It is 1927, and after studying in England for several miserable and lonely years, nineteen-year-old Mollie Kaye is joyfully reunited with India, the cherished country where she spent her early years. But the enthusiasm that marks her return dampens when she takes her first steps into the intimidating Delhi social scene. Feeling gawky and plain next to her vivacious, intrepid mother, the etiquette of courtship and society's intricate rules fluster her. Seeking refuge from her public awkwardness, Mollie finds comfort in her Indian friends, her sister Bets and her beloved father Tacklow, her growing talent for watercolors, and above all her ongoing love affair with India itself.