Her hero is a far from heroic figure. Professor Shiv Murthy is an average, well-meaning teacher of history at the Delhi University whose well-ordered existence is thrown into turmoil in the summer of 2000.

To begin with, his ward, a girl he hardly knows, breaks her leg and seeks refuge in his house. Though his wife is away, in the US, Murthy is forced to take her in. His fumbling attempts at making her comfortable and his slow attraction towards her, have been well delineated.

Professionally, Murthy faces a crisis when his interpretation of history is questioned by fundamentalists. He is compelled to rethink his views and come to terms with the demands of his time. He must also face up to his past, his hidden fears, and his feelings for a girl, who will give him the moral strength he needs.

It is worth your while to read this depiction of an ordinary man, caught in a crisis not really of his own making. While the other characters are sketched briefly, Murthy and Meena spring to life... drawing you into the vortex of their thoughts and problems. Though it may not engross you completely, In Times of Siege is a treatise that will make you think.