Love and Longing in Bombay is an anthology of five interconnected stories. The stories are narrated by a mysterious but amicable retired civil servant, Shiv Subramaniam in a bar removed from the city called the Fisherman's Rest.
The first story, Dharma, tells of a wounded combat veteran, Major Antia, who had to amputate his own leg without anesthesia. He experiences a 'phantom pain' in his amputated leg and seeking comfort he retires from service and returns to his old family home. In his home he is confronted by the ghost of his dead brother, Soli, who had died as a child when the two of them fell from the roof while they were flying kites. Major Antia is forced to re-live a childhood tragedy and face his repressed guilt from when his brother died.
Shakti draws a vivid picture of the lives of Mumbai's nouveau-riche. It revolves around the longstanding rivalry of two socially ambitious women from two of Mumbai's powerful business families. The feud between Shiela Bijlani and Dolly Boatwalla is known throughout the Malabar high society. However, when their children fall in love their already strained relationship becomes stale. Roxanne and Sanjeev struggle through the disagreements and strife and finally get married, changing,in the process the relationship between the Boatwalla's and the Bijlani's.
The third story, Kama delves into the infamous corruption and crime that takes place in the seedy underbelly of Mumbai. Sartaj Singh a straight-laced police inspector uncovers the underground of Mumbai whilst investigating the murder of Chetanbhai Ghan Shyam Patel, a seemingly respectable and happy man. As the case begins to unravel the layers of crime, vengeance and deceit, the murder of Patel remains tightly bound.
Artha recounts the story of two lovers, Iqbal and Rajesh who live in crowded, bustling Mumbai, juggling their careers and their illicit love. When Rajesh goes missing Iqbal is forced to face his contempt for art as a language in itself to find him.
The final story, Shanti is Subramaniam's own personal account of his encounter with a woman. This story, unlike the others is not told at the Fisherman's Rest but Subramaniam's own house to Ranjit Sharma. Shanti is searching for her missing husband but young Shiv falls in love with her at first sight in the waiting room of the train station. Although Shanti is a married woman, Shiv is consumed by his love for her. Eventually Shiv Subramaniam goes on to marry her. Shanti has a palpable personal touch as a story that is Subramaniam's very own.
