Namaste New York: A Novel

The inspiring story of three Poor Indian Graduate Students (also called "PIGS") in their early twenties who arrive in America with little concept of the challenges they will face as they make their way in a strange new land that offers both extraordinary opportunities and devastating heartbreak.

Vijay was only a boy when his father heroically lost his life during the 1993 Hindu-Muslim riots in Bombay. From the time of his death, Vijay knew that he would travel to America one day in order to fulfill his father's dreams. But he never could have imagined that America might have its own plans for him, or that the dreams he had for himself could change so unexpectedly.

For Lakshminarayanan, coming to America was both an escape from the fate that awaited him in India and an opportunity to save his family from an impoverished life that threatened their very survival. He had to make his plans work no matter what the personal cost, as his future was not the only one at stake.

Raj was reticent about his past, secretive about his present, and never discussed his future. But he was certain of his destiny, and every decision in his life up until this point had been made with a singular goal in mind, a goal that had nothing to do with earning money, obtaining an education, or building a successful career. But all he had was a faded photograph, a CD of grainy images of 9/11, and admission to a prestigious American university. He wasn't sure it would be enough, but he couldn't turn back now.

The lives of these three boys become immutably intertwined as they embark on a journey that will alter their beliefs about themselves and each other, and irrevocably change the lives of those around them. This is a story of struggles, loss, hope, love, friendship, success, and the indomitable spirit that resides in the hearts of immigrants who share a common ambition, endure a common struggle, and strive to make a better life for themselves and those they love.