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The God of Small Things - Get a Free Blog

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But this time, for Ammu and her two-egg twins, there was no<br />

Plymouth window to watch it through. No net to save them as they<br />

vaulted through the circus air.<br />

Pack your things and leave, Chacko had said. Stepping over<br />

a broken door. A handle in his hand. And Ammu, though her hands<br />

were trembling, hadn‟t looked up from her unnecessary hemming.<br />

A tin <strong>of</strong> ribbons lay open on her lap.<br />

But Rahel had. Looked up. And seen that Chacko had<br />

disappeared and left a monster in his place.<br />

A thicklipped man with rings, cool in white, bought Scissors<br />

cigarettes from a platform vendor. Three packs. To smoke in the<br />

train corridor.<br />

For Men <strong>of</strong> Action<br />

SatisfAction.<br />

He was Estha‟s escort. A Family Friend who happened to be<br />

going to Madras. Mr Kurien Maathen.<br />

Since there was going to be a grown-up with Estha anyway,<br />

Mammachi said there was no need to waste money on another<br />

ticket. Baba was buying Madras-Calcutta. Ammu was buying<br />

Time. She too had to pack her things and leave. To start a new life,<br />

in which she could afford to keep her children. Until then, it had<br />

been decided that one twin could stay in Ayejnenem. Not both.<br />

Together they were trouble. nataS ni rieht scye . <strong>The</strong>y had to be<br />

separated.<br />

Maybe they‟re right, Ammu‟s whisper said as she packed<br />

his trunk and hold-all. Maybe a boy does need a Baba.<br />

<strong>The</strong> thicklipped man was in the coup‚ next to Estha‟s. He<br />

said he‟d try and change seats with someone once the train started.<br />

For now he left the little family alone.<br />

He knew that a hellish angel hovered over them. Went where<br />

they went Stopped where they stopped. Dripping wax from a bent<br />

candle.<br />

Everybody knew.

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