Summary

The narration comments that Deven does not go into Delhi again for a long time. This leads to sarcastic commentary from Sarla and pointed responses from Deven that he will go into Delhi when he again has work there. He lights a cigarette, contemplating how strange it is that he gets so much comfort from smoking a hand-rolled cigarette and how ineffectually he is living his life. He imagines how much better life would be if he had a bit more courage, and how much an honor it was to be as close to Nur as he was for a while. Then, however, thinks that he is being foolish and stubs out the cigarette, leaving “a smear of ash” on the floor (129). But then Sarla brings him another postcard from Nur, this one asking him to come to Delhi and help him transcribe a...