The Hungry Tide

Kanai drops his things off in his room before heading to the roof to watch the sunset. Afterwards, he seeks out Nirmal’s old study. He finds the envelope his aunt had mentioned addressed to him, written more than twenty years ago. He opens the package and finds a single notebook “of the kind generally used by schoolchildren” (57). On the first page is a letter addressed to Kanai. His uncle says he is writing from “‘an island on the southern edge of the tide country…Morichjhapi…’” (57), which translates to “Pepper Island.” Kanai reads further—Nirmal wrote this letter from a hut belonging to Kusum and Fokir, who was then a child. In the letter, Nirmal is concerned with how much time he has, and only hopes that the letter will one day reach Kanai. For Kusum’s sake, he begs Kanai, “read on” (58).

Piya takes stock, noticing that the boat is “the nautical equivalent of a shanty” (59). Fokir creates a modesty curtain so Piya can change out of her wet clothes. She is touched by this act of kindness. After changing, Piya sits on the deck, enjoying “being out on the water, alert and on watch” (61).