Three Bargains

This first novel tells the story of Madan, a young boy in northern India whose sharp mind helps lift him from poverty into wealth. After his father commits a terrible crime against his family, Madan becomes a sort of foster son to Avtaar Singh, the head of the factory where his father worked. But when Madan makes a mistake of his own, he must run for his life, abandoning his family to start over in New Delhi. The plot keeps the reader interested, shifting between social missteps and physical violence. Best of all is the depiction of how Madan never really belongs anywhere—no matter how kind Singh is, Madan remains a servant, a point reinforced by multiple upper-class characters who resent him. Ultimately, however, the neat way that everything gets resolved is disappointing; the reader can see the plot twists long before Madan does. And with the exception of the main character, who is intriguing and complex, the rest of the cast is not compelling. Still, this rags-to-riches saga is very readable.