Summary

Ajay is now in 8th grade. Visitors continue to come to the Mishra's home to provide company and support for a family that is fairly isolated from the rest of the community, due to Birju's condition. Sometimes it was just women, sometimes it was whole families. After they left, Rajinder would go upstairs and Shuba and Ajay would play cards next to Birju. Despite being with his mother, Ajay continues to feel alone.

Rajinder's drinking gets worse in Chapter 9. Though Ajay mentions that occasionally his parents get along and do nice things for one another, overall Rajinder's drinking has begun impacting his ability to care for Birju, leaving Shuba and Ajay to do more of the work. Having to bathe Birju by himself makes Ajay feel that his family is not good enough to provide what Birju needs; Ajay wishes for them to be...