Nectar in a Sieve: Chapter 10 Summary & Analysis

Soon, the annual festival of lights, Deepavali, arrives. For once, Rukmani has enough money for her children to partake fully in the festivities—she gives each child some coins to spend on fireworks and makes candles to light during the night.

When it gets dark, Rukmani decorates the outside of her house with candles. From the town, fireworks are beginning to be visible, and her own children are setting off the fireworks they’ve purchased. Only Selvam, the youngest, is wary, telling Rukmani that that he’s afraid. Selvam refuses to come into town after dinner, and Irawaddy stays with him; when she sees people in the village, she feels the humiliation of her failed marriage afresh.

As Rukmani approaches the bonfire in the center of the town, she remembers Janaki, who had celebrated with her last year. Her absence now reminds Rukmani that she has no idea what’s in store for her in the next year. However, she quickly dismisses the gloomy thought, seeking out “perfection of delight” in this rare time of celebration.

Everyone is gathering around the bonfire in the center of the village, and Rukmani loses track of Nathan and her sons. At first she tries to look for them, but in the excitement of the beating drums and blazing fire, she soon forgets about him. Rukmani watches until the fire dies down and the drums stop.

When she finds Nathan, he is giving piggyback rides to all the boys at once, to the amusement of other villagers. Rukmani chides him gently, but he says he’s been infected by the “joy in the air.” Putting the boys down, he swings Rukmani around in his arms. He says he is happy because his life and children are good, and his wife is best of all.

At home, the children fall asleep quickly. Rukmani stretches out next to Nathan, aware that he’s still wide awake. She closes her eyes, trembling with desire, as her husband reaches for her.