Chapter 17 Summary

Bank manager Madon assigns which employees will attend the Monday funeral and which will attend the Uthamna Ceremony on Tuesday. Only Gustad is given a choice. Gustad chooses the funeral. Madon offers him a ride. Few relatives, but very many colleagues and friends attend. Non-Parsis are segregated. Gustad thinks about all the laugher Dinshawji has provided. Alamai takes advantage of the moment to tell Madon that her late husband had hoped Nusli would one day work beside him. Nusli is like a child, watching the char-chassam dog circle the bier, sniffing in silence. Alamai wails at the proof her husband has truly left her. Gustad shakes his head at this orthodox performance by a modernist woman, as other women restrain her from rushing to the bier. The dustoorjis wait patiently for pious phrases to calm her. The Ahunavad Gatha prayers proceed without interruption...