Ahimsa

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussions of violence.

Holi begins. The festival of colors starts with people in white, but by the end of the day, everyone’s coated in different colored powders. Anjali, feeling despondent, doesn’t join in this year’s festival. She isn’t sure how to integrate her school since it’s been destroyed and she fears for her friends’ lives after the attack on Mohan.

Her father feeds stray animals in the garden, and Anjali thinks about how she still hasn’t seen a peacock. Chachaji comes over, complaining about the noise from the festival. He adds that they need to find Anjali a husband. Infuriated, she leaves and goes to the basti. Paro is excited to see her. Another child says that they don’t know where Mohan went. Anjali apologizes, and Paro gives her a small methi plant for Holi. Anjali holds it tightly.

She then hears her teacher’s voice and is surprised that he’s in the basti. He says that the police aren’t concerned about him anymore, and he’s back in charge of the school. Anjali suggests having class under the peepal tree the next day with everyone. Since it’d be outside, no one would be sitting in the back.