Set three years after the events of The Road to Agra, The White Bungalow continues Lalu's story. After Maya's cure is complete, Dr. Prasad sends Lalu back to Ratwa with vague promises of a scholarship if he studies hard. Thus, the doctor's white bungalow in Agra becomes a symbol of hope and prosperity to Lalu. Lalu's stay in Agra has instilled a disdain for village life, and he wants to become a doctor like his benefactress.

Lalu rejects farming, the profession of his ancestors, and thinks that medicine is the only worthwhile work in the "new" India. The story, thus, centers on the conflict between traditional and modern values. When the lack of rains and the ensuing famine lead to his father's illness, Lalu decides to stay home and assume family responsibilities. His friend Ram, who has no family ties because he has been rejected by...