Summary

In Chapter 17, Tazim questions Rakhi about Ganesh Chaturthi. She heard people saying they saw Rakhi “with a handsome fellow” (187). Desperate to keep Alex secret, Rakhi tells her she saw Babloo for the first time in 11 years. Tazim insists Rakhi see him at once.

Rakhi meets up with Babloo. Although Rakhi tries reminiscing with him, Babloo refuses to talk about what happened to him. She is upset he has been in Bombay the whole time, but never tried finding her. He finally says he took the blame for their crime because he was the only one who could have survived Dongri.

Rakhi analyzes her time with Babloo. Although his “manner was the same,” “something was keeping him from opening up” (191). She remembers what Rakhi Tilak had told her at Chowpatty Beach.

One day, Babloo negotiated with a group of men to keep the kids...