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Chacko was puzzled to see everybody back so early, but
pretended otherwise. He kept eating.
The original plan had been that Estha would sleep with
Chacko, and Rahel with Ammu and Baby Kochamma. But now
that Estha wasn‟t well and Love had been re-apportioned (Ammu
loved her a little less), Rahel would have to sleep with Chacko, and
Estha with Ammu and Baby Kochamma.
Ammu took Rahel‟s pajamas and toothbrush out of the
suitcase and put them on the bed.
“Here,” Ammu said.
Two clicks to close the suitcase.
Click. And click.
“Ammu,” Rahel said, “shall I miss dinner as my
punishment?”
She was keen to exchange punishments. No dinner, in
exchange for Ammu loving her the same as before.
“As you please,” Ammu said. “But I advise you to eat. If you
want to grow, that is. Maybe you could share some of Chacko‟s
chicken.”
“Maybe and maybe not,” Chacko said.
“But what about my punishment?” Rahel said. “You haven‟t
given me my punishment!”
“Some things come with their own punishments,” Baby
Kochamma said. As though she was explaining a sum that Rahel
couldn‟t understand.
Some things come with their own punishments. Like
bedrooms with built-in cupboards. They would all learn more
about punishments soon. That they came in different sizes. That
some were so big they were like cupboards with built-in bedrooms.
You could spend your whole life in them, wandering through dark
shelving.
Baby Kochamma‟s goodnight kiss left a little spit on Rahel‟s
cheek. She wiped it off with her shoulder.
“Goodnight Godbless,” Ammu said. But she said it with her
back. She was already gone.