Lakshmi

Lakshmi is the main character of the novel and the narrator for everything except the prologue. She is an expert henna artist and master of herbal medicine and remedies for a variety of illnesses. This includes contraceptive satchels she sells primarily to courtesans and tea that induces abortions. While Lakshmi does see this is a paying job, she also recognizes how important these are for women that do not have any other choice but to sell their bodies to survive. This does not stop other characters from criticizing her, including her own sister Radha. Lakshmi also struggles with her own regrets, as she feels that Radha suffered because Lakshmi left her marriage with Hari. However, Lakshmi does not regret abandoning him overall, as she feared he would have killed her if she stayed too long.

Lakshmi does genuinely care for people, whether they be her rich clients, her...