Summary

In Chapter 21, Lenny is eight years old. Hari has converted to Islam; he has become Himrat Ali. Cousin is demonstrating how Hari’s circumcised penis must look. Describing his penis as a “honeycomb” (172), Cousin tries to get Lenny to lick it. Lenny does not like this side of him. She spends the night after her birthday at Godmother’s. They joke with Dr. Manek Mody, Godmother’s brother-in-law, about eating people. They bathe and Lenny is scolding for bathing too long. Godmother has invited four medical students to her house so that they can learn from Dr. Mody. Some of the men discuss Ayah’s beauty. A fly gets into the lentils and Lenny is terrified when Dr. Mody tries to stick it in her face. Dr. Mody changes the subject to Lenny’s eyes, which he calls “cross-eyed” and “a pity” (180).

In...