Set in the island of Sri Lanka, “In the Shadow of the Tamarind Tree” traces a gentle relationship between an elderly widower who had given up on life and a young girl who had just lost her brother in a tragic accident. Both were trying to escape their respective grief and deal with the burden of guilt and sorrow when they were brought together by circumstance and fate. The story weaves the threads of love and loss of faith in the meaning of life together in a manner that walks the reader down a path where the concept of destiny, time and the life affirming quality of life are called into question. Using folklore and strong cultural symbolism to propel the plot along, this inspirational story highlights the reality that rebirth and a sense of healing can follow even the most terrible tragedy.