End of Nectar in a Sieve

The rest of this book was pretty good.  Nathan is approaching 50 and gets rheumatism with high fevers which make him weak.  Nathan is unable to tend to the land leaving Ira and Ruku to do the best they can.  Unfortunately, they don't do nearly as much work as Nathan did.  Kenny the doctor watches over Nathan, but he says he is only getting weaker because he doesn't eat much.  Somehow Nathan starts to make a miraculous recovery, but then things take a turn for the worse. Rukmani comes home to Sacrabani hiding in a corner looking at Nathan who Rukmani thought he had just had another one of his attacks again.  However, it wasn't an attack Sivaja had made a surprise visit to tell them that their land has been sold to the tannery.  Selvam says he will take care of his sister Ira and nephew Sacrabani, but he doesn't have anything to offer to his parents.  Rukmani and Nathan have no other choice but to leave.  They leave the rest of their family behind.  They only have 16 rupees

and get on the bullock cart until it can't take them any farther.  When the cart stops they are faced with three streets to chose from and have no idea which one will lead them to their son.  They find someone to ask about where their son is and unfortunately they are 15 miles away from the road they need.    After walking for several miles they get directed to a temple that provides food and shelter.  They are relived that they will actually have a nice place to rest for the night.  When they wake they begin to walk again and Nathan wants to splurge and use their money to buy food.  Rukmani finally agrees and goes to grab the money tied to her only to find that it is gone.  In a panic they return to the temple where they had laid to rest, but they money is not there.  They have no choice but to continue on their journey.  With help from several gracious people somehow they finally make it to their sons house.  However, when his wife answers the door they are informed that he left her about two years ago and never came back.  Things get worse, they become regulars at the temple and get used to the cruel words that are spoken of them.  Nathan ends up dying which was devastating for Ruku.  I couldn't imagine losing my spouse after everything they had endured together.  Somehow Ruku still manages to pull the pieces of her life together which amazes me. This book really showed me how intense life could be and how easy I have it.