No Presents Please: Mumbai Stories

No Presents Please is a collection of sixteen short stories that explore the sub-locales and spatial identities of Mumbai and the struggles of small-town migrants. The stories showcase moments of existential anxiety, pathos, and tenderness, revealing the cracks in the curtains of ordinary life and the possibilities that exist in the city.

Format: Paperback / softback
Publication date: 10 September 2020
Publisher: Tilted Axis Press

No Presents Please is a captivating portrayal of urban life, delving into the diverse neighborhoods and spatial identities of Mumbai and the challenges faced by small-town migrants. Through the insightful lens of Jayant Kaikini, the author captures the lives of those on the fringes, including a bus driver who resorted to stealing the bus to return home after being denied annual leave, a slum dweller who engages in the illegal trade of catching cats for pharmaceutical testing, and a father who finds himself at his wit's end with his mischievous son. The book explores a wide range of settings, from iconic Irani cafes to bustling chawls, historic cinema halls to the bustling local trains, all of which serve as backdrop to moments of existential anxiety, pathos, and tenderness. Within these sixteen award-winning stories, the ordinary is transformed as cracks in the curtains reveal unexpected possibilities that exist solely because of the city's unique spirit. Mumbai surprises with its epiphanies, fantasies, and ambitions, offering a glimpse into the lives of its inhabitants and the complexities of their experiences.

Weight: 252g
Dimension: 129 x 196 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781911284482