Chapters 16 and 17 Summary

Chapter 16

The Hungry Hop boy is at home nursing his ear. He recalls with fear the incident in which he was bitten while his nemesis Pinky is planning another meeting. Sampath is trying to console Pinky with the right words but he is preoccupied with many disturbing matters—the monsoon that will be coming soon, the talk of building a concrete hermitage for him and the controversy around the monkeys. For now, the monkeys are behaving beautifully—they are sober and calm. Sampath takes in the beauty surrounding the compound. He almost feels as though he could be absorbed into his surroundings—become one with nature.

Pinky decides to write the Hungry Hop boy a letter, reminding him that they have known each other since they were children. She apologizes for biting his ear, telling him it was...