Summary of The Village By The Sea.

Chapter One.
The story starts with a girl named Lila walking on the beach while thinking about her
miserable life and admiring everything around her. Lila was the eldest of three kids.
She had two younger sisters and a year younger brother. Lila wasnt like any other
kid; she dropped out of school and worked to provide money for her family (same
thing for his brother Hari). They had a sick mother who was to week to move and a
father who did nothing but sleep and get drunk. Hari (Lilas brother) was working one
day on the fields when a friend of his stopped by and began talking about the
factories that were going to be built in their village. These factories will facilitate
everything. Hari thought that maybe he might get a chance of working there. But how
to work in a factory when hes not even educated. Lila and Hari talked about their
family situation and the fact that they are running out of money and no one knew
what else to do.

The chapter continues as Bella and Kamal came back from school and when to the
beach to collect Molluscs for dinner. At the beach there were mothers, grandmothers
and kids working with love unlike Bella and Kamal. People there started gossiping
about the rich family as they walked by. They talked about their innumerable fishes
and boats.

Pinto the dog has been introduced to the story. The narrator talked about his story
and how did he become a part of Lilas family. Pinto was a village mans puppy (the
man was also named pinto). When the man disappeared and left his puppys behind,
Kamal picked the weakest one of all and took it home.

Chapter two.
The Chapter started with Lila who was at the market going to buy some home
supplies with the money that she had. A new character got introduced to the story,
her name is Mina she is Lilas friend and it seemed that she doesnt live under poor
and miserable conditions like Lila, her family seems richer we saw that when Mina
went to the market with Lila and she bought hair products and many other things she
didnt seem to care that much about the money that she spent. In the mean while
Bijus boat was being built and thanks to Lila and Minas conversation the reader now
knows that he is rich because he was a smuggler.

A conversation between Kamal, Bella and Hari was held Hari was talking to his
sisters how rich people were smuggler and he clarified that all he wants is to become
rich even if it means going away or even becoming a smuggler himself.

The DaSilvas are a very rich family from Bombay who had bought a house by the
sea in Thul. They came every now and then to spend time near the sea. Hari was
very busy since their arrival because [Link] charged him of some chores and he
paid him (That means that when they came Hari kind of had a temporary job). Even
Lila was in charge of house work, she swept the floors, cleaned around, tidied up the
place They seemed nice they even gave Bella and Kamal some old toys and
sweets. When they were about to leave, [Link] asked Hari if his father might be
interested of getting a job as guarding there house, but sadly when he met him he
insulted him and refused to give him the job because of his drunken attitude and
lifestyle.
Harry was very affected and disappointed with the conversation and the insulation of
[Link]. He went to have a walk and there he met a man whom had a talk with
about the factories that were being built. This man was responsible of the factories
and started talking about how big they will be even bigger than the ones near the city.
I think he made it clear that he wont let the unemployed of Thul work there because
they were uneducated Hari was kind of discouraged and he went back home.

In the end of the chapter Lila, Bella and Kamal were sitting all together near the fire in
the dark, the looked sad and gloomy. But Why?

Chapter three:
In the ending of chapter two, Hari walked in on his sisters and found them in a
gloomy mood and they seemed unhappy. This chapter is the explanation of the
reason of their sadness and their apprehensive attitude. It all started one morning
when Lila found her mother worse than what she had been and realized that
something was wrong, she had very high fever. Lila was hopeless and didnt know
what to do; she barely had any money to call a doctor (they lived far away probably in
the city) or even take her to the hospital. So the only think she thought of was
sending her younger sisters next door to ask their neighbor if she could help their
mother. But their ironic and sadist neighbor sent them instead to a magic man to help
getting the evil spirits away from their mother. Later that evening with harry not back
Lila, Kamal and Bella were scourges because of the past events and it got even
worst when one of the three drunken brothers junctured and came over to ask for
money brusquely. He frightened them and mocked them (when Lila told him she
had no money and he was ironic about it Like father, like daughter. A family of liars,
no goods page 85). But his mother who was their next door neighbor interfered and
made him go away.

