Summary

Negotiations: Kanai and Piya arrive at Moyna and Fokir’s home and Piya tells Moyna she would like to give them some money as a thank you for Fokir’s help. As Moyna holds out her hand, Fokir says that it would be bad luck to accept the money. Piya, through Kanai, asks Fokir if he will take her back to Garjontola. She will pay him $300 for five days. Moyna is ecstatic at the offer but asks why Piya would hire an illiterate man. Piya explains that Fokir’s knowledge of the river is vitally important. They arrange to meet the following day and Piya notes that Fokir is smiling for the first time since they arrived and “for a moment it was as though he had become once again, the man she had known...