66 pages • 2 hours read
Sejal BadaniA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Summary
Prologue and Part 1: “Jaya”
Part 2: “Amisha”
Part 3: “Jaya”
Part 4: “Jaya”
Part 5: “Amisha”
Part 6: “Jaya”
Part 7: “Amisha”
Part 8: “Jaya”
Part 9: “Amisha”
Part 10: “Jaya”
Part 11: “Amisha”
Part 12: “Jaya”
Part 13: “Amisha”
Part 14: “Ravi”
Part 15: “Jaya”
Part 16: “Ravi”
Part 17: “Jaya” and Epilogue
Character Analysis
Themes
Symbols & Motifs
Important Quotes
Essay Topics
Deepak consults the village Brahmins about Amisha’s fever-induced hallucinations and delusions. The Brahmins say that dark energy has possessed her and plan to perform a ceremony to rid her of the spirits. Ravi arranges to have the children stay with Deepak’s sister Janna so that they won’t interfere with the ceremony.
Ravi contemplates his beliefs surrounding death. Before, he considered death “a gift given to them because, once dead, they no longer had to fear life” (348). Amisha’s illness has changed this belief and makes Ravi dread the possibility of losing his friend.
The Brahmin ceremony tries to smoke the dark energy out with an excessive amount of incense. When Amisha starts to choke, Ravi wants to intervene, but Deepak holds him back. Amisha screams in agony and Ravi runs out of the house, unable to cope with her pain.
The Brahmins and Deepak decide on another course of treatment: beating Amisha with leather whips to force the dark energy out of her. Ravi is horrified and claims that this is not what Amisha deserves, but Deepak is frightened for Amisha’s life and knows no alternative. Deepak insists that Ravi beat Amisha when she is tied to the beech tree in the school’s garden.
Asian History
View Collection
Books About Art
View Collection
Books & Literature
View Collection
Class
View Collection
Class
View Collection
Colonialism & Postcolonialism
View Collection
Community
View Collection
Friendship
View Collection
Historical Fiction
View Collection
Indian Literature
View Collection
Marriage
View Collection
Mothers
View Collection
Popular Book Club Picks
View Collection
Romance
View Collection
Valentine's Day Reads: The Theme of Love
View Collection