Chapter four.
The chapter starts with Hari who was walking around the village to get his mother ice,
when witnessed (along with a couple of villagers) a vague, rude and discouraging
conversation between Biju and a city man. Bijus boat was almost ready to go out
and start sailing in the wide open sea until an unknown city man came and told him
that Thul was useless and fish are shrinking and if he wanted to catch some fish he
would have to take his boat and sail far away because there was no fish anymore on
their land. The reader knows little about that strange man, but the narrator identifies
some traits like the fact that he worked and was kind of in charge of the factories that
were being built. He also knew a lot about the future of Thul he even shared it with
Biju and the people who were surrounding him (like that they would have to sell their
land so that the government can build many factories and there is nothing the
villagers can do about because no one will listen). When Hari got back from getting
the ice for his mother he heard screams and shouts from their hut, it was his sisters.
They were crying and wailing loudly because their dog pinto had been poisoned. The
girls believe that it was their neighbor (one of the three drunken brothers) who is in
charge of their dogs death hes the one that poisoned him; because when passed
by the other day he threatened them of killing their dog (taking revenge) if they did
not pay the money their father owed him. At last the chapter closes with Hari who is
sick of the misery that is surrounding him. He decided to run away and never coming
back to Thul.

Chapter five.
Bijus boat was ready to be launched and everyone in the village was waiting for the
tide so they could start sailing it. In the meanwhile men of the village were headed to
Bombay to protest and try to save their land by make an agreement. Not much
happened in this chapter in Thul only Bijus boat was waiting for the tide to come up
and it seemed that it wasnt coming up soon. They waited and Biju was furious, eager
and impatient. And unluckily the tide didnt come up as high as he wanted so that he
can lunch his boat. So the only thing he thought of was starting the engines manually
and they didnt give up easily precisely Biju they kept on trying several times. After
many days of working and trying it finally started and sailed thanks to Biju who was
always angry because of his workers failure of starting the boat. Haris friends
noticed that he wasnt around for the few days and no one knew where he was. But
the narrator identified in the end of the Chapter that he ran away as he wanted, far
away from Thul.

Chapter six
Page 108 to 126:
The chapter starts with Hari reaching Rewas and from there he took a bus with
strangers who were heading in his same direction and went to Bombay. On his way
he was hungry, confused and anxious each minute he got closer to Bombay. He
didnt expect that they would be many people going there to protest; even Adarkar
the organizer from Alibagh stood at the head of the stairs guiding the crowd so they
wont lose each other in this big city filled with people. Farmers, fishermen shouted
and sang with their commandments and Adarkar didnt stop reminding them why they
come all this way for. Hari didnt stop questioning himself if he was ready for this new
life and he didnt know if by coming to Bombay and leaving his family behind he had
done something wrong. He was confused.

Bombay was a surprise for Hari, he didnt imagine it that busy and crowded. He
couldnt believe their busy lifestyle and the cars, busse, taxis that he saw. The author
identified the fact that Hari doesnt know much about the city when he saw the traffic
lights and didnt know what to do. Even the policeman mocked him and claimed that
he should come back from where he came from because the government wont listen
to their commands.

Hari made a new friend whose name is Mahe. Mahe seems like villager as well who
came to fight for his rights. Hes the one who told Hari not to stop because they had
to go to the Kala Ghoda, The black Horse.

Three men gave speeches in a censure of a square to help these villagers fight for
their village, rights and stop the factories from getting built. The first one was Sayyid
Ali who gave a remarkable speech and seemed like he truly wanted to save the
village and prevent the factories from getting built. The second man didnt give a
convenient speech and even the listeners were glad when his short speech was
over. The last one to give the speech was their leader Adarkar who got the highest
cheers because he was one of them and truly wanted to save every one of thems
rights.
Page 127 to 131:
The second part of this chapter the author takes us back to the Hut in Thul. Lila was
totally surprised when her brother didnt come home for so long and she was worried
and wondering why. She didnt want to believe that he ran away, she knew that he
was somewhere around the village. The hut was empty and it was lonely without Hari
and Pinto. Lila needed Haris help so badly because she was in charge of everything.
When she sent her sisters to get some ice for their sick mother they bumped into
Mina who told them that Raju was informed that Hari was in Bombay participating in
the petition. As soon as they heard they went over to tell Lila the news she couldnt
believe that her brother ran away and left them.

