Summary

The novel opens with a brief prologue about Indravalli and the story of a woman who was said to be over 100 years old who did not have children. Instead the old woman planted a grove of trees and hand-carried water to them because the region was dry. A journalist tells the woman she is lucky to have the trees as sons and the woman corrects him that they are her daughters.

In Chapter 1, Poornima is introduced. She is named for the full moon. Her father explains that they named Poornima after the moon because her mother dreamt that if they did they would have a son next. Poornima has three younger brothers. At 15, Poornima is able to be married off. Her mother passes away from cancer and a year of mourning takes place before Poornima can be married. Poornima remembers working...