This is a story that takes the reader on a journey through India, Indian culture and Indian lives. It is written in “Hindi-English” which retains its cultural authenticity. The story is told through the eyes of the author, born into a poverty-stricken family in rural India. Through his mother’s own endeavours and personal sacrifices, the author is educated which enables him to become a journalist. In so doing, the author meets many people in different parts of India, whose touching and often shocking but not hopeless life stories are told within the intertwined love story of this novel. Amongst these life stories , the reader is taken on a journey that is truly informative about the current and past political and historical arena and its ramifications, the contrasts with rural and urban life, traditional culture and globalisation and the harsh realities that have to be confronted and accepted, especially if you are poor.