C H A P T E R 9

MRS. PILLAI, MRS. EAPEN, MRS. RAJAGOPALAN

The green-for-the-day had seeped from the trees. Dark palm leaves

were splayed like drooping combs against the monsoon sky The

orange sun slid through their bent, grasping teeth.

A squadron of fruit bats sped across the gloom.

In the abandoned ornamental garden, Rahel, watched by lolling

dwarfs and a forsaken cherub, squatted by the stagnant pond and

watched toads hop from stone to scummy stone. Beautiful Ugly

Toads.