Who did Tita sit with in the lab while she was recuperating? Why is this significant?(p.117)

One day Tita smells something pleasant coming from a small room in the house that causes her to think about Nacha. Intrigued by the smell, Tita goes to the room where she finds an 80-year-old Indian woman who gives her a cup of tea. Tita continues to visit the woman every day until Dr. Brown takes over the space for his scientific experiments.