A long stream of ants appears. Making its way down the wall and disappearing behind a flowerpot; every now and then one stops and touches heads with another, after which confabulation, they merge into the line that seems to have no end and no beginning.
This imagery, while simple, becomes a metaphor for the larger themes the novel explores: a bygone era where societal divisions were starkly enforced, and taboos governed the public and private spheres—some of which still persist today, even as they become topics of conversation. Against the backdrop of pre-Independence India, the novel offers readers a glimpse into a world both familiar and foreign. Through its six protagonists, intricately connected by subtle threads of fate, the readers are invited to witness the moral dilemmas and societal expectations that shape their lives. Each character holds a distinct perspective on the society they must navigate, revealing a time where love, individuality, and personal freedom were distant dreams, yet hinted at the potential for change.