Sharmila's Book

Born and raised in Chicago's Indian community, Sharmila Sen is a thirty-something artist, American in every respect but nonetheless longing for a deeper connection to her Indian heritage. Unlucky in love, Sharmila finally consents to follow the traditional path of arranged marriage and her mother soon finds Raj Khosla -- a handsome and successful New Delhi businessman -- for a perfect matrimonial match. Yet from the moment Sharmila arrives in India, events seem to conspire against her future happiness. Raj disappears for extended periods of time, leaving Sharmila to fend for herself in the uneasy and controlling presence of his mother. Most disconcerting of all is the mystery surrounding the "accidental" death of Raj's cherished first wife, whose memory is Sharmila's constant rival. Deliverance arrives in the unlikely person of Prem, the Khoslas' chauffeur, with whom Sharmila finds a daring relationship and a means to reexamine her life in a restrictive, exclusive culture that may or may not have a place for her. Filled with humor, romance, and suspense, Sharmila's Book tells the story of a contemporary woman who embraces the traditional life -- only to become liberated in the most unexpected ways.Kirchner, Bharti is the author of 'Sharmila's Book' with ISBN 9780452278844 and ISBN 0452278848.