Chapter 2, Kalyug, Section I Summary

Early in September, the train schedule becomes completely unpredictable in Mano Majra, which substantially changes everyone's schedules, making life generally unpredictable. A unit of Sikh soldiers comes to town as well and pitches tents near the train station; they stop all trains from Delhi. One morning, a train from Pakistan stops at Mano Majra, but this one has an eerie element since it has no signs of life.

A village meeting is held, but the only people who speak are Imam Baksh and Bhai Meet Singh, the mullah of the mosque and the Bhai of the Sikh temple respectively. The Imam is a weaver who ordinarily would not be respected, but his wife and only son had died within a few days of each other and he went blind and was forced to beg. He has a...