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The novel is an exploration of the individual’s striving for self-fulfillment in the context of India’s continuing social, political and economic upheavals. Seema lives with her husband Prem, their three children and her mother-in-law in Delhi. The household is supported by Prem's job as a salesman at the sales department of a garment factory. When that job becomes difficult to sustain due to deepening economic disenchantment, they rent out one of their rooms to Ajit Singh - a journalist who is undergoing depression after having lost his wife and child following childbirth - to make up for some lost income. Meanwhile, they are also experiencing major political changes in India firsthand. A new Prime Minister, Prakash Karat, has taken office after the fall of the Congress government. He initiates many social reforms and seeks to raise awareness about India’s environment in both rural and urban areas. Seema is interested in Karat’s programs, but her husband is politically left-of-center and feels that change is not far enough. He also challenges Karat's nationalistic philosophy that "India's destiny lies with Asia" by asserting that "India too belongs to Asia". Ajit Singh sells sweets in the neighborhood bazaar under the name of Suru Suru Sweets. He does very well with the help of his daughter, Madhuri. But eventually her father is killed in a car accident and Seema picks up the business. Meanwhile, Seema's mother-in-law has a stroke and she too is rehabilitated by Ajit Singh, who takes over as a land lord for a rent controlled flat in Old Delhi to keep his family from being evicted from their slum home after being displaced by industrial development. He also decides to take care of Aruna's family as part of his responsibility as a journalist. In return he asks Aruna to look after Seema and her husband Prem. Seema, the protagonist of the story, is a capable woman who works hard to support her family. The story is told from her point of view. Interspersed through Seema's narrative are the chapters which relate the political unrest in India under Prakash Karat's regime. Vivid accounts of demonstrations and subsequent violence from peasant farmers against big industries and government corruption provide a glimpse into how people live under a new government that promises social change for India's people, but falls prey to corruption and bureaucracy that stymies its efforts. However, it is the interactions between Seema and Ajit Singh which provide most of the novel’s drama. Aruna, Aruramma, Karamveer and Ajit are all major characters in this novel. The author’s approach to his characters faces criticism from some readers who find the depiction of women in the novel too simplistic. The family life of Seema with her husband is idealized while Aruna’s marriage is shown as neglectful. Seema’s mother-in-law’s perspective is not equally important; it gives the author an opportunity to show his frequent use of clichés in describing women. cfa1e77820