Ch. 9&10

Rahel and Estha finally invited Sophie Mol to meet Velutha. She had been sitting a the garden herself and when they asked what was wrong she said that she was lonely. They just played a make-believe game. During the game they painted Velutha's nails red. I think this is symbolic because he is was at a rally for his political group whose color is red. Rahel also referred to him as a victim. I think that this will foreshadow his death somehow. Maybe he will die in at rally for his cause. The playtime just ends with the same phrase that has been said numerous signs throughout the book. The phrase is "it's true things can change in a day." This is very true. This story is leading up to something very big.

Next, Rahel and Estha leave their afternoon nap to go and explore. They find an abandoned boat. Across the river is where Velutha lives, so they decide to go over there. Only his paralyzed brother is home. There is a comment made that he is lying in the 'death' corner where he and Velutha's mother had died. It says that he thinks he is the next in the family to die, but he is wrong. This is referring to Velutha obviously. They have been hinting so much that I just want to know what is going to happen. Also, Velutha's brother talks about the river. He says that it seems to be very calm, but it is misleading. He said that they should be careful when they are going to go out on it. This made me remember something from the very beginning of the story at Sophie Mol's funeral, Rahel said that she was wrinkley from being in the water to long. Maybe they all go out on the river and something bad happens.

Velutha finds the children at his house. The sight of them makes him think of their mother Ammu. He says things to himself to try to make himself hate her. He wants to because she is touchable, but he just doesn't. I am starting to wonder if the two of them already had an affair, and they are both trying to get over the idea of being together because they know that it is impossible. Velutha is going to help the children fix up the boat because there are some holes in it. They leave very quickly so that their mother doesn't know that they left.