Thirst

After arriving at school late many times, Minni is finally denied entry by the security guard. In a meeting with the principal and Miss Shah, Miss Shah defends Minni and asks for understanding given Minni’s exceptional circumstances. The principal feigns sympathy but ultimately decides that Minni will not be allowed to attend school on the days she is late. Chapter 27 consists only of a poem by Minni, in which she reveals that she has been unable to make it to class. “What is going to become of me?” she asks (114).

On one of the many days she cannot make it to school, Minni runs into Latika, an older girl who is a neighbor and friend of Sanjay’s. Latika overhears some older women from the neighborhood discussing how they think it would be best for Minni to drop out of school altogether and decides to take Minni under her wing for the day. Latika has a job selling magazines on the street, and since her coworker is out sick, Minni is free to join her.

Minni watches Latika struggle to sell the magazines to pedestrians and marvels at her skills of social observation. The girls also watch a teenage mother who sells flowers while holding a baby on her hip.