Kismetwali and Other Stories

"Impressive debut.... A Dash of noir style ("The gathering darkness, the subtle drop in temperature, and the salty-sweet whiffs of ocean breeze created the illusion of cleanliness in a place where there was little to be found") adds spice to many of these stories, and fellow Indian writer Jhumpa Lahiri's influence can be seen in the abrupt, twist endings."   

Set against the backdrop of modern-day India, Kismetwali and OtherStories places the reader amidst circumstances that transcend place,purse and prestige. This octet of novellas offers a rare glimpse into the parallel lives of the privileged and penniless, converging on those astonishing moments when free will intercepts fate and the rigid divide between social classes is rendered insignificant. Each narrative showcases walas and walis of the working class--the common yet essential purveyors of goods and providers of service--as empowered individuals who take centre stage.

The shavewala, a humble barber, becomes an intimate collaborator in a love story that spans the seven seas; the malishwali,a long-serving masseuse, conceals her mistress's shocking secret while offering a gift of revelation to another; the kismetwali, a clairvoyant of unremarkable pedigree, solicits cosmic benefaction for her affluent clients. These socially eclipsed characters are the true protagonists in every story.