A River Sutra

Nitin Bose lives a life of indulgence in Calcutta. The city is struggling to overcome the challenges of the partition 50 years prior and the war in Bangladesh 20 years prior, but Nitin and his friends are above that struggle. However, he becomes disillusioned by his indulgent lifestyle and chooses an assignment to manage a tea estate, which is an isolating and lonely job. At the estate, Nitin puts on a persona of an older man, managing the workers and servants gracefully. His grandmother sends him his grandfather’s library—books on Indian legends and religious beliefs—and he begins reading in the evenings. The first year is fortunate, and Nitin receives commendations on his tea crop. This allows him to give bonuses to the workers and he earns him their respect. He stops drinking and loses interest in women, focusing more on his grandfather’s books.

The second year is also a success, and Ashok, who is an executive in the tea company, offers Nitin the role of director of the company. Ashok is surprised that Nitin does not drink and has not had sex in two years; Nitin rejects the job offer, irritated with Ashok’s insensitivity. After Ashok leaves, Nitin becomes depressed; he begins thinking increasingly about sex and drinking heavily.