Temporary Answers touches upon a variety of human relationships through the life of its central protagonist, Vineeta. The sudden death of her husband forces Vineeta, a pediatrician, to face several conflicts: her relationship with her effeciently autocratic mother, a much younger sister, an old friend and colleague who offers her partnership and marriage, an eccentric college lecturer and playwright to whom she is attracted. As she tries to rebuild her life, as a doctor and as a voluntary social worker, Vineeta deals with situations she has not known before and gropes to find herself.