Summary
The Singh family lives in a bungalow near Lenny’s family. Lenny, Adi, their cousin, Rosy, and Peter meet by the eucalyptus tree between the two compounds to “discuss world affairs, human relationships,” and their families. Rosy’s sister is about to have a baby and one day they discuss where babies come from. Rosy says she knows, but doesn’t tell them. She often likes to pretend that she knows everything about grown-up affairs, partly because her sister tells her things. Adi and Rosy get in a fight when she tells him he’s too young to understand. Yousaf breaks up the fight and both Adi and Rosy are taken away by their parents. Lenny notices the three miniature glass jars that Rosy leaves there. For Lenny, these jars are mysterious: “They gleam, reflecting rainbow hues—insinuating questions… What is eternity? Why are the stars? Where do cats lay their eggs? And why don’t hospitals have flushing bedpans built into the beds?” Lenny wants to steal these jars and knows that Rosy probably will not even miss them. However, she does not want to ask and be turned down. That would give Rosy power over her, “that power to withhold—or grant.” When Rosy leaves, Lenny decides to bury the jars in the ashes of the fireplace. Yet Rosy returns bringing a gift, a saucer full of sugar, rice, and pepper with which to fill the jars. While Rosy isn’t looking, Lenny retrieves them. She thinks that fate always intervenes to spoil her plans. Her conscience gets the better of her.
Ayah has two new admirers, one a Chinese man and the other a Pathan (or Pashtun). Both bring all sorts of gifts to the house. The Chinese man comes with his bicycle and lays out his wares for sale. Ayah shoos him away, but she’s captivated by the colorful silks. They speak together with their limited English. Because of these visits, there are new doilies all over the house.
Ayah’s Pathan admirer is someone Lenny has seen before—one of the rough tribesmen she noticed on the bicycle ride to Imam Din’s village. He sharpens knives and because of his visits, all of the scissors and knives in the house are razor-sharp. This man’s name is Sharbat Khan. Ayah is nervous around him. They don’t touch, but they flirt. Sharbat Khan talks about the “Hindu-Muslim trouble” in the big cities. Also, there have been mysterious deaths in their city with bodies found in the gutters.
Ayah gives money to Sharbat Khan. He loans money as a side job, taking Ayah’s salary and bringing her a profit. He has a gun and seems to use violence against those who cannot pay back. He tells Ayah stories about his village and the leopards there. She is scared but he says it is only necessary to treat them with respect and they will not eat you. He offers to bring her back pistachios from the village. He takes Lenny and then Ayah for a bike ride near the house, but Ayah feels it is improper.
Father comes home on his bicycle and everyone is excited to see him. At lunch, Mother entertains him with talk of gossip and politics. Some of their relatives have written to say that they should leave the Punjab, where things are getting dangerous, and come to Bombay or Karachi. Mother also tells Father about sweet things that Lenny said, for example, that when she grows up she wants to work in Father’s office so he can relax and read the newspaper all day. Lenny worries that her remarks are not enough to entertain father.
Analysis
Thıs chapter shows some of Lenny’s fears and internal struggles. She is at an age between childhood and puberty. She is curious about sexual topics but clearly does not understand them yet. She is also a proud character. She fears being indebted to anyone, as when she rejects the idea of asking Rosy for her jars because she might be turned down. She is very aware of how power works in friendships. She wants to manipulate people sometimes, but her conscience gets in the way. Her inability to tell a lie will continue to be an important theme.
On the topic of her father, Lenny experiences feelings of “inadequacy and un-worth.” She wants to be able to entertain him with her conversation at lunch but thinks that she isn’t fast enough with her banter. She wonders when she will “learn to tell tales,” which is a skill important to her.
As with the previous chapters, there is more description of the tensions between Hindus and Muslims. The characters hear of fighting in Calcutta and Delhi. Also, the members of the Indian National Congress are in disagreement with the Muslim League. During this conversation, Ayah says that what happens between politicians does not affect them, but Sharbat Khan says “they are stirring up trouble for us all.” So far, the book’s protagonists have not themselves been hurt by inter-communal tensions, but statements like this continue to foreshadow what will come.
