Summary

Udayan first meets Manash at Calcutta University, both graduate students in physics. Most of their shared interests, however, center on Naxalbari and the repercussions of events there; issues in Cuba; insurgencies in Latin American countries and the fact that around the world students were beginning to take a stand against exploitative systems. Udayan meets Gauri, Manash’s sister, during one of his visits to their home, and their attraction to each other is immediate.

During the first several visits to their home, Udayan says nothing to Gauri, barely acknowledging her existence until she makes tea for them one day and his eyes linger on hers. She begins watching for him since Presidency where she went to school and Calcutta University where he attended where next door to each other. Then one day he stops in at their home to visit and Gauri...