Why are the children not allowed to go outside at the beginning of the story?

The children cannot go outside because the
sun is too dangerous during the day.  They have to wait until twilight, when the sun
goes down.

The short story “Games at
Twilight” takes place in India.  In the beginning of the story, the children have been
trapped in the stifling hot house with all of the curtains closed because the sun is too
hot outside.  Although it is still hot in the house, it is the sun that is
dangerous.

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They had had their tea, they had been
washed and had their hair brushed, and after the long day of confinement in the house
that was not cool but at least a protection from the sun, the children strained to get
out. (para 1)

The
children are bored and feel suffocated from being cooped up.  The house is hot and
stuffy, and they tell their mother they will stay on the porch and out of direct
sunlight, but she knows they won’t.  She knows her children.  As soon as she opens the
door, they forget about the porch.