Ponna's Parents' Home

Ponna's parents' home is the setting for the majority of the novel's narrative present. Though Ponna and Kali have not visited for several years, they spend several afternoons at the house. While there, Kali primarily lies on a cot under the portia tree he planted when he and Ponna were first married. Ponna brings him food and tries to avoid her mother's persistent nagging. Disinterested in being in the company of his mother-in-law, Kali resorts to daydreaming about his life prior to marriage with Ponna, and to memories of their many attempts to get pregnant. Their home, while not necessarily a place of solace, provides a fixed foundation from which Kali's mind can drift back and forth in time, allowing the narrative to move and expand beyond the confines of the physical space.

Kali's Barn

Kali's barn is a source of pride for Kali, and the...