Set against the backdrop of western Pakistani village in 1971, this is the story of a liberal and educated Pakistani Punjabi family living there. Laila is a nine-year-old girl belonging to this family, a child of privilege who is pampered by everyone in her home. She forms a deep friendship with Rani, the fifteen year old orphaned granddaughter of a family servant. Rani falls in love with a boy from another village. Unknowing the consequence of this, the story unfolds from Laila's innocent point of view about Rani and the tragic consequences in everyone's lives. This novel touches on the class, gender differences, clash of liberal-minds with social inferiors, hopes of romance, childhood confusions and most importantly the nature of guilt. Read it for a witty and absorbing tale.
