Chapter 9 Summary

Saladin Chamcha receives an urgent telegram that his father is dying. He drops everything to catch a flight to Bombay. At the airport, however, he is plagued by memories of the hijacked flight. Sisodia, Gibreel's producer friend, strikes up a conversation intending to ease Saladin's obvious fear. They continue to chat during the flight and Sisodia mentions that Gibreel's comeback has been a flop. He remembers that Saladin is an actor and offers to get him work "back home" in India. Saladin thinks about what he's left behind and what awaits him back home. The Shaandaar has been rebuilt by Mishal and her new husband, Hanif. Saladin is comforted to know that all the bogus racketeering charges were dropped against his friends at the Hot Wax Club, too.

As for what awaits him in India, the local papers are full of political, ethnic...