A Nest for Lalita

Fiction. Asian & Asian American Studies. Meena Kaul is riding high in her position as director of Behera House a safe haven in India for women who have survived domestic violence. But when the stock market crashes Behera House loses its funding to expand. The right-wing Hindu Democratic Party (HDP) seeing an opportunity to win womens votes before a national election steps in with a multimillion-dollar grant. While Meena is reluctant to accept the offer it is the only way for the project to proceed. Her worst fears come to pass when the HDP wins the election and begins to chip away at a hundred years of progress on womens rights. Meanwhile Simon Bliss Americas foremost green architect who had been commissioned to design the new facility falls for the alluring Meena and is drawn into the perilous world of Indian politics. In his attempt to loosen the HDPs grip on Meena and win her affection Simon takes on reactionary politicians shady priests and crooked businessmen. In the process he comes face to face with disturbing truths about his past while Meena finds herself trapped in ways she never could have expected.