What is the main conflict in Staying On by Paul Scott?

Staying On takes place in early 1972 in Pankot, India. The story begins and ends with the death of one of the main characters, Tusker Smalley, from a heart attack. This occurs shortly after he receives a letter from his landlord, the owner of the adjacent hotel. In between the two descriptions of this event, the reader becomes acquainted with Tusker, his wife Lucy, and an assortment of people in their lives and memories.