The chapter ends with Lila informing her sisters that The De Silvas were back.

Chapter seven.
Hari was lost and didnt know what to do in Bombay. For hours he wandered around
the Black Horse, not daring to leave because he had no other place to go. Everything
was strange around him, even the people themselves werent trust worthy and
amiable. He had a conversation with a coconut seller who seemed to Hari strong,
wise and admirable but as soon as he walked away from him another strange man
came and warned him about him and saying that he is a killer. Hari was afraid from
the square and from a distance he saw something that looked familiar to him and
made him feel homesick The [Link] walked along between the sea and the
buildings. There he saw happy families eating, playing and having fun and
remembered something that could help him get along in Bombay. He had the De
Silvas address all along in his pocket.

Hari went to ask for direction and the man who indicated the way assured him in an
ironic way that this place was royal and only rich people live there. It was night when
he found the building Seabird. It was nothing he expected and other people lived
there. It was very crowded and when Hari finally found the apartment the door man
answered in a very rude way (he informed him that the De Silvas were in Thul, that
they had enough servants and are not in need for Haris help) and slammed the door
at his face.

Hira Lal, the watchman of Seabird saw Hari confused and lost without somewhere to
go. He proposed to help and took him to his friend Jagu. Jagu gave him food and
somewhere to sleep.

Chapter Eight.
From page 145 to 151:
Hari stayed at Jagus restaurant cheap restaurant called The Sri Krisna eating
house. It wasnt welcoming and Hari didnt feel welcomed but in the same time it was
so cheap even a beggar could afford it and he had nowhere else to go. Hari ate and
slept there and the next morning Jagu gave him more food. Hari proposed to pay his
meals by working the kitchen because he had no money. Jagu accepted his proposal
and made him work with two other young boys in return free meals and one rupee.

Hari started his work immediately along with the two other boys who werent friendly
and didnt talk at all with him. They had endless work and it was very hot. Hari met an
old man who worked at the store next door. The old man told him about the story of
the two boys who worked with Jagu. There were orphans and their parents died in a
train accident. As soon as he heard his story he decided to write his family a letter
informing them about his situation and hows he doing. But he did not tell when
where he is or when is he coming back.

From page 152 to 164:

Back in Thul, Lila and her sisters were helping the De Silvas settling in and getting
everything tidy. The cook asked about Hari because he needs his help during the
month that theyll be staying in. Lila told him that she will do the work instead of him
and her sisters will help as well.
The next day the De Silvas were in need of more bread so Mr. De Silva was going to
drive to Alibagh. Hearing this Lila dropped everything and went to ask him for a favor
of taking her mother and driving her to the hospital because shes getting weaker and
weaker. Mr. De Silva accepted and took her mother to the hospital and talked to the
doctor and nurses. The doctor said that her mother will be needing time to get better
and that they should come back later. Lila had no option but leaving her there and
when she came back next week she found her better and awake. For the first time
the reader saw Lilas father caring about something. When he heard that his wife
was in the hospital he flipped and insisted on going and staying with her. For the first
time Lila found him sober and not drunk, he accompanied his wife during her stay in
the hospital. Lila was supposed to be working for the Da Silva in return of her
mothers medicines and hospital care but they were so generous and told her that
she will be having a salary so that she and her sister can get what they need. They
even gave her father some money to buy food so that he could look after his wife
without being tiered. And also after they leave they will make her work at their friends
house.

The chapter closes with Bella and Kamal shouting with joy and informing Lila that
they heard from Hari.

