Chapter 7 Summary

Krishna pauses his translation when the proprietor demands that they leave. It is past closing time and he is paying for electricity. Rather than postpone the rest of the story, Bobby gives the man a 20-rupee note (U.S. $3) and the narration resumes: Sanjay feels it is an easy task in Calcutta. They learn how animal and human remains are handled and head to the Sassoon Morgue. Claiming to be from Varanasi, Sanjay and Muktananandaji seek the bodies of two imaginary cousins, Samar and Kamila, who are said to have died recently in the city. Their stories do not match and the attendant suspects that they might be medical students. Sanjay identifies a body, but is informed of all the red tape and fees (almost 2,000 rupees) required before they can remove it. They leave. A driver informs them that most unclaimed bodies go...