Chapter 11
I– Dr. Paymaster’s dispensary in a formerly impoverished neighborhood transformed into a hub of commerce. The neighborhood faced challenges like sewer system, water supply, rats, garbage, and street lighting. Despite these, the leaders offered free wordy anodynes to help the populace. Four establishments, cinema houses, House of Cages, and Peerbhoy Paanwalla, managed to resist change. Cinema houses introduced the first movie theatre with 70mm capability, Todd-AO and Six-Track Sound, and the House of Cages catered to customers’ luxuries.
Peerbhoy was known for his products, including the bed-breaker paan and palung-tode paan, which soothed anxieties among neophytes. Palung-tode, a mixture of betel nuts, chunam, and tobacco, had a long history and was used by Hindu rajas and Mogul emperors to convince subjects of the raja’s right to rule. However, it also led to coups and palace plots. One day, Shri Lokhundi Lund ordered the most expensive palung-tode, leading to the impaling of all women in the House. Peerbhoy’s stories helped Gustad, a teenage boy, concentrate on his studies by preparing a paan to cleanse his head.
Gustad visits Dr. Paymaster, a dispensary in his neighbourhood, which has remained unchanged since its inception. The dispensary’s patients are divided into four groups: workshop injuries, cinema industry byproducts, ticket buyers, and women from the House of Cages. The workshop injuries are often treated by mechanics, radio repairers, car painters, and tire retreaders. The cinema industry byproducts are treated by ticket buyers, who often come for treatment after long queuing. The House of Cages’ clients, like the Nobles, are treated by the dispensary’s clients, who are middle-class families. Dr. Paymaster aspires to cure childhood illnesses like measles, chicken-pox, bronchitis, influenza, pneumonia, gastro-enteritis, and dysentery. He also aims to comfort children scratched by dogs and their parents who tell them about their experiences with penicillin injections. Despite the vast number of disorders in the city, they never find their way to the dispensary. When one of these patients arrives, it is like an answer to a physician’s prayer.
II– Dr. Paymasterdiagnoses Hemabai with stomach issues and plans a wedding for Roshan. He prepares an injection for Roshan and prepares food for the event. He also prepares a prescription for a critical patient in East Pakistan with a deadly diarrhea. The patient is attacked by a powerful virus from West Pakistan, and Dr. America is helping. The compounder advises keeping the patient home and offers refugee tax to Gustad.
III– Gustad’s fear of the virus intensified as they drove Roshan to the bus stop. Gustad blamed himself for Roshan’s illness and swayed from side to side. He informed Dilnavaz about Dr. Paymaster’s wedding and gave her a dose. Dilnavaz blamed her father, grandfather, and great-grandfather for Roshan’s illness and her mother for spoiling the boys. Roshan sobbed, and Gustad explained they were talking. She realized it took more than a kiss to get rid of anger and bitterness.
IV – Mr. Rabadi gathers newspapers outside his front door and insists on selling them to the jaripuranawalla. Dimple, his wife, helps him, but he refuses. Inspector Bamji informs them that the shop will be closed, and Mr. Rabadi tries to show them to the jaripuranawalla. He tripped on the papers and threw them outside, causing a fire. Inspector Bamji tries to calm him down, but he is left with a scream of fire. Tehmul watches the flames, and Inspector Bamji pulls him back. The fire is dying, and the blaze is dying. The blaze is dying, and Tehmul chases after the charred newspaper. Gustad is amused by the dogwalla idiot’s behavior, but he soon realizes that the mosquitoes have been provoked. They descended in blind fury, causing Gustad to switch on the lights in the house and ask Dilnavaz to fetch large flat dishes. However, the drum is empty and there is barely enough water left to last until morning. He returns to swatting and slapping, returning to Odomos.
Chapter 12
I – Gustad is caring for his sick daughter Roshan, who has been changing prescriptions four times in the last fortnight. He sells his camera to pay bills and takes her to the bank to get clothes. Rainy, Gustad uses bicycle clips instead of air-raid sirens. Roshan asks him to talk privately, and they meet in the canteen. Dinshawji tells Gustad he won’t meet him for lunch because he’s going out for work.
II – Mr. Noble is invited to a private restaurant by Miss Coutino and Laurie. They discuss his family history, including his father’s accident and his visit to Madhiwalla Bonesetter. The restaurant is crowded, and Mr. Noble and Laurie share a meal in an empty private room. The room is dirty and crowded, and the waiter discreetly knocks, causing tension.
