The Vendor of Sweets

Jagan is introduced as the title character. He is an old man who operates a candy shop. This is shown to be ironic, since he himself, according to the teachings of asceticism, has renounced sugar and salt. He speaks with his cousins and boasts of all the earthly things he does not cling to, but it is ironic to hear him brag about his own humility. Furthermore, there are contradictions in his refusal to eat sugar, while he makes he living by selling candies. At the end of the chapter, the workday has ended. Jagan’s workers report to him and turn in their earnings. Jagan skims some of the profits off the top to avoid paying taxes on the unreported income. It is clear that his morality is selective. 

As Jagan walks home, he thinks about his book. He has written a book about homeopathy and natural cures that has languished with a publisher for years. He sees his son Mali in a group of students, but does not call attention to himself, not wanting to embarrass his son when he is engaged with other youth.