The Elder One

TheElderOneconcernsitselfwithanarduousquesttofindamissingrelative.Butthistaleoftwosiblings,whoeachleavehomefortheirownreasons,expandsthescopeofMohandas'already-generoussenseofthediversityoftheIndianexperience.Stealingasmallandhardlyseaworthyfishingboat,14-year-oldMullafleesthesleepy,idyllicislandofLakshadweepforthecrowdedbustleofMumbai.Akbar,Mulla'selderbrother,leftforthecitysomeyearsbefore,andMulla-withonlyaphonenumbertorelyon-isconvincedthetwocanreunitethere.Butuponarrival,Mullaimmediatelyfallsinwithagangofcriminalorphans,receivingacrashcourseinurbansurvivalskillsthatwouldterrifyOliverTwist.InthemidstofMulla'sstory,MohandastakesusbacktothedaysleadinguptoAkbar'sdeparturefromLakshadweep,whenhemetacharismaticmutesenttotheislandforanunwantedarrangedmarriage.Theirfriendshipwillalterthecourseofbothoftheirlives.Alternating...