Featuring:

One December Night: Poos Ki Raat

To guard his crop, a poor farmer spends winter nights in the pasture, with only his dog and the bitter cold for company.

Lottery

The narrator agrees to buy a lottery ticket in partnership with his friend.

But as the date of lottery draws closer, the narrator begins to doubt his friend’s intention to honour their unwritten partnership.

A comedic yet cautionary tale about the allure of money and its potential for corruption.

The Thakur’s Well: Thakur Ka Kuaan

Gangi, a ‘low caste’ woman, is denied access to the community well owned by the ‘high caste’ Thakur.

To comfort her ailing husband, Gangi risks life and limb when she attempts to draw water from Thakur’s well.

A short story about caste discrimination, segregation, and gender inequality.

The Chess Players: Shatranj Ke Khiladi

A decadent Lucknow, a waning kingdom, and a foreign power vying for control.

Set in 19th century India during the reign of the last Nawab of Awadh, The Chess Players is an account of two men’s obsession with chess.

A short story about addiction, dissipation, and hedonism.

My Older Brother: Bade Bhai Sahab

A happy-go-lucky schoolboy chafes under the tutelage of his older and more studious brother.

A short story about finding the right balance between study and play, with tongue-in-cheek commentary on India’s education system in the early 1900s.

An English-language translation of short stories written by Munshi Premchand, the celebrated author of Indian classics such as Gaban, Godaan, and Nirmala.

The short stories are also available for purchase individually.