Much lauded for their courage and bravery during World War Two, the Gurkhas are a Nepalese regiment of soldiers who fought as part of the British Empire. This story focuses on the relationship between one such Gurkha man and his daughter, and is told from her point of view. She loves her father but she struggles to understand his complaints about his country and the life he has led.
The Cleft.
This story details the difficult life of a servant girl who has a cleft palate, making her face appear deformed. Unable to foresee a future for herself in Nepal, she makes plans to flee the country for a better life.
A Father's Journey.
This story is told from the perspective of a father of an only child, a daughter, whose relationship with her is giving him pause for thought.
Mixed Blessings.
Darjeeling, most famous for it's delicate perfumed tea, is a city in the Indian state of West Bengal, and is located in the Western Himalayas. This story tells of a festival that takes place there, and the ritual sacrifice that occurs.
No Land Is Her Land.
This is the second story in the collection that highlights the difficult lives led by women in the Nepalese region. A refugee girl who lives in Bhutan, but comes from Nepal, has come to realize that there is no future for herself in the region and yearns for escape to the West.
Passing Fancy.
This story follows the musings of a woman who has recently retired, and is consequently rather board. She feels that her life needs spicing up and considers having an affair, weighing up the pros and cons in contemplation.
The Immigrants.
Unlike the rest of the stories in the book, this one is set in the West: Manhattan, to be precise. We meet two young Nepalese immigrants who did not know each other prior to their arrival in America, but who meet and find common ground in their experiences in their new country.
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie.
Kalimpong, in the state of West Bengal, India, is the backdrop for this story that follows the life of a shopkeeper whose life is complicated by the fact he is facing an impossible dilemma, and is struggling between a rock and a hard place in order to come to a decision.
