8) hints towards Ishvar and Omprakash coming from another village. The first character that is introduced to the extract is Ishvar. Ishvar is less experienced than Ashraf since he is younger. Ishvar is more optimistic than Ashraf as he says “the loss would be temporary” (line 18). Ishvar becomes “the father” (line 44) of Omprakash because of a mysterious tragedy that the author hints - “Since that terrible night six months ago” (line 1) and “A year had passed since the murders” (line 16). The author portrays Ishvar as one who cares