Boys without Names Read Online Free PDF

taught me a game and nowis giving me his deck of cards. “Thank you,” I mumble.
    I slip the cards in the cloth bag on top of my notebook after Baba takes out our luggage from under the bench. Aai wakes up the twins just as we pull into the platform. As soon as they get up I fold the rug and hand it to Baba. Quickly, he stuffs it in one of the bags.
    â€œChala, chala,” Baba says as he rushes toward the door carrying the jute sacks.
    I follow him with the cotton bag. When the train stops, there are people waiting to get on the train, and they charge forward. “ Thahro , wait,” Card-Man shouts at them. Baba gets down first, then Aai. Card-Man picks up Naren and Sita and hands them to Baba. He helps me pass the luggage down to Baba. Finally, I get off. Some people have wiggled past me and others are clamoring up the steps. I check to make sure we have everything.
    On the platform a sea of people surround us. Aai holds Naren’s and Sita’s hands, and we are all wide-eyed. Unlike the small, empty station near our dusty village, Thane station is filled with moving people—women dressed in colorful saris and dresses, men running to catch the train, vendors shouting their wares. The smell of fried food and hot tea mixes in the air with Marathi, Hindi, and many other languages.
    A group of women dressed in expensive clothes walk past us. They’re wearing gold necklaces and bangles. A young girl has a bag on a wheel. Sometimes I used to carry these kinds of bags in Matheran, but I could neverwheel them, because streets in Matheran are not even and smooth like this platform. There is a long bridge that passes from one side of the station to the other, spanning several platforms. The bridge is filled with pedestrians crossing in a hurry. We move to a side near a stall selling magazines and newspapers. I wonder if Jama has magazines and books at his home.
    â€œYou stay here. I’m going to find out how we get to Mumbai,” Baba says to us, and hurries off.
    When I look up to thank Card-Man, he has disappeared. I peek through the window and wave at him to get his attention. There are many more people jammed in that compartment than before and it is hard to see him. Finally when he looks at me the train blows a whistle and moves forward. I shout, “Thank you, thank you!”
    â€œWho are you shouting ‘thank you’ to?” Naren asks.
    â€œThe man sitting next to us who bought us tea, helped us get off the train, and gave me a deck of cards to play with.”
    â€œHe gave you cards?” Naren’s eyes sparkle. “If we meet him again I will say hello to him.”
    I ruffle his hair. “ Khajoor! In the city there are so many people you won’t ever see him again.”
    â€œDon’t call me stupid.” He stomps his feet. “If he lives in Mumbai and we get there, we might see him. And when we do, I am going to talk to him.”
    â€œYou do that,” I say, just to shut him up.
    â€œI will,” Naren says, folding his arms across hischest. “You should too.”
    â€œI’ll do what I want to do.” I turn to Aai. “Do you see Baba?” I whisper.
    She shakes her head.
    Naren scans the platform. “What if Baba doesn’t come back? What if he gets lost?” He tugs at my hand.
    I look at Aai and we both burst out laughing. “Why are you laughing?” Naren asks.
    â€œBecause you think we will meet that stranger in this big city and you think we will lose our own baba because we don’t see him at the moment.”
    â€œIt isn’t funny,” Naren says.
    â€œNo.” Sita stomps her foot.
    Aai kneels down and takes them both in her arms. “Your baba will be back any minute.” She takes out two pieces of rock sugar from a cloth pouch and gives one to each of them to suck on. I want one too, but if we had enough Aai would have given one to me. It is not fair being the oldest. I avoid