Chapter 19

The chapter starts with Anand's ceremony into the Brotherhood. The chapter flashes back again to the night before when he asked Abhaydatta if he could see his family one more time. Then the chapter goes back to the present and the ceremony. The ceremony continues normally but at the end when Anand expects it to end the Chief Healer surprises him by making him the new Keeper of the conch. After the ceremony he gets a chance to talk to the conch and the chapter ends when the conch reminds him to go to lunch.

This was a really really short chapter but a perfect ending to this story. I wasn't really surprised by the chief healers decision to make him the keeper of the conch but it says in the story that Anand was. I wonder who he thought would be able to take the job other that him? I would highly recommend this book though to any reader who likes fantasy and magic with a little bit of realistic fiction mixed in.

Chapter 18

The chapter starts with Nisha being accepted into the Brotherhood. There's a flashback as Anand remembers how Nisha came rushing up to him yesterday and telling him how the place would be a brother and sister hood now. The time goes back to the present and Anand watches the ceremony. After the cerimony he goes back to his room only to have Govinda burst in saying that Abhaydatta wants to see him in the hall of seeing. Anand goes to the hall of seeing wondering what Abhaydatta would want with him. When he gets to to the hall of seeing Abhaydatta using his powers lets Anand see his family. Anand sees his mother,sister and father living in a modern room which is apparently part of a house. He tries to touch them but the wall just shimmers and the image disappears. Abhaydatta then tells Anand that to become a member of the brotherhood he must leave his family forever. The rest of the chapter is spent with Anand in great thought trying to decide whether to stay or not. At the end of the chapter Anand makes his choice though the author doesn't tell you what it is.

I liked this chapter because I liked seeing how Anand reacted to such a choice because everyone has at least one choice like that in their lives. I thought that Anand would go back home because it sticks to the authors theme of sticking to your family/friends. But after Anand talked to the conch and Abhaydatta i think that he will stay.

Chapter 17

The chapter starts with Anand three days after the last chapter. He is given a guide, Govinda who shows him around and answers his questions. One day Anand notices that Govinda keeps saying if Anand because an apprentice he can do this or that. When he asks Govinda about Govinda only says that he will become an apprentice later if he wishes. And when Anand asks about Nisha and Abhaydatta Govinda says that nobody is allowed to visit them. One night Anand awakes to Nisha calling him from the doorway. She tells him her plan to see Abhaydatta and he agrees. They manage to find Abhaydatta and tell him all about their adventure and when they reach the part where Abhaydatta disappears he finally speaks and tells them how he transformed himself into the mongoose to battle Surabhanu in his snake form and then how he lost sight of his human personality and became the mongoose. Then he tells them how their story jolted his personality back to him.

This was a boring chapter like i predicted the author needed to have a happy ending so she used Abhaydatta as a victim of unnatural memory recovery. I think that his memory coming back like that is absurd because all the master healers tried and they couldn't do it but some kids who don't even know what they are doing can? I think that the author was getting a little desperate for ideas at this point but i don't blame her because she wrote an excellent book and she deserves a break from criticism.

Chapter 16

the chapter starts with Anand poring over the question trying to figure what is most important. He thinks about what virtue each of his companions would choose. When the voice asks him for the answer Anand replies that he hasn't chose any of the virtues. when the voice asks why Anand replies that each of the virtues on its own is worthless and a person needs all three. The voice goes silent and Anand assumes he has failed. He places the conch down and starts to walk away when the voice says that he has answered correctly. The base of the mountain opens and three men walk out. They tell him to some quickly for the auspicious moment of sunrise will pass. Anand asks if he can bring his companions and the men say no because Abhaydatta is of no use to the brotherhood and Nisha has already been contaminated by Surabhanu and a seed of evil may remain. They tell Anand that they will send Abhaydatta and Nisha down to a local village where they will be cared for but will forget the whole journey. Anand makes up his mind and says that he will go with his companions because he cant abandon them after all this time. Then he hands over the conch and sits down in the snow next to his companions. The next thing he knows a healer is telling him that he has passed all expectations and that he and his companions may come into the silver valley. The chapter ends with Anand being led to the great hall and the chief healer welcoming him.

