AnaphylaxisThe red double-decker bus swooped down on the bus stop, screeching to a halt a few metres ahead of the queue of passengers. Rahul grimaced as a boy jumped off the running-board into a puddle of dirty water, splashing the sneakers that he had so carefully cleaned the previous morning. As he got on the bus, he noticed a cat stretching itself languorously on a nearby wall, and he wondered if it knew that it was Monday morning. Cats were supposed to be clever, so this one most likely did know. It could probably tell from the bustle of activity which began by six o’clock every morning except for Sundays.
After the previous day’s holiday, the roadside vendors, vegetable and fruit-sellers had begun setting up their stalls early, unloading their produce from large baskets and displayin
