3 Review(s)

The novel revolves around the tragic life of Nirmala, a beautiful and virtuous 15-year-old girl. Due to her family's inability to provide a suitable dowry after her father's untimely death, her engagement is broken, and she is forced into marriage with Munshi Totaram, a 35-year-old widower with three sons from his previous marriage. This mismatched marriage forms the core of the narrative. Nirmala struggles to adjust to her new life, facing emotional and psychological challenges within her husband's household, particularly with the suspicions and insecurities of Totaram and the machinations of his widowed sister, Rukmini. A bond develops between Nirmala and Mansaram, Totaram's eldest son, which is tragically misinterpreted by the jealous Totaram, leading to Mansaram's death. Subsequent tragedies, including the flight and suicide of other stepsons, further contribute to Nirmala's decline, culminating in her own death.