Lalitha, the eldest daughter of a Brahmin family, is saddled with the responsibility of supporting her family, led by a father who witlessly procreates to a robust size of 10 household members. As poverty gets worse, Lalitha must turn to desperate measures to keep the food coming. Interesting comment on gender, tradition, and the caste crisis, slightly bold for its time. Lalitha's doctor-wannabe kid-brother also figures in the story.