Chapter 8, Beautification Summary

About a week later, Ishvar and Om were used to the sounds of the street when they slept. Their sleep grew more pleasant, and, in turn, the quality of their work improved. They had developed a routine that around the chemist's shop and Dina's apartment.

One night street noises changed - policemen stormed the street, and Sergeant Kesar barked instructions to his men to round up beggars along the street. Ishvar and Om hid behind the nightwatchman as the Sergeant and the Facilitator (who happened to be the man who tried to sell them the ration card) argued over the condition of one of the beggars, and whether or not they are fit enough to work. Once the streets were cleared, the Facilitator seemed happy with the numbers, but the Sergeant wanted to fill his quota, and he needed just two...