HARKAMYA  (Paperback, ANEES SALIM, SHUCHITA NANDAPURKAR PHADKE)

LATIF'S LIFE CHANGES WHEN HE IS APPOINTED BELLBOY AT THE PARADISE LODGE - A HOTEL WHERE PEOPLE COME TO DIE. AFTER HIS FATHER'S DEATH, DROWNED IN THE WATERS SURROUNDING THEIR SMALL ISLAND, IT IS 17 YEAR-OLD LATIF'S TURN TO BECOME THE MAN OF THE HOUSE AND PROVIDE FOR HIS AILING MOTHER AND SISTERS. DESPITE DISCOVERING A DEAD BODY ON HIS FIRST DAY OF DUTY, LATIF FINDS ENTERTAINMENT SPYING ON GUESTS AND REGALING THE HOTEL'S JANITOR, STELLA, WITH MADE-UP STORIES. HOWEVER, WHEN LATIF FINDS THE CORPSE OF A SMALL-TIME ACTOR IN ROOM 555 AND BECOMES A MUTE-WITNESS TO A CRIME THAT HAPPENS THERE, THE COURSE OF LATIF'S LIFE IS IRRETRIEVABLY ALTERED. THE BELLBOY IS AS MUCH A COMMENTARY ON HOW SOCIETY TREATS AND VICTIMIZES THE INTELLECTUALLY VULNERABLE AS IT IS ABOUT THE QUIET RESENTMENT BREWING AGAINST RELIGIOUS MINORITIES IN INDIA TODAY. WITH A MIX OF WRY HUMOUR AND HEART-WRENCHING POIGNANCY, THE BOOK NARRATES A YOUNG BOY'S COMING-OF-AGE ON A SMALL ISLAND, AND HIS INNOCENCE THAT PERSISTS EVEN IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY AND INEVITABLE TRAGEDY.