Instead of focusing immediately on Lakshmi, the prologue of the book focuses, instead, on Radha's reasons for seeking out her sister. How does introducing Radha and seeing the village Lakshmi escaped from increase our empathy for Lakshmi when we are given her point of view in the first chapter?
In what ways does the prologue help build our sympathy for Radha, who might otherwise seem like a character meant simply to foil Lakshmi's carefully laid plans?
What would be lost (or gained) by eliminating the prologue and starting simply with the first chapter?