The Bridge Home

The chapter begins with Viji offering her comb to Arul. He attempts to use it, only to break it and have half of it get stuck in his hair.

Arul and Viji discuss prayer, with Arul holding a Christian view shared by Muthu—who is not sure if he is a Christian just because he said the words—that they will die, get wings, and fly around heaven. Viji holds different views: God is both genders and prayer does not change things.

The girls go with the boys to a recycler, where Arul and Viji—who is frightened by the unwelcome attention of the junk dealer—receive jute sacks that they take to a huge, foul-smelling mountain of garbage that the boys call “the Himalayas.” Viji describes it, saying, “Mounds and mounds of junk and waste stretched out like mountain range. The fragrance of wilted jasmine flowers mingled with the smell of goat droppings and every other bad smell imaginable” (57).

Rukku is repulsed by the stench of the garbage heap. She sits beneath an acacia thorn tree stringing beads together as Viji and the boys wade into the garbage mountain.

Viji’s feet disappear as she walks into the pulpy mound of waste.