Synopsis He has hot-blooded, socially thrusting, sweet Vending Shadi Lal Khatri for a father. Omi is expected to pass his exams, agree to an arranged marriage and generally improve his station in life. He has not much chance at all of escaping his fate. In Balraj Khanna's ribald, humorous and gently satirical novel of post-partition India at its most ramshackle, Omi gives his father a great deal of concern before surprising everybody, including himself.