Chapter 7

The chapter starts with the girl suggesting that they get some food form the nearby stall. Anand starts to worry about how much money he will have. The girl reassures him that he will still have some money left and that they should buy the food. Finally Anand consents and buys the food. Then the girl dashes off trying to find a tea stall to wash it all down. As Anand struggles to keep up he trips over a old blind beggar woman and is about to give her some money when the girl appears next to him saying that he shouldn't give her anything. Anand though feels sorry for the woman and gives a rupee note. She gratefully tells him about a meeting place at the bus stop where things that are lost may be found. Anand quickly walks off towards the bus stop stopping the girls arguments that they cant trust her by saying that the message was meant for them. They get to the bus stop but even though they do a methodical search they cant find the old man. They see a small idol of Ganesh and a pitcher of water next to it and Anand and the girl decides to take a drink to clear their minds. The girl is about to take a drink but Anand stops her pointing to a sign that says they must wash their hands and offer a flower to Ganesh before they drink. But the girl says that she doesn't believe in such superstition. Anand forces her to follow the sign which says to wash their hands and offer a flower to Ganesh. She reluctantly places the flower at the base of the idol and when they drink Abhaydatta appears sitting under a tree that had not been their a moment ago. They run to him and he greets them warmly. The girl explains to Abhaydatta how she wants to come with them, and Abhaydatta relcutantly agrees saying that an even number is better than an odd one when starting on a journey but he also says that sometimes the best factor is chance. Abhaydatta then tells them to act like he is their grandfather and they are going to bathe in a holy river for he says that you never know who's listening. Before they get on the bus Abhaydatta asks the girl what her name is and she replies that she doesn't know. She goes on to tell Anand and Abhaydatta how she got separated from her parents when she was little and since then she has been called sweeper girl. Abhaydatta says that wont do from now on and gives her a choice between two pieces of paper each with a name on it. She chooses one and realizing that she cant read Anand looks over her shoulder and tells her softly that the paper says Nisha. They then board the bus and just like Abhaydatta asked Nisha acting like his grandchild begs him to sit right next to him. He does and Anand is left sitting to a fat person who took up half of Anand's seat too. The bus ride is uneventful except for breaking down once and having to stop a second time to give the goats on the bus a chance to be milked and the chickens and people to get some fresh air. When they stop to rest again they see some vendors selling food in stalls and Abhaydatta buys both of the children whatever they want. Later while Nisha and Abhaydatta are sleeping Anand notices some birds that are managing to keep pace with the bus almost as if they are keeping an eye on it. He wakes Abhaydatta who mutters something under his breath and then asks for the water bottle. Anand gets the water bottle and dares to peek out the window again and sees that the birds have fallen behind and he wonders if it was just a figment of his imagination.

One thing i liked about this chapter is the quite way that Abhaydatta cast the spell so that the birds fell behind, because what else could it be but a spell? Birds don't just suddenly fall back like that. Also it got me wondering about what the birds actually were, were they fantastic creatures in disguise? I wish the author would reveal more and add a little action but otherwise the book has been really really good so far.