This is probably the best chapter yet because the quest is finally over. No more sulking for Anand no more hardships for the company and sadly no more story. There are three more chapters but i think that they will be shallow chapters just there to wrap up this book. But i wonder what would have happened if one of the company (Anand Nisha and Abhaydatta) wasn't there? Would there even be a quest in the first place? And what if the book followed Abhaydatta through his travels and not Anand?

Chapter 15

The chapter starts with Nisha leaning over Anand trying to wake him up and Anand realizes that he was knocked out. Nisha tells him that he should hurry to get the conch to the foot of the mountain. Anand cradling Abhaydatta in his arms rushes to the top of the mountain and calls for the healers. Eventually a voice responds saying to leave the conch and go. Anand refuses and finally the voice relents saying that if he could answer a question they would let his company pass. Anand asks if they could heal Nisha and Abhaydatta before they ask the question. The voice says no but they put Abhaydatta and Nisha in a protective bubble so they don't get any worse. The chapter ends with Anand thinking about the question: which is the most important, honesty loyalty or compassion?

This was a short chapter in comparison to the others. i think that the author might have had writers block when she wrote this because every other chapter is rich in detail and story while this chapter is quite boring. I think that Anand will answer the question in a way the voice doesn't expect making them open the gates for the company.

Chapter 14

The chapter starts with Anand taking off his coat and wrapping around Nisha since she cant go on. Suddenly Nisha starts talking in a voice that's not hers telling Anand to give her the conch. Anand resists but she pins him to the ground. Suddenly Surabhanu is there in the form of a snake. He reveals that he planted himself in Nisha's mind when they first met and now he is taking control of her. Surabhanu tells Nisha to knock Anand unconscious so she picks up a boulder and prepares to attack him. Suddenly out of nowhere Rajah comes flying out and attacks Surabhanu. In the following battle Anand realizes that Rajah is actually a mongoose and Surabhanu reveals that the mongoose is actually Abhaydatta. Surabhanu bests Abhaydatta and throws him again a cliff wall. Nisha enraged by this is able to break free of Surabhanu's power and throws the boulder at him instead of Anand. Surabhanu then transforms himself into a black cloud like mist and demands that Anand give him the conch. Anand eventually accepts defeat and thinks "I did everything i could. And still I failed you." Hearing his thought the conch tells Anand to stand up and take it out of its pouch. Anand does and a blast of sound comes out of it throwing Anand to the ground and making Surabhanu disappear.

I really liked this chapters action because there has not been much throughout the book. But i wonder what exactly happened to Surabhanu is he gone for good or is he just banished to a small part of the world? I think that Anand will manage to get the conch to the healers and be accepted into the brotherhood.

Chapter 13

The chapter starts with Anand and Nisha resting and trying to ease their hunger by sucking on some icicles. Rajah goes off to forage or so Anand thinks. But Rajah actually brings back a nut that when cracked is edible. Anand and Nisha follow Rajah back to a cache of nuts and they eat hungrily. They decide to take the left path in the road near the cache but Rjah seems to want them to go to the right. Since Rajah has not failed them yet Anand and Nisha follow him. Nisha says that she wants to get to the second obstacle and soon after when they try to walk through a pass boulders dislodge themselves and almost crush them. They try several times to run through the pass but are thwarted each time by the boulders seemingly dislodging themselves from the cliffs above. Suddenly they notice that Rajah is missing. But Nisha spots him again trying to scrape the snow off of some nearby boulders. Anand and Nisha help and soon they uncover a boulder that has a hand print on it. Nisha puts her hand on it and Anand sees a line appear that leads them through the pass. But when she takes her hand off the line fades away. Anand then comes up with the idea of him going first and marking where Nisha should step using snow but he runs out about three fourths of the way and she is forced to make a run for it where she breaks her leg.

