Sold (In this Room - Sold)

I think that the room Lakshmi is in represents her life. It is alone and desolate, almost separated from the rest of the house. It is filthy, and has iron bars on the windows. Lakshmi is also alone, knowing no one around her. Her life is a mess and is dirty, everything quickly disappearing and plans changing for the worst. The room also trapped Lakshmi. Lakshmi was trapped not only literally be the bars on the windows and the lock on the door, but also emotionally. She has no where else to go, no one else to see. She has to do this work for her family's sake. She cannot just leave, she knows nothing about how to get home. Until she becomes more knowledgeable about where she is, she is trapped right here.

The TV represents a luxury that is like the gold roofs. Lakshmi thinks that every house having a TV means that they are quite rich. She is amused by the TV, but not entirely enthralled by it like the other girls in the house. Soon, the girls start to paint Lakshmi's nails and do her hair and makeup. She asks what is happening, but they will not answer her. Her new Auntie, Mumtaz, calls her into a room where an old man is laying on the bed. Laksmi knows something is not right, but I don't think she realizes yet what is going on. I cannot believe she is going through this. How can people be so cruel? How could her stepfather force her into something like this? Mumtaz makes Lakshmi lay down, but when the old man starts to advance, she bites him. Good for her! I was so happy that she got away, but at the same time, I am fearfull for what will happen to her. Obviously that type of behavior won't be accepted. Lakshmi tries to explain that there is some sort of mistake, that she came to work as a maid. Mumtaz is clear. There is no mistake until she pays off the 10,000 rupees that were paid to purchase her. Then her head is shaved. She is now a disgraced girl. I cannot believe that all of this is happening so quickly. How can Lakshmi even cope with what is happening in her life? How can she live. Not only has she been sold into prostitution, but she is also stuck here until her debt is paid off. I wonder how she is going to react...

Sold (Uncle Husband - Ten Thousand Rupees)

I can't believe that they are going to take Lakshmi across the border! If she has to pretend that the man is her husband, it has to be illegal. Why would they need her to cross the border? Surely there is plenty to do in the country. I think that Lakshmi is very confused, and cautious of her Uncle Husband. She has seen him slap before, and she knows that he can be easily irritated. At the same time, he promises to protect her. Lakshmi really doesn't have anyone to trust at this point. She has no constants in her life. In fact, she does not even know anyone's name at this point. Lakshmi grew up in ignorance of the world, innocent of its crime. I think that this makes her to trusting of other people. She probably shouldn't trust her 'Uncle Husband', but she doesn't see any other options. Really, Lakshmi is in a terrible position. After she crosses the border and gets sweets, she wants to send them back to Ama. I think it is so sweet of her, but I don't think she realizes how far away from home she truly is. She is totally disconnected from Ama, at least for now. Uncle Husband is proving to be rather trustworthy. He has fed Lakshmi and given her treats. He hasn't really been impatient with her at all. I do not think she is leary of him at all. However, he does not trust her. Whenever it is time for a bathroom break, he warns her not to try to run. Lakshmi is confused by this, she hasn't even thought about escaping. She is very strong. Although she hasn't had to do anything yet, most girls would want to go back to their families. Lakshmi is thinking only of doing what is necessary to help, and at this point would not dare to escape. When she sees the girl with the shaven head, I think she believes that that girl is a disgrace. I don't think she realizes that that girl really needed to escape because of what she was going through. I felt so bad for that young girl. To have a shaven head in that society is basically to condemn your life until it grows back...that is, if it is allowed to grow back. It would be hard to live this way. I wonder what she was going through to make her want to escape so badly...

I cannot believe that Lakshmi was taken to Happiness House. That is so sad. She was sold for 10,000 rupees. Although that is a lot of rupees, there is no price in the world to put on someone's freedom, especially considering what she is going to have to do. I feel so bad for Lakshmi. She is ignorant to what is in store for her. She still believes that she is going to be a maid! The monsoon is going to turn monstrous very quickly...

