Rahel makes her way to the temple to take a coconut to the temple elephant, Kochu Thomban. The elephant has aged. That night, the kathakali performers come to the Ayemenem temple. Kathakali are storyteller performers who put on all-night plays. The kathakali are a part of the old Indian culture, and nowadays, they are being forgotten and pushed aside. When once children were proud of their kathakali parents; now they deride them. The modern day world has no more room for them. The kathakali have become part of the Regional Flavor, and their audience is made up mostly of tourists.
Tonight, Rahel watches the performers act out their dramatic story of love and violence. Estha silently joins her. Now once again as adults, their silent communication is at work. When the play.....
