Leela knows all about second chances. She picked herself up from personal tragedy, and stepped up as the single mother of a teenage son, respected principal of an alternative school, and keeper of peace with her demanding parents. But when a chance meeting with an old flame rekindles forgotten passions, her well-ordered existence threatens to fall apart.

Twenty years ago, Leela and Nandini had been each other’s first loves, though life eventually took them in different directions. So when Nandini tumbles back into Leela’s orbit, she is surprised at her instant attraction. They fall back into easy camaraderie and clandestine trysts. Leela knows that as long as they can keep it that way, it’s fine. She can’t afford to fall for Nandini.

Of course, Leela falls in love, bringing her world tumbling down around her ears. Her son is embroiled in a crisis of his own, her mother is horrified that her daughter might be a lesbian, and an anonymous source threatens to out her at her place of work. In “respectable” middle-class India, the resulting social and professional ostracism would be instant.

The only way to keep the shadow of scandal from consuming her is for Leela to walk away from Nandini. But doing that will destroy her.