Kismetwali and Other Stories - Softcover

Reetika Khanna Nijhawan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 9385031724 ISBN 13: 9789385031724

Publisher: Om Books International, 2015

Synopsis

"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."   -- Kirkus Reviews 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.
The stories are supplemented by an extensive glossary.Note: A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will go to "Yours Humanly," an organization dedicated to empowering the world's most vulnerable children through education.

About this title

From the Author:

The cryptic title of the book echoes the unusual narratives in this collection of stories. Kismetwali takes you on an extraordinary journey into India to meet the invisibles hidden in plain sight. Experience a world rife with astonishing contradictions and unlikely kinships. Note: A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will go to "Yours Humanly," an organization dedicated to empowering the world's most vulnerable children through education.

From the Back Cover:

Recommended by Sylvester Monroe, Assistant Foreign Editor, The Washington Post

About this edition

• Publisher: Om Books International
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 9385031724
• ISBN 13: 9789385031724
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 327