Thirst

In the concluding chapters of the novel, Minni overcomes the Compounding Effects of Resource Deprivation by embracing The Necessity of Standing Up to Injustice and the power of a Supportive Community in Times of Crisis.

Having discovered that Pinky’s father is the source of her neighborhood’s water woes and her own family’s struggles, Minni determines that she will try to bring him to justice. Neither making that choice nor carrying it out is easy: Her father’s “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” mantra reflects the danger of standing up against wealthy, powerful people like Pinky’s father, no matter how much damage they cause. Furthermore, the police dismiss Minni’s initial report due to her age. To bring him down and restore full water access, Minni must call on the support of the people around her. Shanti, her older female friend, encourages Minni to overcome her fear and face the truth after she discovers the water mafia boss’s identity, while Faiza helps her execute her plan to deliver the tip about Pinky’s father to the police. Minni employs a cooperative solution to achieve a community goal: She calls on her support network to restore justice and adequate water to her community. Restoration of access to water will reverse the effects of resource deprivation that Minni and her community have suffered, showing how justice is at the center of community success.

The other major piece of resolution that occurs in the concluding chapters is Rohini’s return to Mumbai and her decision to start the roti business. Her tongue-in-cheek comment, “It would be nice to be my own boss and not have to massage the feet of women who are exhausted from spending their money” (172), validates all the frustration that Minni has felt about Anita’s behavior and affirms that the roti business will lead to a happier life. Furthermore, Minni’s willingness to help out with the business suggests that she and her mother now share a degree of camaraderie that they did not before. Unbeknownst to Minni, she has joined the ranks of Shanti, Latika, and all the other women in the neighborhood who offer each other community support in times of crisis to uplift all their lives. In this sense, Minni’s coming of age benefits not only her but also the community as a whole.

The happy resolutions offered at the end of Thirst do not necessarily reflect reality for people who live in Mumbai without access to clean drinking water. Instead, they imagine possibilities for a better future in Minni’s community and around the world. Minni’s app idea, “Paani,” is received very well by her computer teacher, Priya, suggesting to the middle grade target audience of the novel that it is within their power to imagine and generate positive changes in their daily lives. Priya’s encouraging words, “Minni, all good ideas come with problems. That’s part of the challenge” (174), encourage readers to confront rather than avoid the issues in their lives. By tying the culturally specific events of her story back to lessons that are more widely applicable to readers around the world, Bajaj encourages her middle grade audience to see themselves in the daily struggles of children living in Mumbai.

Bajaj reinforces this message by incorporating experiences into Minni’s story that connect her to young readers from all different backgrounds. Even if many young readers are unfamiliar with the challenges of water inequity, they can find common ground with Minni in her fear of failing a test. Minni’s confession, “On the day of the exam, I’m strangely numb. I feel like I’ve been preparing for this forever, and I’m ready to have it be over” (177), might be transplanted into the story of any young girl with high hopes in school. Her victory in this regard, just like her victory over the mafia boss and her victories in computer class, encourages the audience to pursue victory in their own struggles, no matter how small or large. Indeed, the book’s closing words express Minni’s message of unflinching optimism and self-assurance: “Full of the confidence that everyone has in me and my future. Ready to take on the world and keep dreaming. Like so many who’ve come before me, I will stay strong, even as the waves crash around me” (179-80).