When Ranjit Singh, a disgraced Sikh Indian Army captain,
escaped India, he was hoping to make a better life for his
wife and young daughter in Boston. Instead, they met with
prejudice and heartache. Leaving Boston to find work on
Martha's Vineyard, Ranjit soon becomes caretaker for
several vacation estates during the off-season. Having
established a close relationship with a U.S. Senator and
his wife, Ranjit decides to move his family into their home
while it is vacant. It will be one of the worst mistakes of
his life, almost as bad as the tragic incident in India
that caused the loss of his career.
Everything seems to be going well, until the night two men
break into the Senator's home looking for a priceless doll
from the wife's extensive collection. Even though Ranjit is
able to flee with his family, they are not safe.
Unbeknownst to Ranjit, his daughter has hidden a doll she
fancied in her backpack. Of course, that is the one doll
the men are after, so the hunt is on. When Ranjit finds the
doll, he confiscates it and goes on the run, leaving his
wife and daughter with her uncle in Boston. Believing them
to be safe, he is shocked when they are taken by Homeland
Security for deportation to India. Who is pulling the
strings that are causing all this trouble? And why are they
so intent on finding this particular doll? The answers to
those questions put Ranjit in more danger than he has ever
experienced, especially since his family is involved.
Interspersed with flashbacks of his horrific Army
experiences depicted in detailed scenes of the brutal war
between India and Pakistan, THE CARETAKER is a fast-paced,
action-packed political thriller that keeps you on the edge
of your seat. Ranjit's past haunts him constantly, which
makes dealing with his present situation even more
difficult. A. X. Ahmad writes with authority in a
tightly woven plot with much suspense and anticipation of
the outcome. However, the resolution of Ranjit's personal
situation leaves some unanswered questions.
Ranjit Singh, a former Indian Army Captain trying to escape
a shameful past, lives with his family among the migrant
workers of Martha's Vineyard, working as a caretaker of the
vacation homes of the rich and powerful. Needing a place to
stay, Ranjit moves his family into an empty Senator's home.
Happily, but illegally ensconced in the house, he tries to
forget his brief affair with Anna, the wife of an African-
American senator, and focus on providing for his family.
But one night, their idyll is shattered when mysterious
armed men break into the house, looking for an antique
porcelain doll. Forced to flee, Ranjit is pursued and
hunted by unknown forces, and becomes drawn into the
Senator's shadowy world. To save his family and solve the
mystery of the doll, he must join forces with Anna, who has
her own dark secrets. As the past and present collide,
Ranjit must finally confront the hidden event that
destroyed his Army career and forced him to leave India.
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