Reiter

Reiter is a German doctor whose brief appearances connect a moment of cultural exchange around daab with a later telephone call to Anindo Pakrashi. The novel shows him as curious about an unfamiliar custom and identifies him as the caller, but does not explain his purpose or the consequences of the call.

Identity and Introduction

Reiter is identified as a doctor and as German. In the scene with Karabi Guha and Kurt, he admits that he has never heard of daab, the coconut drink Karabi offers. His unfamiliarity is specific to this local drink; the passage gives no further background about his life or work.

Encounter with Karabi Guha

Karabi presents daab as a drink widely consumed in India and offers the coconuts to the visitors. She explains that drinking it is an art: rather than having the juice poured into glasses, they should put their mouths to the prepared openings and tilt the fruit without spilling. Reiter asks her to explain the method. Kurt takes the demonstration as a challenge and prepares to try it, making Reiter part of a scene in which an ordinary drink becomes an introduction to local practice.

Telephone Call to Anindo Pakrashi

Later, when Phokla Chatterjee asks whether anyone present has called Anindo Pakrashi, the narrator identifies Reiter as the caller and confirms that he used that same telephone. This establishes a concrete link between Reiter and Anindo, but the exchange provides no reason for the call or indication of what followed.