The first thing that came to my mind when i read about the kids making it through the pass was "This doesn't make any sense!" I thought that because shouldn't the pass have been blocked off after the 1st or second try? And did Rajah ever make it across? Because even though the plan was that Rajah and Anand would go at the same time it doesn't mention Rajah after that.

Chapter 12

The chapter starts with Anand and Nisha sheltering in a cave and Nisha saying that they wont starve to death they'll only freeze. Anand rummages through his bag hoping to find something that he can use to start a fire. He finds nothing but some food he put in earlier and Abhaydatta's bag. As he takes the bag out it feels a little heavier and lumpier. He thought the bag was empty but then he thinks that ever since he met Abhaydatta anything could happen. The conch reading his thoughts replies by saying that nothing happens by chance. Surprised at first but accepting the idea Anand begins a mental conversation with the conch. Eventually he pulls out what is in the bag and with delight he finds some matches! Nisha helps him pull down some dry moss and they light a fire. A small squirrel like creature comes inside the hollow and Nisha immediately takes to it calling it Rajah. They all go to bed but the next day morning in spite of warning from Rajah they are captured by some ape-like creatures whose fur is pure white. The creatures take them to another cave where they start talking in a human-like language. Anand finds that if he listens closely that he can make out some words from the local language. The lead ape named Grishan starts searching him for the conch but can't find it. They bind Anand and Nisha with thick vines but Anand can still hear a couple words from which he can make out: Master here soon... Master will kill. Anand realizes that Surabhanu is the creatures master and that he will be able to find the conch when he gets here. The next thing Anand knows Nisha is trying to wake him up and he is free. She explains that Rajah tracked them here and bit through their vines. Anand and Nisha manage to escape and follow Rajah back to the river. They hear a commotion behind them and they realize that the apes have noticed their absence. Anand sarcastically tells Nisha to ask Rajah how to cross and she does. Rajah then steps into the river in a certain spot and the current stops flowing and they make it across by following in Rajah's footsteps.

One big question i had while reading this chapter was what where the ape creatures and why did Surabhanu use them? Why didn't he just hunt down Anand and Nisha himself? It seems to me that hunting them down would be the better choice so there's no room for error. Because after all the trouble the apes went through the kids still got away. But overall i liked this chapter.

Chapter 11

The chapter starts with Anand trying to get Nisha moving but she just sits down and says dadaji over and over. (dadaji is what she called Abhaydatta before he disappeared.) He tries to console her but instead she turns against Anand saying that it was his watch and that he should have seen the danger and warned Abhaydatta of it. Anand tries to coax her to come with him to try to find the hidden valley but to no avail. Nisha says that since Abhaydatta was captured by Surabhanu he shouldn't have anything to do with them. Anand then is forced to show her the conch as a last resort but when he shows it to her all she sees is a broken muddy piece of a shell. Sighing she gathers her stuff and they set off. They can't remember what exactly the map looks like but after a while they manage to find the right path. After what seems like an eternity they find the river that Abhaydatta told them to cross on the way to the valley. Nisha tries to cross first but something catches hold of her legs and pulls her away. Anand jumps in after her and manages to rescue her. Then he tries to ford the river telling Nisha that if he's doing OK to follow him. But when Anand goes into the river a wall of water crashes down on him and throws him back onto the bank.

This chapter was pretty boring because there was no action at all. The only thing that kept me reading was the last part where they had to ford the enchanted river. As i read i wondered about what was in the river? Is it a monster placed their by the brotherhood to protect themselves or just a normal animal like an alligator?