Sold (A Second Look - Numbers)

It must be hard for Lakshmi literally walking away from her hometown, her family, and virtually the only place she knows. To not look back would be impossible. I really can't imagine how it would feel to leave everything you have ever know. She is desperately trying to memorize her way back home, but that would be almost impossible. She is comforted by the fact that she can always see the mountain in the background to find her way home. Soon, the mountain is out of sight. I think that this is when Lakshmi truly realizes that she has left her home, and will not be back for a long time. I think that this is the first part of the journey that she is truly scared. I loved when Lakshmi told what she carried in her bundle and her head and heart and said "My bundle is light. My burden is heavy." How true is that? She has never had many possessions, and she does not need much to live on. But she feels that her family's survival is in her hands. She knows that her stepfather will only lose more money, never gain more. She worries about her mother and her baby brother. I think that the thought of helping them is the only think that is keeping her moving forward.

When the reach the city, I think that Lakshmi is excited despite what is happening to her. She has never even heard of cars before, let alone ride in them! She sees all of the excitement around her and thinks that this life will not be that bad. She imagines finding her friend who left earlier to be a maid. I think that Lakshmi sees opportunities in the city, and is so excited to finally be going somewhere on this long journey.

I don't really understand why Lakshmi got such nice clothing articles. I know she was sold to someone else shortly after...were the clothes simply for presentation? I think that Lakshmi was about as confused as I was, although I think she trusts her new Auntie. I think that she believes this may just be part of the life in the city. I was confused by Lakshmi being sold to the guy. I thought that the girl in the yellow had bought her. I don't think Lakshmi realizes that she was sold again to someone else. I feel so bad for her. Nothing is remaining constant in her life.

Sold (A Tiny Earthquake - A Trade)

The solution to their problems is so sad! I cannot believe that Lakshmi has to go work in the city. I can't imagine leaving my family when I was 13 to go work for the rest of my life. It is crazy, and really unfair. The stepfather is supposed to be the provider for their family, not his stepdaughter. I think Lakshmi handles the situation very well. Although she is nervous, she constantly reassures Ama that everything will be fine. She tells her that maybe now they can have a tin roof. She is a very strong young girl. I do not think many from America would be able to face what she is facing, but I suppose where she lives she grew up expecting something like this to happen. How strange is it that people in the same world can be growing up in such different situations? Ama faces the fact that her daughter is leaving pretty well too. I think mothers try to be distanced from their daughters because a daughter must leave soon anyway. She gives Lakshmi tips for working as a maid, and Lakshmi takes them to heart. Ama also tries to be extremely optimistic for Lakshmi, telling her how she will be the only family member to leave the mountain. This is so weird. I imagine that the mountain is small, so I find it strange that no one has ever left it. I suppose they do not have cars for travel, nor do they have the money to go anywhere else. I think that Ama and Lakshmi both had more deep feelings about her leaving than either was willing to admit.

While they are trying to send Lakshmi to the city, her stepfather answers the questions in a way that degrades Lakshmi a lot. I don't know how she was able to just stand there and let him criticize her in some ways. Has he looked in a mirror recently? Probably not, he must have gambled that luxury away! I cannot believe what Lakshmi is in for! They are talking about her looks and her hips, so I think she is in for more than just a job as a maid. I wonder if her stepfather knows this. He seems to know what the lady he is bargaining with is talking about, but at the same time, how could anyone knowingly sell even their stepdaughter into something like this? I really think that this is going to be like the monsoon...good at first, but slowly destroying everything in its path...

The stepfather is so selfish. When he receives the money, he picks out only things for himself. He does not even think about his wife or his son. Lakshmi has to put items into the basket for them. Surely it proves how selfish he is when his daughter, who is being sold away, perhaps never to see her family again, puts survival items for the others into his basket but does not ask for one thing in return while he thinks only of luxuries for himself!

Sold (The Price of a Loan - Nightfall)

I think that it is so unfair what Ama and Lakshmi have to give up for her father. All he does is gamble away everything they work hard for! If Ama had had even the slightest chance of keeping the family alive without selling her earrings, she would have. Those earrings were important to her. They represented a sense of pride, a richness that she would not have normally been able to afford. They were to go to Lakshmi's dowry to pass on the pride she felt in them. I just cannot believe the father doesn't feel any guilt about what he does to the family. He is out for himself, and only himself. The family barely has enough money to pay off their debts, and because of the debts they have very little food. They are not in a good condition to be living in. When Lakshmi's stepfather returns, he is wearing clothes from the city, rich clothing articles. I just don't understand how he can waste all of the family's money on such trivial things. I don't think it is just that they are women, because he has a son as well. If son's are so important, why is he not being sure to provide for his own?

