Who

Above : Blood relationship Family Tree of main characters.

Meet and greet the characters of the book below - in rough order of introduction.

Moktah
A plump man who runs the Salvation Army Red Sheild Hostel in Colaba, Mumbai. Moktah is man who knows much of Mumbai and India's ways. Moktah drives Sanjev to work harder and gets easily frustrated at his lack of work ethic.

Sanjev
Moktahs twenty year old son. He works as a cleaner at the hostel who will one day inherit the business. He is more modern and does not wish to follow his father’s footsteps.

Idrish
The Taxi Driver from the Airport, his name means Fiery Lord. Abrupt to start with he softens as business increases.

Mr Eji Prakesh
Aged in his sixties this is grumpy tormented man who employs the boy. He is uneducated and manages to run his pipe supply business. He is deeply superstitious man in that he believes the water brought from the well each day will ward off bad luck he is having with his business.

Narayana "The Boy"
His name means "path of man". Born just after his fathers death. Narayna overcomes some of lifes toughest obstacles and presents a lesson in humainty for all of us.

Mahindra
Mahindra is the same age as Narayana. She lives in the slum and her hut that she shares with her adoptaive Aunty backs onto that which Narayana lives. Mahindra often sees the boy at the water well. She is adventurous for a yound indian girl and will not allow her elder brother Ragi to hold her back.

Shri
Narayanas mother, She is Kshitij's dearly loved wife - her name means “diffusing light, radiance, beauty". She has a passion for others well being and happiness. Much of Narayana's values were learnt from his mother before her untimely death.

Nupee
Narayanas wise grandmother – Narayana was never told why she was called Nupee – and he never knew her real name. He also knew little of his grandfather.
Nupee had happy lifer with her husband Rupin and thier child Kshitij.

Ajit
Shris brother. The uncle of Narayana who is always in trouble. Struggling in life his debts consume him and eventually his extended family. Ajit's name means "he who has not been conquered" or "invincible". Ajit is one of those unfortunate souls who is unable to escape a rut that his life has places him in.

Ragi
Mahindras Brother – also - a good close and trusted friend to Narayana. Ragi engineers the plan to rescue Nupee. Ragi has an uncle Johi who assists in the safe relocation of Nupee.
In life though - as you will read - not all the people close to you can be trusted.

Kshitij
The boys father - his name means "born of the earth", he was born on a village dark dirt floor. He is a man of strong values which he and his wife will pass on to thier children.

Nagendra
Means "lord of snakes" , the mysterious gang leader whom drinks the life blood from the poor and poverished.

Asha
Narayanas Sister – her name means - hope; aspiration. Asha is forced against her will into paid prostitution from a young age. Will she find a happy ending?

Prashanti
Shri’s best and trusted friend in the village.

Rajin
Nupees Husband. Narayana grew up not knowing his grandfather, and very little of Nupee. Nupee and Rajin enjoyed a happy life until his early death.

Johi
Ragi's uncle has serious body odour problems. Johi has two sides to his personality.