A sequel to “Krishna, a Love Story,” “Rahul, a Different Love Story” is set against the backdrop of two tragic events that impacted India’s political history in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. One was the rise of a murderous Maoist movement espousing the cause of landless farmers; the other, India’s war with Pakistan that led to the creation of Bangladesh. Like thousands of young students, many from affluent families, Rahul, himself the son of a landowner, is drawn to the Maoist movement. Subsequently infiltrated by the CIA, the movement collapsed. Many Maoists (also known as Nax- alites) found refuge in North America. Rahul was one such beneficiary.

But the Bangladesh War, and the abduction of Rahul’s sister, Krishna, forces Rahul to return to India, his heart torn between two lovers – Sharmila, an aggressive acquaintance from Calcutta, clawing her way into academia, and Alice, whose life had earlier become entangled with those of Krishna and her husband, Vikram.

A tale of love in the midst of war and violence, cruelty, cultural dislocation, and generational conflicts.