Summary

In Chapter 29, Lenny also spots Ayah, wearing lipstick and powder. The statue of the Queen at the Queen’s Garden also disappears. The Hindus and Sikhs are gone, and there are fewer women overall. Godmother and Slavesister do not believe Lenny saw Ayah. Godmother reveals that their mother and Electric-aunt have been rescuing kidnapped women and sending them back to their relatives or to refugee camps. Lenny is surprised that Godmother does not know that her mother and aunt are arsonists. Cousin tells Lenny that Ayah has become a “dancing-girl” (252) in the red light district. When Cousin tries to demonstrate what men do with Ayah, Lenny decides to confront Mother. Mother explains that they are hoarding petrol to help their Musli and Sikh friends get away. Although her mother suggests that she should have trusted her daughter, Lenny understands why she did not...