Chapter 10

The chapter starts with Nisha offering to take the first watch and Abhaydatta drawing the map so that the kids can memorize it. Abhaysatta tells Nisha to wake him whenever she gets sleepy and to not let the fire go out in any circumstances. Before Anand goes to bed Nisha asks him why Surabhanu is after them. Anand is not sure if he should tell her so he says to ask Abhaydatta in the morning. Anand cant go to sleep for a while though and when he does he has another dream, this time some hands are searching his body and they finally settle of the conch's pouch. Suddenly Abhaydatta waked him up and tells him that it is his watch. Anand starts his watch but feels uneasy throughout it. He hears his mothers voice and dashes out on to the rocky ledges leaving the cave unprotected. A wind rushes into the cave blowing out the fire and suddenly it's like there is a hurricane inside the cave. He is about to take out the conch but with the conch's help he is able to stop himself. As the wind subsides he sees Nisha on the other side of the cave but there is no sign of Abhaydatta.

One thing that puzzled me about this chapter is when the conch responds to Anand's thoughts. I would think that even a magic conch wouldn't have a conscience and be able to help somebody. What i think might be possible with a magic conch is to harness it not communicate with it. Another think is that if the conch can speak then is it a living thing in its own way?

Chapter 9

The chapter starts with Anand getting woken up by Nisha saying that they were ready to go. Abhaydatta hands the owner a thick wad of bills saying to spend it cautiously so people don't ask too many questions. They board a train and as they ride Abhaydatta tells them a story about a one-eyed deer who died because it did not keep an eye on the river but only on the forest. They get down at Ranipur and Abhaydatta buys them all warm clothing and food. He also buys Anand a drink but Anand only toys with his food. They keep walking and soon they are out of town on a narrow perilous road where if u slipped u could fall to your death. Suddenly Abhaydatta disappears but after a few minutes they find him in a small cavern in the rock. The chapter ends with Anand recounting the story of last night's dream and ending by saying that he must leave so that he doesn't comprimise the safety of the company. The last thing Abhaydatta says is that he needs both his assistants help and that to help him gather twigs to start a fire.

I have mixed feelings about this chapter because i don't like the sulking of Anand. But i do like the part where Abhaydatta hides in the cavern as a test. I was surprised that Anand or Nisha didn't take the initiative and do something about Abhaydatta's apparent disappearance. I wonder what would happen though if Abhaydatta actually does get ambushed or is forced to leave.

Chapter 8

The chapter starts with Anand, Nisha and Abhaydatta getting off at a town called Koila Ganj and after looking at many different hotels pick the oldest one that's almost completely run down because Abahydatta says that all of the others have a bad smell inside. Nisha exclaims that the whole town has a bad smell but Anand realizes that Abhaydatta is not talking about a regular smell. They eat dinner in the old hotel and later Abhaydatta draws a map on the floor and suddenly to Anand and Nisha's surprise it starts glowing. Abhaydatta tells them to try and memorize the map so that if they ever get separated they will know where to go. After they are done studying the map disappears. Abhaydatta says that they should be getting to bed as they have to start early in the morning. He lets Nisha take the lantern to go wash up and while she does he surprises Anand by saying that he should carry the conch form now on. Anand asks why and Abhaydatta replies that Surabhanu will probably go after Abhaydatta when he attacks and probably wont expect Abhaydatta to give something so precious to someone not sworn into the brotherhood. Abhaydatta finishes by saying that he must not tell anyone that he has the conch. Anand questions why but Abhaydatta stops talking when Nisha starts walking back to the room. He then falls asleep and has a dream in which he is about to attack Abhaydatta on the pretense that he is holding him back from a great life. In his dream he accidentally stubs his toe against a bed post and feels a jolt of pain in his leg. "dreams aren't supposed to hurt this much!" he thinks. Then he realizes that its not a dream and that he was about to smother the old man to death in real life. He tries to stop but an invisible force keeps pushing him forward. Suddenly he thinks of the conch and with a great mental struggle he manages to free himself but only after clawing his pillow to pieces.

