For Roop, a 16-year-old girl living in the Punjab in 1937, the need to find a husband is a pressing issue. Her father arranges for her to become the second wife of Sardarji, a Sikh businessman 25 years her senior, but Sardarji's childless first wife, Satya, feels betrayed and becomes increasingly vengeful. Roop doesn't notice Satya's anger and Sardarji, a busy man, is unaware of being unkind to Roop when he suggests that she hand over her new baby to Satya in order to placate her. The resulting conflict has far-reaching consequences. Set against the background of pre-Partition India, the book effectively conveys an atmosphere of unrest and explores the growing tension among Sikhs and Muslims, mirrored by the strained relationship between Roop and Satya. In this impressive first novel, the author writes with lyrical vitality, portraying her characters with humanity and insight.