Meena, called Minni by her friends and family, is the protagonist of Thirst. An excellent student, she is the object of her family’s hopes for a better future. From the beginning, she faces an immense amount of pressure to achieve academic excellence to eventually get a stable job that will lift the family from poverty. In the early chapters, Minni is optimistic about her prospects for achieving great things, largely because she has not faced any challenges that undermine her academic confidence. However, conflicts inevitably arise and lead to her character growth, as a new plethora of high-pressure responsibilities tests her ability to prioritize school. After her mother falls ill and leaves home, Minni has to take over her financial and domestic responsibilities. The burden that these responsibilities place on her illustrates the Compounding Effects of Resource Deprivation: The lack of clean water costs Minni her mother, which forces her to take on her mother’s labor, which in turn almost costs her her education and future job prospects. Only through the help of a Supportive Community in Times of Crisis can Minni overcome these challenges. She also calls on her community to support her as she embraces