Noon

Just as noon is the time when morning changes into afternoon, so this intriguing portrayal of contemporary India and Pakistan is structured by Taseer (The Temple-Goers) to convey changes in the lives of its characters. The first episode involves the main character, Rehan Tabassum, whose divorced mother, successful lawyer Udaya, introduces him to his prospective stepfather, the very wealthy Amit Sethia. The second episode describes Amit and Udaya's tribulations as they host a dinner party for ten that includes many of the rich and powerful people of Delhi. The third episode deals with a burglary in the house where Rehan now lives with his mother and stepfather; the chief suspects are the servants, whose brutal questioning shows us another part of society. In the last episode, Rehan travels to Port bin Qasim in Parkistan to visit his biological father, Sahil, who's dealing with ruthless politics at his giant telecommunications company. Riots erupt in this splintered city of 15 million people, and one faction targets Sahil and his conglomerate. Like life itself, the situations that precipitate the action in this novel remain unresolved.