Of East Indian origin, Kumar, his wife Daljeet, and young daughter Meena, move into Tollington, a small mining community in Britain. Daljeet subsequently gets pregnant and gives birth to a baby boy. This is the place where Meena grows up. Things change in Meena's life when the Rutters move into their neighborhood. Anita Rutter is around Meena's age. She is tall, blonde, and very attractive--all attributes that Meena longs for and envies. Meena wants desperately to be accepted by Anita and her circle of friends. She even invites Anita to her house for supper. Things change dramatically when the Kumars' family friend, Mr. Bhatra, is assaulted by a gang; Meena's maternal grandmother visits; and Meena discovers how Anita and her friends view Meena and her family.
—rAjOo (gunwanti@hotmail.com)