Summary

Ram Karan works as the corrupt moneyman for Mr. Gupta, the supervisor of Delhi’s physical education department. At work, Ram shows “general incompetence and laziness” (11). Both Ram and Mr. Gupta are members of the Congress Party; the rival BJP, a Hindu nationalist party, is expected to perform well in the upcoming elections. Ram lives in a small flat with his widowed daughter, Anita, and his eight-year-old granddaughter Asha. Recently, he had a heart attack and his wife and son-in-law both died. Ram and his co-worker, Mr. Mishra, visit Asha’s school in order to extort the principal. Ram, feeling “ruthless and powerful” (26), receives a large bribe. On his way home, Ram visits a temple to secure a pundit for his wife’s upcoming death anniversary. The pundit, however, is in Ram’s home village blessing a new ice cream factory.

That night...