Chapter nine.
The work was not easy in the firelit kitchen of the Sri Krishna Eating House. Hari
worked the hole and he was always tiered and didnt get any sleep. In Bombay the
weather was very hot and humid and that cause Haris lack of sleep and tiredness.
Hari even slept in the park because of the kitchens poor conditions and very hot
weather that kept him from sleeping. Jagu kept his promise and offered Hari food
and one rupee in return of his work. Also the watchmaker [Link] was always
here to advice Hari. He offered Hari extra work with a salary in his shop and told him
that hes going to make a watchmaker out if him.

Back in Thul, the De Silvas were packing and getting ready to leave. Lila, Bella and
Kamal were helping getting things in order. Her mum was still in the hospital and Mr.
De Silva told Lila that she will be staying there for a while. Her father who seemed
like a new person was still accompanying his wife and thanks to Mr. De Silva who
was always there with financial support they had money to afford their mothers stay
in the hospital and even had a lot of rice, tea, rice and more in their hut.

The De Silvas friend came before they left and settled in. Now Lila and her sisters
had no one to look after or take care of so they were all his. They cooked; swept,
made sure he ate his meals The visitor seems weird and doesnt stop observing
the nature and birds. Bella and Kamal assumed that he was studying birds but they
never talked with him because he seemed like a loner and didnt like company. His
name was Sayyiid Ali Shahib, even thought he was strange and hard to read, he
seemed like a nice man. He gave Bella and Kamal money to buy sweets and paid
Lila a salary in return of her work.

Now that money was possible everything was getting better and better for Lila and
her family. They didnt have many conflicts as they used to have.

Chapter ten:
From page 181 to page 197:
Hari was in Bombay still working in Jagus restaurant when the monsoon came. It
was in June, the clouds were dark and it was raining for week. [Link] had
been a great companion to Hari he treated him like his own son. The monsoon made
life hard for people in Bombay and when the storm started everyone stayed indoors
because everything was flooded.

Work was still very hard on Hari he was always tiered because Jagu didnt give them
some time off and the work was doubled. The young boy felt imprisoned in the
restaurant and had nowhere to go. He couldnt sleep in the park because it was
raining and he didnt have a family even [Link] was sick and his shop was
closed so Hari didnt have any company.

One night Jagu sensed Haris sickness and misery when he was sitting in the floor
alone looking out of the window while coughing and proposed to take him home with
him to spend the night and offer him medicine.

Now Hari had never seen where Jagu lived, he didnt even know much about him.
But for his big surprise he discovered that he was living as well under poor
circumstances and his house was made out of tin-can, rag and plastic sheets. When
Hari entered the house he found the floor covered with mud and the rain was
splashing in from the walls and the ceiling. Jagus Family was huddled on a string
bed; their belongings were in cardboard boxes

Hari was unwelcomed by Jagus wife. She kept on screaming and yelling that
bringing Hari was wrong because they couldnt afford a guest. When she pulled up a
fight with Jagu he left the house and went to Toddy to get drunk. Hari was left
helpless there and didnt know what to do, but the next morning he left because he
knew that there was no room for him there.

The following day the watchman from the tall building called Seabird, came to inform
Hari that the De Silvas were back and he might have a chance of getting a better job
if he goes and meets them. But Hari was confused and didnt know what to do or
whether to go or not.

Page 181 to 203:

Lila and her sisters were doing fine. When the monsoon came they stayed at home.
Their father stopped drinking and was always stayed by his wifes side in the
hospital. Thanks to the gentleman who was still around even in the monsoon season
and employed Lila and gave her money she could afford her house supplies and
more.
In Thul the fishermen could not stay at home without working and fishing so one day
they took their boats and went into the sea even if it was wild and there was a storm
coming. They neglected Bijus and went fishing. Unluckily the boats that sailed in this
bad weather were lost for four days and thanks to Biju who informed the navy and
coastguards they were able to save some of them, but sadly three died because of
the sinking of their boats.

