Pyre

by Perumal Murugan

entire village bears a mark of impurity if there is a woman here whose caste or family are unknown.

‘You will have respect as long as you stay with the crowd. You will lose it as soon as you start going your way,’

Caste! Which caste is Soda Shop Bhai from? Wasn’t he the one who offered me the job? If he hadn’t done that, how could I have made some money? Which man from my caste came to my aid? Kumaresan wanted to ask his mother all this.