“He is arrogant because he’s got some money now.”

“It’s all from this new business, right? He thinks no one can throw a wrench in that. If I set my mind to it, I can make sure Dhamu starts losing money within twenty-four hours! His earnings will get slashed in half. That should put him in his place. If that does not work, I can always pull out the big guns. I’ve already got a plan . . . but no point telling you about it now, though. You can’t get it done on your own. Not just you in particular. Everyone’s scared of him now. I mean, I agree he is a total thug, but you all have turned him into a big man by being so scared of him!”

“Me?” Khader said. “Why would I be afraid of that stupid dog? I’ve known three generations of that family. His grandmother worked in the maharaja’s palace. Her job was to make beds. I know how his people made their living! They pimped out all their pretty girls to any royal men they could find. If you ask him his father’s name, he’ll give you a different one every week. Why the hell would I be scared of such a man?!”

“No need to dig into that sewer, annachi! No need at all to dig into that wide, wide sewer,” said Isakki, holding his nose.

“Well, you were the one making a big deal about it!”

“No, brother. I am not making a big deal of it. I am just sick and tired of everyone’s behavior. They stand up the moment they see him, they make sure their veshtis are not folded in his presence, they salute to him, they keep calling him ‘our leader’ . . . These stupid bastards are out of control.”

“See, wherever there’s a butcher shop, there will always be a few stray dogs sniffing around. There’s nothing we can do about it.”

“But he has us over the barrel, annachi! Let’s say I go over there tomorrow and chop down the tamarind tree. What will he do about it? Tell me,” asked Isakki.

“Chop down the tamarind tree? What are you talking about! He will be glad about it. There’ll be fewer leaves on the ground. He’ll have to sweep in front of the store only once, in the morning. He will be happy he won’t have to sweep again at dusk.”

“But his cashbox will be empty, annachi! His cashbox will be empty!”

“You are not making any sense.”

“Oh, I am making perfect sense. I have thought about this, annachi. His business does not depend on the actual items he sells. You can find the same stuff in a hundred shops around here. His business relies on the shade of the tree. If we take away the shade, his business will collapse. No doubts about that.”