VERY MUCH A CONTRAST TO MUKHERJEE'S FIRST NOVEL, HER SECOND DESCRIBES DIMPLE DASGUPTA'S ATTEMPTS TO COPE WITH HER LIFE IN AMERICA. HER MARRIAGE ARRANGED TO A RESPECTABLE ENGINEER, DIMPLE IMMIGRATES TO THE U.S., BUT CANNOT ADJUST TO THE FOREIGN AND VIOLENT ENVIRONMENT OF NEW YORK CITY. MORE AND MORE SHE RETREATS FROM REALITY, LIVING IN HER OWN TELEVISION-INDUCED FANTASY WORLD UNTIL SHE FINALLY FINDS EXPRESSION FOR HER FRUSTRATION IN A CHILLING ACT OF SELF-ASSERTION.