As i was reading this chapter i thought about how the story would be like if there was no Surabhanu or if Abhaydatta didn't have magical powers. I would hate the story without Surabhanu because then there is no action at all. But no magic might put an interesting twist in the story because then its just a big game of cat and mouse where the conch is the prize though not having magical powers would make the conch useless.

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.

Chapter 6

The chapter starts with Anand and the sweeper girl trying to get into the station without an tickets. The girl says that they need to wait until a large group comes along and slip past the ticket checker with them. A large group walks by and Anand tries to sneak in but the ticket checker catches him. Just when the ticket checker is about to turn in Anand to the police another old man says in a quavery voice "Excuse me, sir," "I see my nephew has gotten here before me. Thank you for holding on to him. I would have the hardest time finding him if he had gotten past the gate! Ah, here are our tickets." The tickets turn out to be first class and the ticket checker ushers them in saying that they will miss the train if they are late. The old man then rushes Anand to the compartment. And out of his bag produces all of Anands favorite foods! Anand asks in surprise how he knew these were his favorite foods. The old man laughs and says that these are his favorite foods too and that they have a lot in common. Anand glances out the window and sees the girl. She seems to be beckoning but then Anand realizes that she is telling him not to eat. The old man notices her too and tells Anand to call her so that she can join them. Anand is about to call her but then realizes that she is already moving towards the train although it seems like it is against her will. Anand turns to ask the old man what is going on but is surprised to see that instead of a smile his face is contorted into a sneer. The girl desperately tries to say the phrase she was saying earlier but can only say white wall instead of the whole phrase. The old man laughs saying that Abhaydatta didn't do a very good job of teaching them a rhyme of protection. He goes on gloating that even if he did do a good job it wouldn't do much against him, Surabhanu! ( Surabhanu is the person who stole the Conch) Surabhanu tells the girl to come here but when she resists an unseen force forces her to jerk forward. Anand suddenly feels something like a slimy tentacle passing over him. Suddenly a boy selling lozenges bursts into the compartment. Surabhanu is very surprised because he thinks that only the most accomplished magicians can break past his shields. So naturally he thinks that the boy is Abhaydatta in disguise. As he attacks the boy the lozenges fly out of his basket and start attacking Surabhanu sticking to his face and hands. During the battle Anand and the sweeper girl are able to slip away and the chapter ends with Anand worrying about Surabhanu chasing them.

One think i noticed about this book is that no chapter so far has been short. I especially like that about this author because I've read books with chapters a couple of pages long but with no apparent reason for it. The long chapters also let the author pack more plot into them as opposed to short meaningless chapters.

Chapter 5

The chapter starts with Anand having a bad dream when he is jerked out of sleep by his sister Meera calling him. At first Anand thinks that he has just exchanged dreams for a happier one but then he realizes that Meera is actually talking. He looks over Meera's head and sees his mother smiling. Anand's mother then reluctantly admits that the old man was a Healer and that he did heal Meera. Anand then thinks that he must go immediately join him but then is again besieged by the fact that he cant leave his family. His mother sees his doubt and reassures him that it is OK to go. Anand then hurriedly gets ready and sets out. Only after he gets to the post office does he realize that he has never seen a rooming house around that area. Suddenly a girl emerges from between two stores. Anand peers down the gap and realizes that it is a pathway to another shop. He goes down and asks the man if this is a rooming house. The man replies in a snide tone that this is the parliment building and that's they're full anyway. When Anand asks if there is an old man staying there the owner says that a little money might jog his brain cells. Anand gives him a rupee and the owner is about to tell him when a cloud passes overhead and he just gives the rupee back and says to go away. As he walks back he sees the same girl sweeping the cobblestones singing a single line over and over again. On impulse he asks the girl about the old man and she beckons for him to follow her. They end up on the main road and she says that its safer to talk here with all the noise. She tells him how the old man left early that morning and told Panchu that a young boy named Anand might come looking for him. Anand interrupts exclaiming "That's me!" He asks her if she knew where the old man had gone and she says yes. He begs her to tell him and when she remains silent he pulls out the rupee again but she wrinkles her nose and says she doesn't work like that. Instead she says that she wants to come with them. Anand protests but the girls mind is set. As they walk to the train station ( where the old man went) the girl tells Anand about herself. But when he asks her her name she seemingly doesn't hear him saying that the station is just ahead and to hurry so they can find him.

