This book started in Jaipur, India, in 1955. The protagonist of the story Lakshmi, a 30-year-old woman--escaped an abusive marriage to start a new life. She earned her living by selling herbs and offering her services to women as a henna artist.
She sent letters and money to her parents, inviting them to join her, but they did not want to hear anything from her that they refused to open the letters. Lakshmi heard nothing from them until she met her 12-year-old sister, Radha, for the very first time. Radha went to Jaipur when her parents passed away.
Lakshmi became an instant sister and parent while trying to establish her business and paying off her dream house. It might have been a great story for Lakshmi, but because of inability to look after her sister, unforeseen events happened.
The author lays out what people dealt with in the 1950's. The author shared a realistic view of India, including its way of life, culture, food and history. It felt like I was taken into a journey of what India looked like. And I thought about what it is now. It gets me to think of what I might have possibly done if I were born into that era or the family that I was born into.
In the end, I think I learned a lot about family, learning from one's mistake and how to keep thriving through life's unpredictable ride.
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