How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"I worked at the Palace, but it was just a job, and all I ever made out of it was money. She's the one who made it dirty. She's the one who made it a…a sick thing. Karla's the one who'll do anything to get what she wants. Damn right, a business head, and a heart to match." (2.16.74)
Lisa is the first character in Shantaram to hint at the fact that Karla might not be all that trustworthy. She distinguishes between just working as a prostitute and somehow making it into a sick thing. It seems that Karla, Lisa's friend, used her or betrayed her in a sick game with Madame Zhou's customers.
Quote #2
Madame Zhou, Karla, Khaderbhai's council, Sapna—I felt myself to be at the mercy of personalities that were stronger, or at least more mysterious than my own. I felt the irresistible draw and drift of a tide that was carrying me to someone else's destination, someone else's destiny. (2.16.127)
Lin's list of outlaw acquaintances is growing the longer he is in Bombay, and even though he's drawn to figures like Karla and Khaderbhai, he also realizes that he is giving up part of himself as he allies himself with them. Their strong personalities force him to betray himself, and use him for their own purposes.
Quote #3
"I trust you, Lin. It won't take long—the meeting. And I'll pay you. I'm not asking you to help me for nothing. I'll pay you five hundred dollars, if you'll just be there with me. Will you do it?" I heard a warning, deep within—we usually do, when something worse than we can imagine is stalking us, and set to pounce. (3.19.75-76)
Ulla's offer sounds pretty desperate, and she uses some pretty fancy manipulation to get him to do what she wants. "I trust you," she says to him, which puts the pressure on him to trust her. Lin's intuition is trying to sound the alarm, but even though he knows it might be a trap he gives in to Ulla's request.