I loved when you learn about how Lakshmi go her name from the goddess who blesses the pure and humble. I think this is so symbolic, because Lakshmi really is a pure and humble girl. She is living a life that she does not deserve, and I think that the festival must bring much hope into her heart and her mother's heart. The festival really did give them some blessings. Lakshmi got to be a child for a night, to enjoy not being stressed. And Lakshmi's stepfather won a motorcycle. Finally, the family was finding light in a difficult situation, then the stepfather gambled away the motorcycle. That was truly their last resort. I don't really know what they are going to do.

Sold (First Blood - A Bitter Harvest)

When Lakshmi starts her period, a lot of things change for her. She is no longer viewed as a child. She now had so many more responsibilities. Ama tells her of all of the things she must do or must refrain from doing now. I loved Ama's response when Lakshmi asked why women had to suffer in so many ways. Ama said, "This has always been our fate. Simply to endure is to triumph". The way that women are treated is so unfair. They are degraded in almost every aspect of their lives. Where they live, it has always been the fate of women. They have always been viewed as inferior. But to complain and try to change things in a way is a failure. They do not have the strength to overcome what they are going through. However, to be able to live the way that they are forced to live is a success. If ever a man had to go through what the women have to go through, they would never survive. I don't think the men would be able to endure the torment. The fact that a woman can go through that and still keep their identity, still love, still work to improve shows that they are triumphant over the men's attempt to degrade them entirely.

Lakshmi and her family are suffering because of the dry season. They pray for the monsoon to come. Rations have been placed on the water supply, and many crops are suffering. Whenever the monsoon arrives, they are extremely excited. They rejoice about the blessing. Soon however, the monsoon becomes too much. The fields begin to flood, and the house is leaking and falling apart. The very thing they had been praying for had destroyed them. In many ways I think that this is forshadowing what is to happen to Lakshmi in the future. I think that Lakshmi's future will look bright and full of opportunity, but will bring immense destruction upon her.

Sold (A Tin Roof - Confession)

In these chapters you really get to see that Lakshmi is a very responsible young girl, and you get to know her. Although her lifestyle is much different than that of an American girl, you can tell that she is just like us. In the beginning, she speaks about the luxury of a tin roof. Her friend had went to the city to work and now their family had a tin roof. I thought that this sort of paralleled to what American girls want. Today in America people, girls want i-pods, clothes, jewelry, computers, etc. The difference is that they are not the ones who have to work for it. Often it is their parents who will have to do extra work in order to support demands. When Lakshmi speaks about her step-dad, you can tell that he only cares about himself and his own happiness, and he is bringing the family down. You can tell that Lakshmi doesn't really like her father, but as a child and a girl, she has no power to help. Lakshmi was very blessed and was able to go to school. She was a very good student, and she loved to learn. Her mother wanted her to receive an education and to be able to have a better life than what they were living now. Lakshmi admires her mother and the struggles that she goes through to keep their family running. She describes her mothers back as the place where all of their troubles rest. I think that this is sad. Obviously Ama is giving more than she has. I can't imagine being in her place. Life on the mountain seems terribly hard, and I think she has more to deal with than most because of her husband. I admire her strength, and I believe that despite what her culture believes, she is definitely worth more than her husband. I also think that Lakshmi has a lot to deal with. She can see the troubles and burdens her mother has to deal with. She sees how her father is spoiling and wasting everything that her mother works so hard for. She is still a child, and she cannot really do much to help out. On top of all of this, her best friend has moved to the city to work. Whenever she confesses that she names her cucumbers, I think that she does it to cope what is going on in her life. The cucumbers are something that she can control. If she takes care of them, they will thrive, but if she neglects them, they will die. She doesn't have to worry about someone else spoiling them for her. I also think the cucumbers are filling in the holes people have left behind in Lakshmi's heart.