How do Indian men and women behave in a social context? Indians, usually, maintain a social distance with members of the opposite sex (about an arm's length away). If you observe a step backward when you stand too close to Indian friends, it probably does not mean that you have bad breath, it may mean that you have invaded their personal space. Affection in public is avoided between even husband and wife.
Traditionally, Hindu parents look for a prospective match for their son/daughter from their own community also known as arranged marriage. Failure to arrange a match for a daughter is a source of stress and sometimes shame for the family. In many South Asian countries, the bride’s family is expected to pay a dowry to the husband’s family.
A dowry is money, goods, or estate that a woman brings to her husband in marriage. One of the basic functions of a dowry has been to serve as a form of protection for the wife against the possibility of ill treatment by her husband and his family. If a woman’s family cannot provide a dowry, their daughter may not be able to marry, causing shame to the family.
Remember the above information does not apply to ALL but just gives us context for reading Sold.