The God of Small Things - Get a Free Blog

snacks. Comrade Pillai, grateful for the misunderstanding,
perpetuated it.
“No no no. Hah! What is this? Edi Kalyani, bring a plate of
those avalose oondas.”
As an aspiring politician, it was essential for Comrade Pillai
to be seen in his chosen constituency as a man of influence. He
wanted to use Chacko‟s visit to impress local supplicants and Party
Workers. Pothachen and Mathukutty. the men he had sent for,
were villagers who had asked him to use his connections at the
Kottayam hospital to secure nursing jobs for their daughters.
Comrade Pillai was keen that they be seen waiting outside his
house for their appointment with him. The more people that were
seen waiting to meet him, the busier he would appear, the better
the impression he would make. And if the waiting people saw that
the factory Modalali himself had come to see him, on his turf, he
knew it would give off all sorts of useful signals.
“So! comrade!” Comrade Pillai said, after Latha had been
dispatched and the avalose oondas had arrived. “What is the news?
How is your daughter adjusting?” Hc insisted on speaking to
Chacko in English.
“Oh fine. She‟s fast asleep right now.”
“Oho. Jet lag, I suppose,” Comrade Pillai said, pleased with
himself for knowing a thing or two about international travel.
“What‟s happening in Olassa? A Party meeting?” Chacko
asked.
“Oh, nothing like that. My sister Sudha met with fracture
sometime back,” Comrade Pillai said, as though Fracture were a
visiting dignitary. “So I took her to Olassa Moos for some
medications. Some oils and all that. Her husband is in Patna, so she
is alone at inlaws‟ place.”
Lenin gave up his post at the doorway, placed himself
between his father‟s knees and picked his nose.
“What about a poem from you, young man?” Chacko said to
him. `Doesn‟t your father teach you any?”
Lenin stared at Chacko, giving no indication that he had