What is this book?

It was an amazing book set in India. It told three stories which intertwined. One was the story of a young widow who defied her family and tradition and lived alone in an apartment and sewed? for a living. Then there was an uncle and nephew and their story. They ended up living on the balcony of the woman. I can't remember the third story.

It didn't have a happy ending and I was glad when I read it because that would have been ridiculous. The woman ended up having to go and live with her brother, I think, and I can't remember the rest.

I thought at the time it was the best book I'd ever read and now that I've forgotten lots of it, I'd like to read it again.