Back to the Shadows

Gangadhar the hard-core criminal undergoes transformation under the influence of an enlightened police officer; Bhaskar falls in love with an ethereal being; death stalks Swamy in the form of a monstrous bag on the bus; the Ramnaths find that the doors are locked on them everywhere;  Bhanumati realises that moral policing has failed to stem the tide of westernisation;  Samuel hoodwinks both the police and the people and keeps the treasure to himself; Aswati, the charming princess, exposes a palace intrigue; Susan and Miranda become victims of modern technology; nemesis catches up with Mr Nice Guy; Sujatha is done in by the very persons whom she had placed her hopes on; Sunita Madam, who doesn't know the fundamentals of the English language,  teaches English in a public school; Prabhakar gives up a lucrative job to follow the dictates of his conscience; and Lord Krishna saves the reputation and life of Shankar. 

The stories, in short, present a kaleidoscopic picture of simple men and women struggling to live out their humdrum existence. They all exemplify the essential wisdom of the Indian village – life is precious and meant to be lived to the hilt.