The waiter takes an order and informs Gustad that he will return with the food in five minutes. He then tells Laurie that he wants to see her, but she is upset about her friend Mr. Dinshawji’s jokes and acting. She explains that Mr. Dinshawji is in charge of ten lakh rupees to fully equip the Mukti Bahini guerrillas and is close to retirement. Laurie is furious and wants to resign and tell Mr. Madon why. Gustad tries to make him stop, but Laurie is hesitant. She explains that Mr. Dinshawji is close to retirement and is very sick. She decides to tell Laurie because she is his best friend. She promises to convince Mr. Madon to leave it to him, but she must do so now to avoid getting buggered. She promises to make sure he never upsets Laurie again this evening after work. She thanks Mr. Noble for his help, but waits until she sees him again.
III– Gustad Noble is overwhelmed by worry, disappointments, and betrayals in his life, unable to work. He contemplates his son’s death and the meaning of life after his son’s death. Eventually, he meets Dinshawji, who he enjoys tea with, but questions his suspense. They discuss private conversations, and Dinshawji praises Gustad for being a lucky bugger.
Gustad and Dinshawji discuss their secret service and guerrilla activities, with Dinshawji feeling ashamed and dazed. He tries to stop his jokes and teasing with Laurie, but Dinshawji insists on stopping them. Gustad agrees to stop jokes and spread the story privately, hoping that everyone will sympathize. Dinshawji’s health is not good, and he prefers to be under Laurie’s skirt. They finish their tea silently and leave. The next morning, Dinshawji changes drastically, and everyone’s heart goes out to the fragile and spent individual. Gustad is surprised by Dinshawji’s new image, as reality has caught up with him. He feels awful for confiscating his mask, as reality has caught up with him. The story highlights the challenges of being a jovial person and the consequences of not being a quiet and sickly person.
IV – Gustad returns home from Horaji’s repair shop with a water drum on his shoulder. Dilnavaz is worried about a visitor who will call again at nine p.m. He is a strange man with paint on his hand, as if he is playing Holi with colored powder. Gustad reassures Dilnavaz that the visitor is supposed to come to fix the stinking wall. The pavement artist visits the area and inspects the wall, which is over three hundred feet long and frequented by people passing by daily. The artist suggests that people treat the wall like a roadside lavatory and that drawing holy pictures will make it invisible. Gustad agrees to start the wall cleaning and drawing, but questions if he can cover three hundred feet using assorted religions and their gods. The artist has a BA in World Religions and a specialization in Comparative Studies. They meet early the next morning and Gustad tells Dilnavaz about the pavement artist’s BAs.
Gustad, convinces a street artist to wash down a wall and create a wall of holy pictures. The artist begins by creating a triad of gods, including Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, which will have a significant impact on dissuading urinators and defecators. He works on the wall all night, ensuring the air is free of malodour and mosquitoes and flies are no longer a nuisance. The holy countenances on the wall, including Nataraja, Abraham, Mary, Laxmi, and Saraswati, watch over the road, traffic, and passers-by.
However, the wall’s transformation makes Gustad restless. He has a cycle of arrival, creation, and obliteration, which he enjoys. The journey is a chanced, unplanned, solitary experience, but it threatens his old way of life. The long, black wall reawakens human sorrow, a yearning for permanence and roots. Torn between staying and leaving, Gustad works on the wall, ill at ease, confused, and discontented. Swami Dayananda, Swami Vivekananda, Our Lady of Fatima, Zarathustra, and others take their places on the wall, awaited by the pavement artist.
Chapter 13
I– Gustad is grateful for Roshan’s recovery and progress, but faces a growing burden with Dinshawji’s stomach swelling. He prays for Dinshawji daily to delay packages. A pavement artist leaves flowers before Saraswati’s drawing, and Gustad sees Dilnavaz outside. His hope fades, and he kisses Roshan’s forehead and leaves her for the doctor. Dilnavaz suggests tea, but Gustad refuses, knowing she hates him and his tea.
II– Dilnavaz is unsure about consulting Miss Kutpitia while her husband Dinshawji is away. She recognizes Dinshawji, who has changed since Roshan’s birthday. Dilnavaz calls Gustad to speak to him, but Gustad refuses. Tehmul arrives, and Dilnavaz tries to let him leave but falls from a tree. Roshan sings “Two Little Eyes” for assembly, and they play games on the teapoy. Dilnavaz tells Roshan she is too old for the game.
Dinshawji’s fist resisted threats until Roshan hurled the fire of Big God. Dilnavaz laughed at his antics and demanded Roshan lie down again. She played Ekka-Per-Chaar, trouncing Dinshawji, but left him on the sofa. Dinshawji’s anxiety returned, and he began toying with his newspaper, covered in black smudges.
