Thirst by Varsha Bajaj

Minni lives in Mumbai, in a part of the city that is very poor, where there is often not enough water. Her family doesn't have running water in their home, instead they rely on an outside tap that they share with their neighbours. Minni's Ma must wake up early to fill their buckets with water because the taps only supply water for two hours in the morning and one hour in the evening. 

Minni's fifteen-year-old brother Sanjay dreams of becoming a chef one day. Currently he is working doing food prep in  a restaurant. Minni's baba runs a tea shop named Jai Ho where the neighbourhood loves to hang out and hear the local gossip. Minni's best friend is Faiza, who is Muslim.

One night, Sanjay's friend Amit tells them that his uncle Ram, who is a chauffeur, has a new car tonight. Amit offers to take Sanjay for a ride. Both Minni and Faiza begged to be included. Ram Uncle agrees to take the four of them for a ride and they drive through Mumbai in delicious air conditioning. During the ride Uncle stops at a building near the Western railway tracks. Behind the tracks they see a large water truck . Instead of obeying Uncle, Amit and Sanjay leave the Mercedes promising only to go as far as the fence by the tracks. However, they climb over the fence and Minni, worried about her brother, steps out of the car. 

In the dark, Minni sees that a hose attached to the tanker truck is draining water from the pipeline nearby. When Sanjay sneezes, revealing their presence, a man begins searching the area where Sanjay and Amit are hiding. In the light of the flashlight, Minni notices that the man has a pale scar on his cheek. He grabs Sanjay but Amit kicks him in the leg and both boys manage to flee, crossing the tracks before an oncoming train. Ram Uncle returns to the car and they speed away to safety. 

When they tell Ram Uncle what happened, he is furious, admonishing them not to be curious about what "tankers are doing in the night." Amit tells him that Ravi who is from their neighbourhood, recognized them but told them to run. They believe he will not say anything. 

The next day, any hopes that this will blow over are dispelled when Minni returns home after to school to find Ram Uncle and Amit at their house. Minni's parents are furious and terrified especially when they see the newspaper headline, "Mumbai Ruled By Water Mafia". Uncle tells Minni's family that the water mafia are dangerous people and that they need to send Sanjay and Amit away. He tells them that Ravi has been talking about them, believing them to be part of a rival gang. Uncle explains that they steal water and sell it for huge profits.  When Minni suggests going to the police her father tells her that they wouldn't be believed because they are uneducated slum dwellers and that the police are often bribed.

Amit and Sanjay are sent away to Delhi where they will be taken to Uncle's relative's farm so they can work for him. Sanjay doesn't want to leave, but after quickly packing he and Amit leave with Uncle. The next morning Minni explains to Faiza what has happened and both girls are scared.

A week after Sanjay leaves home, Minni and Faiza receive their packages to help them study for the final exam which is less than a month away. However, Minni's mother seems to be ill: she is tired all the time and doesn't eat much. Minni takes her to the clinic where the doctor tells her to rest and takes blood for tests. Minni's mother decides that she will go to stay with her mother and youngest sister in their village. There, she can rest and be cared for. However, this means big changes for Minni. She will take on her mother's job as housekeeper at Anita Ma'am's home after school.

Minni faces a daunting new few weeks: she must do all her mother's chores, study for her final exam and work at Anita Ma'am's house after school. With the help of her neighbours and friends, Minni manages to do all of this. But then she uncovers the identity of the man responsible for stealing water. How can she tip off police while keeping herself and her family safe?

Discussion

Thirst presents young readers a window into the lives of the very poor, the slum dwellers of Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India. Most young people in North America, take for granted having water, hot and cold, at the twist of a tap. But for residents of the slums of Mumbai, it's not so simple. 

According to an article in The Indian Express there are over ten thousand wells in Mumbai, but more than two thousand tanker trucks steal water from these wells and sell it to residents at high prices. Instead of dealing with the so called "water mafia" to prevent water theft, the local government is pursuing the development of a desalination plant.

Bajaj provides some information on the water mafia in her story. Mumbai is built on seven islands and its water supply comes from these islands. However, many residents in the lower income neighbourhoods like where Minni and her family live, must line up in the morning and evening to fill containers with water. Many buildings do not have water during the day. Bajaj demonstrates the risks poorer residents of Mumbai face as a result of a lack of clean water: Minni's mother is found to be suffering from Hepatitis A, a water borne illness that is easily preventable with clean water and also through vaccination. There is also the risk Sanjay, Amit and Ravi encountered of stumbling onto water theft and losing their lives for this knowledge.

In Thirst, Bajaj has crafted a clever, kind heroine in Minni, who like many young girls around the world, aspires to an education and often achieves it while overcoming enormous obstacles. The author also portrays the close-knit community that helps Minni achieve her dreams in whatever help they can offer, whether it is through meals, carrying water or sharing work. Bajaj shows them to be resilient, and hard-working.

Thirst offers a satisfying, happy ending, with resolutions to the many crises in the novel. Readers wanting to learn more about Mumbai's water issues can check out the website The Water Story. 

Book Details:

Thirst by Varsha Bajaj
New York: Nancy Paulsen Books    2022
179 pp.