It is 1984 and 15 year old Maya is on her way to India with her father. She carries with her the ashes of her mother, who has recently committed suicide, and arrives in Delhi on the eve of one of the bloodiest riots in the country's history. Separated from her father in the uproar she relies on the help of a young man named Sandeep who she begins to fall in love with.

Includes a discussion guide at the end of the book.