III– Gustad is dealing with misguided militants who believe the democratic process is the way to improve the municipality. He encounters people who want to be doctors and is surprised by their lack of knowledge. Gustad passes the House of Cages and is offered a paan for his leg, which he drinks, but finds strange and numb. His wife, Dinshawji, advises him to put Roshan in the hospital.
Dinshawji, a doctor and Field Marshal, was denied admission to Parsi General due to his stomach cancer. His sister-in-law, Gustad, also suffered from stomach cancer. A newspaper article revealed Jimmy Bilimoria, an officer of the Research and Analysis Wing, had been arrested on charges of fraud and extortion. Bilimoria, who impersonated Indira Gandhi, instructed the Chief Cashier to withdraw money from the State Bank of India’s reserves. Dinshawji and Gustad were left to decide what to do with the money.
Gustad is informed that Ghulam Mohammed is not in jail and plans to visit him tomorrow. Peerbhoy Paanwalla reports that he saw him today, looking upset and worried. Dinshawji, who knows nothing about the guerrilla pipeline, is skeptical about Jimmy’s involvement. People are gossiping about Indira and her son, who are involved in crooked deals and have Swiss bank accounts. Dinshawji explains that Feroze Gandhi’s heart attack was not a heart attack, and people believe that Feroze’s heart attack was not real. Gustad is annoyed by the gossip and rumour, questioning how politicians can be crooks and rascals. Dinshawji leaves, thanking Gustad for bringing the bad news. He ponders the evil spell caught in the room and wonders how long it will last. Tehmul sees his figure framed in the light, and Gustad pleads for his protection.
Chapter Fourteeen
I– In the city’s evening chaos, Gustad sees a cinema billboard with cut-outs of heroes guarding the city. He offers a bottle of plain white milk to a girl who refuses. The Wheeler-Dealer Tyre Mart is taking in its display, while genuine customers enter and exit. Gustad enters the unpleasant atmosphere of the Wheeler-Dealer Tyre Mart, hoping to see luxuries and dancing girls. However, he is disappointed when the music stops and he discovers that Ghulam Mohammed has lost his bandage.
Gustad visits a room of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru’s desk and frames. He learns Bili Boy is in jail and the story is a lie. They listen to abuse from women in a brothel and hear Tehmul-Lungraa, described as lame with a half-cracked head. Tehmul offers to take money but faces resistance.
Tehmul finds Gustad in a slum, where a cigarette tin is dislodged, causing chaos. Women protest, and Ghulam Mohammed orders Tehmul to leave. Peerbhoy Paanwalla informs Tehmul about Bili Boy’s life in danger and offers half of the money for withdrawal. Tehmul agrees to help, promising to withdraw the money in 30 days or risk robbery. Peerbhoy reassures Tehmul and gives him a paan to reduce juice production.
II – Miss Kutpitia examines Roshan’s relapse using a lime and chillies as neutralizers. She reveals that the evil eye is unintentional and the dark force is deliberately inflicted. When the evil eye is crushed, the child recovers, but the dark force recurs, making Roshan sick again. To find the dark force, she suggests using alum and teaching children to be more cautious and avoid strange objects. Dilnavaz asks for patience with Sohrab, who is unsure when he will return. Miss Kutpitia agrees to do Tehmul’s nails again and add a lock of his hair on the day after the new moon, hoping that his channels will be open widest. She advises Dilnavaz to put the idea of a final remedy out of her mind immediately. Dilnavaz thanks her and leaves.
III – Dinshawji and Gustad were investigating a case in New Delhi, where they had to withdraw money daily. The bank was discussing Major Bilimoria’s confession and the revelations. Gustad misjudged Dinshawji and thought he would never repay him. The account was emptied five days ahead of the deadline. Dinshawji collapsed and was rushed to Parsi General. Gustad stayed with Dinshawji in the male ward, where he spent time six months ago. Gustad found a bench with a butterfly in bloom outside the hospital grounds, and knew his son would not pursue the hobby for long.
IV– Roshan is haunted by a mysterious blob of alum that appears on the coals. Dilnavaz, a teacher, is instructed to study the blob, which she finds to be a clue to a dark force harming her. Miss Kutpitia, impressed by the results, instructs Dilnavaz to look at the blob without seeing it, as it will take on different meanings. Dilnavaz is unsure of the instructions but is guided by her expert vision. She discovers the blob has a tail, four legs, two upright ears, and a snout, which she believes is a four-legged animal. Miss Kutpitia, however, dismisses the suggestions and suggests that someone who owns a dog could be the culprit. Dilnavaz discovers that Mr. Rabadi, who owns a white Pomeranian, has been fighting with Gustad since the time of the big dog. The dog barks at him, and he thinks Darius is after his daughter.
