In a village in Uttar Pradesh, a 75-year-old man clutches his grandson's school tie, the only reminder of the little boy who left with his parents for Delhi weeks ago.
Another man lives in an empty house with memories of a large family.
In village Rampura in Bundelkhand, the elderly officially outnumber the young, because of an exodus of farmers after unseasonal rain and hail destroyed their crops.
Bundelkhand region has most farmer suicides in the state, but the deaths in the past month have been attributed to "family problems" by the district administration, in a bid to keep the numbers minimal.
In villages like Rampura, many farmers have given up the struggle and have moved to cities to try their luck at other jobs.
"Farming has become a curse, there is nothing left in the village," said a farmer, loading his goat on a tractor taking him to a nearby town.
The administration's promise to help them under a central government jobs scheme has not inspired many to stay.
There are rows of locked houses in the village, some for months, others more recent. Half of the 150 families have left, leaving behind only the elderly.
Chhadami, 75, was left behind by three sons who have gone to Delhi and Bombay in search of jobs. The most recent migrant, his third son, has left behind a young wife and little children.
His neighbour Panchi misses his grandson, who left for Delhi. Fiddling with the boy's school tie, he says: "It's a difficult time. I have to fend for myself."
Rampura reflects a larger problem. A countrywide survey of farmers by the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies last year found that 69 percent of them think city life is better and 62 per cent are ready to quit farming.