Character sketch of Grace in Vendor of Sweets.

Grace is Jagan's half-American and half-Korean daughter-in-law. She

tries very hard to assimilate to Indian culture and to have a good
relationship with her father-in-law, Jagan. One of the first gifts she
bequeaths Jagan is a picnic basket with 'compartments containing
spoons, forks, and knives.'
However, Jagan is at a loss as to what to do with such a strange gift
and proceeds to keep it locked up in his almirah (cabinet or chest of
drawers). He is just as much at a loss when Grace tries to take up the
household duties typical Indian daughters-in-law excel in. The image
of Grace in her tucked-up sari, 'exposing her ivory-hued kneecap,' and
engaging in humble housekeeping tasks is an incongruent one for Jagan.
He begs her not to trouble herself and tries to argue that the
neighbors will talk if they see a modern girl 'brought up in New York'
engaging in such drudgery.
Grace is not to be deterred; she insists that she is quite capable of
rising to the occasion when the situation demands it. It is also Grace
who cleans, transforms, and decorates Jagan's home (with a freshly
artistic feminine touch) into a bewildering place of wonder for the
old man. Her sense of curiosity and adventure initially strikes an
answering chord in the lonely father's heart. Grace is just as
comfortable navigating the transformation of her father-in-law's home
as she is reveling in the exotic smell of the margosa leaf, considered
an ambrosia in the Vedas. However, Jagan soon comes to resent the
westernization of his home, both in moral as well as in aesthetic
terms.
As time continues, Grace is able to carve out a friendly relationship
with her father-inlaw. Unlike her husband, Mali, Grace never belittles
or patronizes Jagan. When Jagan objects to her cooking for him due to
his dietary restrictions, she praises his foray into salt-free and
sugar-free cooking. In relation to Mali, Grace sympathizes with
Jagan's need to hear more about his son's plans for the future and to
inquire as to Mali's educational status.

When Grace reveals that she was actually the one who wrote to
Jagan, the poor old mannis flabbergasted. He had always thought
the letters had come from Mali himself. Jagan eventually learns
that his courteous and solicitous daughter-in-law is very much
her own woman. As time continues, Jagan comes to despise Grace's
part in encouraging him to financially support Mali's business
schemes. He resolves to engage in the Gandhian nonviolent, non-
 cooperative method to fend off what he thinks are the couple's
designs on his money.
Grace, for her part, is the one who finally reveals to Jagan that she
and Mali are not married at all; the couple's relationship status is
too modern for Jagan's liking, and he decides to wash his hands of the
matter. In the story, Grace represents a character who is a sort of
bridge between two world-views, one who respects the beauty of
traditional customs but is not shackled by nationalistic loyalties to
any one culture.