The author takes the reader back to Rahel's return to her childhood home and memories. She takes a walk along the river. She sees the familiar old sights. The History House is on the other side of the river, now a hotel. She stops to speak to Comrade Pillai. He was the leader of the Communist Party years before. The chat brings back more childhood memories, such as when Pillai's son, Lenin and Rahel coincidentally found themselves at the same clinic at the same time to remove objects they had shoved up their noses.
Pillai shows Rahel a photo taken those many years ago with herself, Estha, Sophie Mol and Lenin outside the Ayemenem house. In the photo, taken by Chacko, Sophie is posing with a thimble in her mouth and.....
