Salim attempts to escape his past, but almost immediately his past follows him, in this case in the physical form of Metty. Metty’s similar ethnic makeup to Salim is a source of insecurity for Salim, as without the structures and systems of their home, the only thing keeping him above the boy in the social hierarchy is habit and history. Metty also has the advantage of harboring no preconceptions about his prominence and is able to ingratiate himself quickly with the locals, and thus becomes more a part of the place than Salim. Even without the context of their home on the coast, though, Metty continues to treat Salim with the same performances and respect as they had formerly known, showing how ingrained performances of identity can become in relationships.