There is only one word that can describe this authors writing style: awesome. I say this because the author makes me feel at home with this story even though i usually enjoy a lot more action. One line i especially liked was what the girl was singing " O ocean flower walled in white, how far are you from home?" I don't really know what appeals to me about this line but it feels to me like a excerpt from a great and beautiful poem.

Chapter 4

The chapter starts with Anand serving dinner to his sister and the old man. The old man then rummages and pulls out the mango Anand had dropped earlier! Anand tentatively asks if he can see the Conch and the old man pulls it out of his bag. Anand reaches out to touch the Conch but when the old man puts it back in his bag Anand is enraged but the old man's words bring him back to his senses. The old man then asks Meera (Anand's sister) to come closer. Anand expects her to crawl away but she surprisingly crawls towards him. The old man touched her temples and his lips formed noiseless words. He then tells Anand that he is removing the bad memories of the killing that made her not talk. His mother then comes home and asks Anand suspiciously about the old man. in an event of the worst timing possible Meera makes a guttral sound in her throat and Anand's mother cries out. Anand tries to convince her that the old man is a good person but she is convinced otherwise. Anand asks the old man to let her see the Conch and the old man does so but only reluctantly saying that not everybody is supposed to. When the old man finally does relent and show Anand's mother the Conch she sees a dirty piece of bone wrapped in a rag and exclaims that his voodoo powers wont work on her. The old man then is about to depart but says to Anand that to meet him at Panchu's boarding house if he changed his mind. The chapter goes on with Anand in bed when he suddenly asks his mother if the dinner tasted good. She says yes and asks why. Anand just asks if it tasted a little different. His mother that it is same as everyday. Anand then begins to doubt if any of the things of that evening actually happened and manages to convince himself that the old man was a cheap two bit magician who was trying to lure Anand from his home and that his mother had saved them.

This chapter gave me a feeling of unease and disappointment. I think that it gave me a feeling of unease because i wasn't sure what the old man was doing. And i think that i got a feeling of disappointment because Anand's mother couldn't see the beauty of the Conch.

Chapter 3

The chapter starts with the old man starting his story. He weaves a tale of a mystical valley in the Himalyas called the Silver Valley where Healers with mystical powers gather to help the world. As he describes the powers the Healers have he mentions that every now and then a person would be able to wield the Conch. Anand is immediately enthralled and asks about the Conch. The old man then explains how when Nakula and Sahadev ( two of the pandavas) still walked the earth they were granted the Conch as a gift from their fathers the Ashwini Kumars. But the Gods decided to bury the Conch after in was misused in war. He explains that no one knows what exactly happened but when the Brotherhood ( what the Healers call themselves) was formed the Conch was already out in the open. Then he goes on to explain how some people who are allowed to handle the Conch become corrupt with power, but he then goes on to say in recent times the Brotherhood has grown weak and allowed a man named Surabhanu a evil student of the arts who actually wishes to steal the Conch. He goes on to say how the Conch was stolen but recovered by him and a partner who died to help. The old man finishes his tale and surprises Anand by asking for his help. Anand is at first wary of why the old man would choose him but then excitedly says yes. But then he remembers his mother and sister and he then says with a heavy heart that he cant come. The old man talks like this is an easy choice and says that they will just have to ask his mother when she gets home. in the meanwhile he says why don't we eat dinner?

