A Fine Balance

Ishvar and Om settle into their home in the shantytown. They quickly learn that water only flows from the communal pump in the morning. In line at the pump, they meet their next-door neighbor, Rajaram, who gives them a few pointers about the area, like using the nearby railroad tracks as an outdoor latrine. Rajaram tells them about his business as a hair-collector. He cooks them food because they haven’t gotten a stove for themselves yet. He also helps them stop the leaks in their roof when monsoon season arrives.

When Ishvar protests that he and his nephew won’t be staying in the shantytown long, Rajaram doesn’t think that Ishvar’s optimism is realistic: “Sometimes people have no choice. Sometimes the city grabs you, sinks its claws into you, and refuses to let go” (172). He advises them to get ration coupons the next day. When Ishvar and Om apply for their coupons, an official refuses to issue them because the shantytown isn’t a real address. However, he also hints that if one of them would be willing to get a vasectomy, he would approve their ration cards. The government is pushing voluntary sterilization, so the official has a quota to meet.