It could be about pain and punishment. The whipping being the physical pain and the whole situation representing the punishment for some sort of misdeed.
One possible main theme might be survival. If the whipping was a really harsh experience, the person in the story might have had to find a way to mentally and physically survive through it, and perhaps come out stronger in the end.
The main theme might be about learning a lesson. Maybe the whipping was a result of a bad action, and through that experience, the protagonist learned to be more careful or responsible in the future. It could also show how extreme forms of discipline can have a profound impact on a person's growth and development.
The main theme could be friendship. The whipping boy and the prince start off in a difficult situation where the whipping boy takes the prince's punishments. But through their experiences, they form a bond.
Another possible theme could be transformation. Maybe the person in the story had a negative view of their skin at first, but through various experiences, they had a transformation in their attitude towards it, and it became a symbol of their personal growth and strength.
The main theme could be friendship. Since it's about four friends, it's likely to revolve around the relationship between them.
One possible main theme could be transformation. If the boy is somehow related to a stone, perhaps he goes through a transformation similar to how a stone can be shaped over time.
One possible main theme could be secrecy itself. The whole story might revolve around how Terrius keeps certain things hidden and the consequences of that secrecy.
Another possibility is that it's a story of a shared dream. Nikhil and his brother might have had a common goal, like starting their own business. The story could detail how they planned it, the obstacles they had to overcome such as lack of funds or market competition, and how their brotherly relationship played a crucial role in either the success or failure of that dream.
It could be about family bonds. The father's role in creating and maintaining a strong family unit.
It could be survival. Maybe the person in the story had to face numerous challenges that put their life at risk, and the whole day was about trying to get through those difficult situations alive.
Faith could also be a main theme. If the story involves the father being in 'heaven', it might show how the family's faith helps them deal with the loss. They might believe that their father is in a better place, and this belief gives them comfort. It could also be about how the family's faith has grown or changed since the father's passing, and how they find strength in their religious beliefs during this difficult time.
The main theme is survival and the horror of war. It shows how a young girl endures the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia.