Contemporary Indian Short Story Collections: Five Gems You Can’t Miss

Ah, the short story – a tiny parcel of literature, perfect for those moments when you need a quick escape from reality but don’t have the patience (or the commitment issues) to tackle a full-fledged novel. And who better to guide us through this delightful landscape than some of the finest contemporary Indian authors? These literary wizards have managed to pack drama, wit, and wisdom into bite-sized narratives that will leave you craving more. So, grab a cup of chai, settle into your favorite reading nook, and dive into five collections making waves in the Indian literary scene.

Saturday Stories || Rashmi Bansal

Book: Saturday Stories Author: Rashmi Bansal Publisher: HarperCollins India Genre: Short Stories Paperback: 176 Pages Rating: 4/5 I can't help but recall the day I picked this short story collection, "Saturday Stories" by Rashmi Bansal. The book's cover, featuring a serene park bench bathed in sunlight, seemed to be an unrestricted invitation to a storytelling…

Shake the Bottle and Other Stories || Ashapurna Debi || Arunava Sinha

Each story has shaken up the bottle of our thoughts. I love how Arunava Sinha keeps the authentic essence of the stories by keeping the Bengali culture and vocabulary as it is. Undoubtedly, this short stories book is must read for everyone, as it’s one of the fine works that will bewitch you by its charm.

Acceptance

"It was a bright sunny day; a girl sitting under a tree wasplaying an ear-soothing tune hypnotizing the birds and butterflies to dance on the beats, and the wind flowed with the rhythm of her fingers playing the guitar. A sudden loud voice broke her trance, and she opened her eyes. The dark clouds shadowed…

Nautanki Saala | Mohua Chinappa

Publisher: Cursive Language: English Kindle: 132 Pages Desire is strange; it wells up uninvited and goes missing when most needed. Why is it that desire is so patriarchal? "Nautanki Saala and other stories" by "Mohua Chinappa" is a collection of short stories inspired by the real-life characters she met on her journey.  The fifteen tales in the…

Urban Chronicles 2 | Nitya Bajoria

Publisher: Bee Books Language: English Kindle: 61 pages My love for graphic books has been intense since childhood when my dad brought comics for me during the summer vacation. I feel that graphic novels are the perfect recipe to fall in love with reading. Urban Chronicles 2 by Nitya Bajoria compiles three thought-provoking graphic short…

Check-In Check-Out… and the horror within

Book: Check-in Check-Out Author: Keran Pantth Joshi "I am so curious about knowing the "Unknown", it can be scary, but I see it as a game." Readers who get a thrill from Halloween movies and love to curl up with frightening books will get goosebumps after reading "Check-in and Check-out by Keran Pantth Joshi." The…