Radhika gazed out of the window trying to absorb the hustle and bustle of this

teeming new city, so very different from her native village or even Kathmandu.

She had little idea where she was, only that Pariyar had taken her to a flat in

Chennai after she was discharged from hospital.

Located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, Chennai city has a

population of 4.34 million and the wider area of metropolitan Chennai has an

estimated population of over 8.2 million.

The city itself was established in the 17th century by the British, but some

parts like Triplicane and its outskirts are almost 2,000 years old. Upon settling,

the British developed Chennai into a major urban centre and naval base. By the

20th century, it had become an important administrative centre. Today, the city

is an economic force to be reckoned with inside India. Its economy has a broad

industrial base in the car, technology and hardware industries and it is also a

major centre for music, art and culture in India. The city is also known for its

classical dance shows and historic Hindu temples. The Tamil film industry, one

of the largest in India, is based in the city; the soundtracks of the films it

produces dominate its music scene.

Pariyar arranged for Radhika to be transported to a temporary apartment in

central Chennai, which was being rented by Radhika’s former employers.

While the patient had already jetted home to Kathmandu to recuperate in the

luxurious surroundings of her townhouse, Radhika was left to recover from her

ordeal in a much more pedestrian locale. On the second floor of a three-storey

building in a small complex off a main road, the apartment was basic but clean

and consisted of two bedrooms, a small lounge area and bathroom.

For Radhika it became hell. Some mornings when she awoke on the low

wooden bed to the blankness of the whitewashed walls, she would momentarily

think she was back on the hospital ward. That thought immediately caused her to

break out in a cold, clammy sweat.