V– A fragrance was in the air near a compound wall, and Gustad, an artist, noticed it coming from Laxmi. He had learned that impermanence was the one significant certainty governing his work. The wall became popular and he decided to save up for new painting supplies. He introduced Gustad to his most recent artwork, including Gautama Buddha, Christ with Disciples at the Last Supper, Karttikeya, Haji Ali Dargah, Church of Mount Mary, Daniel in the Lions’ Den, Sai Baba, Manasa, Saint Francis Talking to the Birds, Krishna with Flute and Radha Holding Flowers, the Ascension, Dustoor Kookadaru, and Dustoor Meherji Rana. The artist introduced Gustad to brief hagiographies of saints, such as Haji Ali, who died while on pilgrimage to Mecca and was miraculously resting on a rocky bed. Devotees constructed his tomb, mosque, and causeway to the mainland. The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared and assured fishermen that they would be safe, and a statue of Mother Mary with the Infant Jesus floated ashore at the beach. Gustad went into the compound, where Inspector Bamji’s Landmaster complimented him on the miracle-proof wall. He believed that the maader chod mentality of his neighbors would complain about the presence of saints and prophets on the wall. However, Gustad explained that the wall was pisser-proof and that a miracle would be required to find Roshan’s lost doll.
Chapter Fifteen
I – Ghulam is hurt by the news of Bili Boy’s case. He is worried about the situation and believes that Bili Boy is trapped by the top. Gustad, a friend of Bili Boy, offers to meet him in Delhi to explain the situation. However, Ghulam is unable to go due to his child’s illness. Gustad sends an envelope to Ghulam, asking him to forgive him for the mistake he made. He requests that he come to Delhi to tell the story, as it is a long and complicated story. Gustad agrees, but is hesitant to go. The night air is stifling, and Gustad wonders if the complaints from the municipality are getting results. He receives a letter from the landlord thanking the tenants for signing the petition against road-widening and promises to keep them informed about the lawsuit. He keeps one copy and instructs Tehmul to deliver the rest. The courts will be old and dead by the time a verdict is reached.
II– Dinshawji’s hospital condition worsened in October, and Gustad visited him twice a week to keep him updated on bank news and personalities. He entertained him with stories and jokes, and even showed him the Major’s note. Gustad continued visiting, especially on Sundays, as his condition worsened in November. Dr.Paymaster’s strict diet for Roshan forced him to resume his Sunday morning routine, but the money from the camera sale was swallowed by medicine bills and the expensive diet. Mrs. Pastakia offered her gold wedding bangles to Roshan, warning Gustad not to bring the chicken alive again.
Gustad, unable to leave the market due to his child’s illness, met Malcolm, a musician struggling to afford piano lessons. Gustad was disappointed with Malcolm’s talent and decided to stay away from Crawford Market. He shared his feelings for Malcolm about Roshan’s illness, Sohrab’s disappointment, Jimmy Bilimoria’s expulsion, and the Church of Mount Mary. This connection helped Gustad cope with his grief and find solace in their relationship.
Malcolm and Gustad visit Mount Mary, a church that welcomes all faiths. They witness a police station and Doberman pinschers attacking dummies. Gustad feels pre-ordination and a sense of pre-ordination. As they walk home, he encounters a woman with a sixth sense for meat, causing fear. This experience brings back memories of college Sundays and the importance of faith in adversity.
III– Gustad visits Dinshawji and plans to visit the hospital early. He meets Malcolm at Grant Road station and meets an old woman who brings candles for Mount Mary. They buy quality candles near the church. Malcolm negotiates a fare with a taxi driver, but Gustad insists on medium-sized candles. They climb a hill and see sea slices coruscating. Malcolm suggests they go to the beach after church, highlighting the importance of maintaining balance in daily life.
Children gather in a taxi to buy candles for their church. Malcolm and an elderly woman guide Gustad, suffering from a hip injury, through the wax world. They offer wax products for friends in hospital, like Roshan and Sohrab. Gustad relinquishes the wax purchases and lights candles. They enter a crowded church, where candles cast a brilliant orange glow. Gustad notices a gold-embroidered statue of Baby Jesus, and prays for Roshan’s health, Dinshawji’s suffering, and Sohrab’s good sense.
Gustad and Malcolm sit on a boulder, discussing their past, politics, and the state of Pakistan. Gustad reflects on his father’s violin and piano playing, while Malcolm discusses the Refugee Relief Tax and his bank job. Gustad stays at Mount Mary, feeling both joy and sadness, recalling old times and the upcoming visit to Bandra station. He repeats the word “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” to compensate for missing the visit.
