Publisher's Synopsis
The resplendent Island in the southern tip of India, home for less than 17 million people, ravaged by ethnic civil war for more than 20 years. Two families from totally different ethnic and cultural backgrounds living side by side in the metropolis of Colombo, long before the racial strife and the civil war broke out. Elmo De Silva, the honest and upright Sinhala police Superintendent, his wife Marla, who is from the Dutch Burgher community with their two little children Travis and Larry living in Colombo constitute the perfect picture of a happy family. Their immediate neighbors, the former tea estate owner Rajasekar and his wife Kasthuri together with their five grown up children, each with diverse character traits and strengths go through the harsh realities of life more than their mother Kasthuri could ever bear. The religious and cultural differences of these two neighbors pose no barrier for their closeness and friendship. The two children of De Silva family, Travis and Larry grow up under the care of Kasthuri when their parents are at work. The older of the two little boys, Travis develops a closer bond with Kasthuri than her own children. As Travis grows up to become a teenager under the care of Kasthuri, he truly comes to regard her as his surrogate mother. Times go by. Kasthuri family goes through several upheavals. Kasthuri's eldest son Ruben becomes a Harvard physician working in Boston, but betrays his mother for no known reason, which leaves Kasthuri not only puzzled but totally devastated as well. Her second son Logan, marries a wealthy young widow from Germany, and leaves the family for good. The Communists Insurgents try to overthrow the government of Sri Lanka in 1971. Elmo De Silva family immigrates to Australia but keeps closely in touch with Kasthuri. The old man Rajasekar passes away and his real story is being told in flash back.
