Unnacustomed Earth- Short Story 1

Rereading the story, "Unaccustomed Earth", really helped me understand the conflicts between the characters that I only understood in terms of plot, and not as much in terms of literary meaning the first time. 

One lingering question that I still have about this story is why Ruma and her mother were considered "allies" when they argued so much, where as Ruma and her father had never had a conflict until the end of this story, but were as distant as if they had an irreconcilable difference? 

It is possible that, although they argued frequently and were so different, Ruma felt much more "open" and "allied" with her mother rather than her father because she felt that her father was judging her because he was trying to be the traditional father/husband of their culture, as well as assimilate into American culture, and provide for his family. Ruma's mother was home all the time, and so that is who Ruma talked to, and as a result, argued with.