Category: Fiction
Rights: All rights available
“Manix. Khanjari says he’s gone.”
“Gone? That’s great. Abroad, I hope?”
“No, no. He’s dead.”
Manix, urf Manilal, has been murdered. Spare the eulogies—and let’s not argue about whether it’s really a loss. A gruff lesbian detective and her overly earnest college lecturer assistant take on the case. Manix had a talent for making enemies, especially with his habit of dismissing all activism as not radical enough.
“Good. More suspects. How many of them are your Facebook friends?”
“All of them. But many have fake names.”
The suspect list is a wild mix—dog-loving lesbians, ageing feminists with zero patience, gay men flirting in Hinglish, S&M enthusiasts, and young non-binary rebels. Motives are murky, relationships are messy, and awkward encounters are a given. From Vyapar Kendra’s winding alleys to Khan Market’s overpriced cafes, the duo chases leads, dodges drama, and survives enough social chaos to last a lifetime.
Food fuels the madness. The detective’s partner makes sambar while she struggles with eggs. Kathi rolls from Petu in SuperMart 1 keep them going. A gay friend casually whips up raita while excusing his dog’s habit of biting guests.
“…he saw one of those good-looking twits who are after him all the time, so he dropped me like a hot potato and took off.”
The trail winds through East Delhi apartments and Central Delhi protests, culminating in a dramatic showdown at the Jaipur Literature Festival.
Wit is sharp, suspense relentless, and the ending? You won’t guess whodunnit.
The author: Ruth Vanita