Sampath Chawla

Sampath Chawla is a young man who is dissatisfied with his mundane existence. When he was born, great things were predicted for him but by the time he is twenty years old, he is not even close to being great. When he is fired from his job for his unusual behavior, it turns out to be the start of his freedom. Although his father lectures him on how to get a new and better job, Sampath is not interested. He has other ideas. Sampath feels no connection to his town and community; there is another life beckoning to him.

Before he is fired from the Post Office, Sampath spends many days steaming open the personal letters of his neighbors. He learns intimate details about their marriages, affairs, health and fears. After losing his job, Sampath runs away and plants himself in a guava tree in a lush...