[4] Lakshimi is born in Ceylon, and 14 years old, is married to Ayah, a supposedly rich 37-year-old widower in Malaysia.
[4] On arrival in Malaysia, she finds that Ayah is not rich, and she has to struggle to care for the family, including six children.
Rani Manicka's work looks at the family members’ deep scars, including those which afflict the young generations.
The Publishers Weekly says of this work, in a review: Bestseller Manicka (The Rice Mother) spins an epic tale of love, loss, and cosmic destiny in her gripping and eloquent third novel, set against the lush backdrop of Malaya throughout the political and cultural turmoil of the 20th century.
When Japanese soldiers invade during WWII, she experiences love and passion for the first time in the arms of a commanding officer named Hattori.