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Meera is a young Indian bride who moves to Canada with her husband; then the unthinkable happens, and she becomes a widow. Already despondent, tragedy compounds in Meera’s life when her depressed friend Jane disappears, only to turn up dead in a motel room after committing suicide via a cyanide pill. Prior to her death, Jane pleads with Meera to raise her son Rishi if she were to die due to a strained relationship with her own mother, a situation that bleeds over into Meera’s life when she agrees. Meera and Rishi have to deal with prejudice and hardship because of their differing race and family conditions both in her native India and in Canada. Threatened repeatedly by malicious individuals and the possibility for more misfortunate and heartbreak, Meera must rely on inner emotional strength and spirituality if she is to survive her ordeals.
Under the constructs of a fictional narrative, this book tackles a lot of real world and metaphysical issues that people experience to varying degrees. Meera’s tale is certainly a dramatic one, but the possibility of experiencing just any one of her struggles is enough to shake a person’s fortitude. Going beyond just the story, this book can also serve as an educational experience, delving into the history of India after declaring independence from Britain, the spirituality of Hinduism, and the difficulty that faces immigrants in all corners of the world. The result of this combination is a story that emotionally resonates with the reader while also introducing them to philosophical and sociological concepts that may be new to them—concepts which are relevant to the story itself through Meera and her family and friends. Blending fiction with fact challenges readers on both intellectual and emotional levels as they follow Meera on her path to finding stability and peace.