I really liked this chapter for the old mans story of the Conch because it weaves fantasy and adventure into a simple story of an item being stolen. It also weaved in Nakula and Sahadev characters from the Mahabharata epic of India, one of my favorite stories. ( which might be because I'm Indian)

Chapter 2

The chapter starts with Anand walking home in the dark mad at Hari who was only supposed to keep him until 4:00. But Hari usually finds a way to make Anand stay longer, today it was that he didn't wipe the tables correctly and he made Anand wipe them all over again. Anand is especially mad because today was market day and also his pay day. He had promised his mother that he would buy some things for her but all the shops are closed. Only one shop was open and Anand knows from experience that the price charges too much but he goes in anyway thinking maybe he could get lucky. He goes in and sees some mangoes. "Mangoes in winter!" he thinks. He asks the storekeeper how much. "Two rupees." the storekeeper replies bluntly. "Two rupees!" Anand thinks "That's twice as much as any other store!" He reluctantly peels off two rupees from his pay and chooses the biggest mango he can find. As Anand walks through the streets his thoughts drift to other families who would now be eating dinner and then crowding around their father begging for a story. Eventually he is reminded of the present as he senses somebody following him but when he whirls around there is nobody there. He quickens his pace but suddenly trips and his mango goes flying. " Oh no!" he thought. He tries to hunt around on the ground for it but then gets the feeling that it's not safe to be outside anymore. He then sprints all the way home and just gets the lock shut again when a tapping starts on the door and a voice says "Anand let me in." Anand isn't sure if he should let the person in but is convinced when the voice says that he is the man from that morning. When he opens the door the old man from the morning comes in. Anand remarks that it is not usually that windy here. The old man replies that he is partly responsible for the wind. Anand asks if the old man made the wind happen and immediately realizes what a silly question that was. But the old man doesn't think that is a bad question at all and replies that the person who is looking for him did. Anand starts to make dinner and wishes that he had a little more ingredients to make the stew a little better. Like magic the old man produces some vegetables and Anand thankfully chops them up and puts them in the stew. As the stew is cooking the old man starts his story.

I really liked this project because even though there is not action it made me really like this chapter. I also felt many emotions while reading this chapter. One emotion i felt was sadness when Anand trips and loses his mango because I thought that he didn't deserve to lose it because he bought it with his hard earned money. I also felt a little scared while Anand is running because I wasn't sure what was chasing him.

Chapter 1

This chapter starts with Anand a young boy shivering as he takes dishes from Hari's tea stall to a nearby tap to wash them. As he struggles to wash the dishes with only some ash he recalls when he asked for some dish washing soap. As he reminiscences his thoughts turn to his father who went to Dubai for a job as a construction overseer. His father promised to send the money he made back to Kolkata where Anand and his family lived. As promised the money came for a few months and all was well. But after a few months the money stopped coming and the family was forced to move to a small shack and Anand's mother was forced to take a job as a cook in a rich persons house. Suddenly he is jolted back to the present as Hari yells at him to take the morning tea to the cloth merchant. He rushes to get the pakoras and tea to Shaheen the merchant hoping that he might get a tip but when he walks in he is barely noticed as the merchant has a customer. On his way back he sees some kids on their way to school and once again he is lost in his thoughts about the day his mother couldn't afford to send him and his sister to school. The chapter goes on with Anand serving customers when he notices an old man standing in the shop. Hari yells at him and tells Anand to kick him out. Anand quietly leads the old man away and ask Hari if he can take his break early. Hari says yes as long as he is back in ten minutes. Anand then grabs some food and goes outside to find the old man. Strangely the man is right where Anand left him outside. Anand then gives the old man his food and tea and the old man takes them gratefully. The man then thanks him and makes a strange symbol in the air over Anand's head. Warmth suddenly pours through Anand's veins. As he goes back into the shop he thinks "Mother was right, sharing what you have with others really does make you feel good."

I really liked this chapter because it provides a great introduction to this book. Although I usually prefer a little more excitement this chapter was nice too because of the plot development. It tells you about Anand's past and condition without boring you by weaving in the actual story itself.