The story of a man known only as Lover, who is thrust into a surreal world of strange nightmares and deadly visions.

As the sun sets on the British Empire, the British rulers of the Indian subcontinent prepare to divide the region into two independent states: India and Pakistan. For the diverse native population, freedom comes at a cost and ethnic violence sweeps the region. On the eve of Pakistani independence in 1947, Arastu Jan, a troubled and isolated native servant to a British master, takes a dose of poison and finds himself with ten minutes to record the confession of his brief lifetime.

In Los Angeles, Max Carlyle makes a good living directing commercials and has a happy home life with his wife, Mimi, and two children. When Carlyle travels to New York City to visit his friend Charlie, who has been diagnosed with AIDS, he has repeat run-ins with a beautiful woman, Karen, and eventually sleeps with her. Though he goes home the next day and doesn't return until a year later, Carlyle's infidelity still lingers.