The chapter ends with Lila, Bella and Kamal talking about how much they miss Hari
and that they hope for his comeback.

Chapter eleven.
[Link] and Hari were having a conversation at his apartment talking about the
fact that Hari shouldnt worry, hes going to go back home to his village soon when
the monsoon is over and the ferry start sailing again. When the watchmaker didnt go
to his shop Hari decided to stop by and visit him in his tiny apartment. They had a
long conversation about everything that had been going on and at the end they
concluded that Hari shouldnt have left his village in the first place and as soon as the
weather changes and coconut day comes Hari will leave the city. When he came
back to the restaurant to inform Jagu his boss, Jagu begged him to stay until the
Diwali and then leave so that he could hand over the job to his brother. Hari accepted
and even looked at it as a way to stay and learn some more from his old friend
[Link] who promised to teach him as much fixing watches skills as he could
so that one day he would have a business of his own.

Coconut day came and everyone was out celebrating kids were running around,
families were having picnics even Hari and [Link] were among these crowds
heading to Chowpatty with a green coconut carrying it to the sea as an offering to it
at the end of the season of storms, in thanksgiving for its safe end. Hari had never
seen anything like this and he was totally amused and excited to witness such a
thing. [Link] was being a very kind friend, he knew that Hari was saving all
his money for his sisters so he was the one who paid for him everything.

After staying in Bombay for a while Hari was becoming a real city boy.

Chapter twelve.
After Jagu and [Link] bought Hari a ticket to join the buss, he was finally back home. It was
very hard to say goodbye to the friends he had made in Bombay and he even promised to keep in
touch and send postcards. When Hari to Thul he went directly to his tent that bought him a lot
memories and things he had forgotten. Lila went out with hurry as soon as she heard him calling their
names, she was sure that he would be back home by this time. They had a lot to talk about, like Haris
new plans, Lilas mother being in the hospital, [Link] who was employing Lila and gave her
money

While eating Bela and Kamal arrived home and they were filled with hubbub when they saw their
brother. He gave them the present that he has gotten them from Bombay and told them the story of
his journey and hard work and thats where he got his money from. The girls were surprised when they
knew that his brother learnt how to repair watches and that he is planning on being the first
watchmaker
Now the family had the money they needed and went out to buy fish for dinner. They still had a lot to
talk about. Hari told the girls about everything that happened in Bombay and what he is willing to do
with the money hes got now. His plans excited the girls so much. The girls told him about the De
Silvas generosity and how they helped their mother. Hari who feared the news about his father was
surprised to know that he wasnt drinking anymore

Diwali was next morning and their mother will be coming back home.

Chapter 13:
On Diwali morning, Hari left his sisters to prepare for their mothers homecoming. He set off to Alibagh
because the doctors said that she would be coming home on that day. On his way there Hari met Ramu and he
gave Hari a lift. When they were on the road the young men talked about their updates and what was new.

When Hari arrived to the hospital, he met his father who hugged him and welcomed him. When it was time to
go in and see his mum, she couldnt believe her eyes. Hari couldnt even recognize his mum because she grew
better and was much stronger than last time he saw her. She was so happy that he finally came home.

Back in the Hut, the girls were getting ready for their mothers arrival, the prepared everything and placed
everything in order.

When their mum came home they all sat around the fire, sharing stories and enjoying their time. For the first
time their father talked about the past and how sorry he was for the past and how he was incharge of every
bad thing that happened including Pintos death.

Since Haris arrival he wanted to go and meet Sayiid-Alisahib who was very nice to his sisters when he was
away. HE recognized him from Bombay and they kept on talking about Haris future and how he had everything
planned. And Sayid even gave Hari his watch to repair (it was the first watch that he repaired since his arrival).

When he came back home Hari took his sisters to the Race on the beach. There everyone was
celebrating, playing, enjoying their time, watching the race. And while walking on the beach for the
first time enjoying everysecond without worrying about anything, they saw a beautiful lady walking
towards them with flowers in her hands. And for their surprise it was their mother