Summary

In the Prologue, a woman in a green sari stands on the rocks looking out at the sea. She has just released helium balloons into the sky. Now, she stands contemplating whether she should walk into the sea or turn around and rejoin the world.

In Chapter 1, Bhima awakens in her hovel in the slums. She looks warmly at her granddaughter, Maya, who is still asleep. As she walks across the room to wake Maya, she begins to feel anger at the thought of the girl’s pregnant belly. She contemplates kicking Maya in the belly to kill the baby and allow her granddaughter to continue her education. Instead, she shakes Maya awake and when she sees the girl’s innocence reflected in her face, she softens. Maya does not get up and Bhima realizes she is going to be...