The Hungry Tide

Nirmal’s journal. He and Horen set off in the boat for Lusibari. Horen questions what Nirmal will teach the children of Morichjhapi. Nirmal thinks, then replies that he will teach the children how the Ganga River came to be formed, millions of years ago, and how the Indian subcontinent emerged “at a speed no other landmass had ever attained before” (151). We know that the Ganga and the Sindhu rivers were once connected, Nirmal says, because of the river dolphin—where dolphins once lived in the ocean, they were nurtured by the connection to the river and evolved as a new species.

Piya and Fokir travel slowly to Lusibari. They eventually make landfall, and Fokir escorts her to the hospital before leaving. Piya has “an icy feeling of abandonment” (153). Kanai’s aunt greets her at the door and takes her to see Kanai. Piya tells them of her days with Fokir and Tutul, and of finding the dolphins. Piya had hoped there would be a hotel nearby, but Nilima tells her the only place to stay is in the guesthouse with Kanai.