Critics argue that romanticizing the Boudi’s affair normalizes adultery. Defenders argue that these storylines expose the rot within the institution of arranged marriage.

It is this third dynamic—the Deor-Boudi relationship—that fuels the most famous "romantic storylines."

To understand the evolution, look at the timeline:

Unlike Western affairs, the Bengali Boudi often cannot leave. She has no financial independence. Therefore, the romantic storyline is not about running away; it is about surviving inside the cage. The "hard" part is the morning-after scene, where she must serve tea to the mother-in-law while the Deor sits opposite, both pretending the night before didn't happen.