Aag Ka Darya by Quratulain Haider

Through the exploration of four distinct Indian time periods (classical, medieval, colonial, and modern post-national), author follows the journeys of four individuals: Gautam, Champa, Kamal, and Cyril. Gautam, a student of mysticism in the fourth century B.C.E. at the Forest University of Shravasti, and Champa, representing the complex experiences of Indian women, serve as bookends for their stories. Kamal, a Muslim character who arrives with the Muslim invasion, becomes lost in the vastness of India's landscape, while Cyril, an Englishman who arrives later, adds a new layer to the intertwining stories of romance, war, possession, and dispossession throughout the novel. Their tales intersect and diverge over the course of different eras, showcasing the evolving nature of their relationships.