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The Bearded Man
Ambika, wife to Jagan and mother to Mali, died of a brain tumor about 10 years before the main events of The Vendor of Sweets. Jagan fell in love with her at first sight after his family arranged for him to meet her as a prospective bride. After their large, traditional Hindu wedding, Jagan was so preoccupied by spending time with her and having sex with her that he repeatedly failed his college exams. His infatuation annoyed her somewhat, as it distracted her from her household tasks and made her look bad in front of his family, but they maintained a loving relationship. For many years, they had no children—to Ambika’s shame—until Jagan’s father insisted that Jagan and Ambika go on a fertility retreat, after which Jagan and Ambika had Mali. Ambika died when Mali was about 10 years old.
Ambika Quotes in The Vendor of Sweets
The The Vendor of Sweets quotes below are all either spoken by Ambika or refer to Ambika. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 2 Quotes
Jagan found his son’s attraction to aspirin ominous. He merely replied, “I’ll get you better things to eat than this pill. Forget it, you understand?”
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Chapter 3 Quotes
Even with the passage of time, Jagan never got over the memory of that moment. The coarse, raw pain he had felt at the sight of Mali on that fateful day remained petrified in some vital centre of his being. From that day, the barrier had come into being. The boy had ceased to speak to him normally.
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Chapter 4 Quotes
“I hate to upset him, that’s all. I have never upset him in all my life.”
“That means you have carried things to the point where you cannot speak to him at all.”
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Chapter 10 Quotes
“Mo has no more use for me.”
“Use or no use, my wife—well, you know, I looked after her all her life.”
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Chapter 12 Quotes
Jagan, as became a junior, was careful not to show too much personal interest in his marriage, but he was anxious to know what was going on.
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They sent out three thousand invitations. […] Jagan’s whole time was spent in greeting the guests or prostrating himself at their feet as if they were older relatives. The priests compelled him to sit before the holy fire performing complicated rites and reciting sacred mantras; his consolation was that during most of these he had to be clasping his wife’s hand; he felt enormously responsible as he glanced at the sacred thali he had knotted around her neck at the most auspicious moment of the ceremonies.
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Ambika Character Timeline in The Vendor of Sweets
The timeline below shows where the character Ambika appears in The Vendor of Sweets. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1
...tanning activities, but he started whining about the smell when he got older. Jagan’s wife (Ambika) always disliked the smell and would hide in a room for days until Jagan finished...
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Chapter 2
Jagan’s wife (Ambika) used to loathe Jagan’s theories about healthy living. She became especially annoyed the time he...
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Chapter 3
...Mali to go to school—because he’s afraid of putting Mali off his food. Ever since Ambika was hospitalized for the first time with “brain fever,” Jagan has cooked a lot for...
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...him and Mali, even though Jagan has always been a kind, giving father, especially since Ambika died of a brain tumor 10 years before. He remembers Mali looking frightened and confused...
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Chapter 12
...in the home’s central hall. Jagan hears a harmonium playing and a rather deep woman’s voice—Ambika’s—singing inside. Then, after several people urge the shy Ambika to emerge, she does—only for Jagan,...
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...journey home, Jagan is thoughtful and silent. At the rail station, Jagan admits he likes Ambika, and his brother says he hopes Jagan hasn’t been “a fool” and hasn’t “cheapened” himself...
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...the next morning. Soon the whole family is involved in cementing plans for Jagan and Ambika’s wedding. Jagan’s father writes to various older relatives to get their consent; after getting their...
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Finally, Jagan’s father sends a letter approving the marriage to Ambika’s family. A multitude of letters pass between the families—and then, one night, Ambika’s family arrives,...
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...he’d rather wear a dhoti and jibba, while his mother goes to buy saris for Ambika and other members of the wedding party at Universal Saree Emporium. Meanwhile, Jagan’s father tries...
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Ultimately, 3,000 people are invited to Jagan and Ambika’s wedding, which takes place in Kuppam. Jagan feels that he spends the whole celebration greeting...
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...wedding. First, a highly respected 75-year-old relative of Jagan’s is accidentally seated with the children—but Ambika’s father apologizes and is forgiven. Second, the “gold waist-belt” in the list of jewelry that...
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After the marriage, Jagan and Ambika get a room in the middle of the family house. Jagan spends all the time...
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Yet after almost 10 years of marriage, Jagan and Ambika still have not had a child—and meanwhile, Jagan has failed to get his B.A. Jagan’s...
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Ambika argues that the infertility doesn’t come from her family, as all her sisters have had...
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One morning, Jagan’s father abruptly announces that Jagan and Ambika will be traveling to a temple on Badri Hill with him the following week. He...
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On the appointed day, Ambika, Jagan, and Jagan’s parents take a bus to the base of Badri Hill. Jagan has...
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When Ambika, Jagan, and Jagan’s parents disembark from the bus, Jagan’s father goes to buy food from...
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Ambika goes with Mali to visit her own parents, who give her many gifts and hold...
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Chapter 13
...that Mali and Grace have failed to brighten it the way his own mother and Ambika did during happier times. He consoles himself with the thought that he is already 60...
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