This is the story of Rahel and Estha twins growing up among the banana vats and peppercorns of their blind grandmother's factory; amid scenes of political turbulence in Kerala. Armed only with the innocence of youth they fashion a childhood in the shade of the wreck that is their family: their lonely lovely mother their beloved Uncle Chacko (pickle baron radical Marxist bottom-pincher) and their sworn enemy Baby Kochamma (ex-nun incumbent grand-aunt).