Cozy Spotlight on The Bicycle Thief And Other Short Stories By Manish Sahu

 

The Bicycle Thief and Other Short Stories is a collection of 12 short stories based in the heart of India. These are light-reads, often with a pleasantly surprising twist.

 

A man who wakes up to read his own obituary in the newspaper…

A woman who learns the meaning of life thanks to her stolen bicycle…

A stern sub-inspector who is expected to rid a small town of a prowling leopard…

A traumatised man who is intent on ending his life, thanks to his adulterous wife…

A man who is willing to get his little finger chopped off in order to win his lady love…

A pickpocket who can’t forget his art…

A caterer in debt who steals a dog for ransom…

These are some of the characters from this collection of short stories. Some weird, some cranky, some adventurous—but all overwhelmingly familiar and believable.

The Bicycle Thief and Other Short Stories is Manish Sahu’s debut work. The stories which are all based in the heart of India, are earthy, amusing and very perceptive. Each tale is a slice of life from everyday India.

Purchase Links

Ebook (India): https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07J9N15TW

Ebook (US): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J9N15TW

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1726819957

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42270479

 

 

 

 

WHO KILLED VIDYASAGAR?

 

Vidyasagar Nagpal had absolutely no clue who had killed him. He read, and reread the small news column located on page five of the local newspaper, in the bottom-left corner. The small obituary was titled: “Vidyasagar Nagpal, 74, passes away.”

It must be someone else called Vidyasagar Nagpal, he first thought. But no. His own grainy black-and-white photograph was printed alongside. Was the photograph a case of mistaken identity? He read the text of the obituary yet again.

“Vidyasagar Nagpal, 74, a resident of Somwarpeth, and a retired high school teacher, passed away on Tuesday after a brief illness. His last rites were performed the next day at the municipal crematorium.”

Vidyasagar was furious. Vidyasagar was dead. Long live Vidyasagar.

“Bandurao!” shouted Vidyasagar to his next-door neighbour, who was enjoying a glass of tea. “Come up here, quick!”

Bandurao gulped his tea and came rushing to Vidyasagar’s house, “What has happened now?” he asked.

“I am dead,” declared Vidyasagar.

“No, you still have time. You do have one foot in the grave, but you still have time,” replied Bandurao.

 

~~~~~

 

If you’d like to read a review of this book, you can visit The Book Decoder and Shalini’s Books and Reviews to get their views on this one.  Hint: They loved it!

About the Author

 

Manish Sahu started his career a  copywriter in a mid-sized advertising agency back in the mid-1990s, where he specialised in marketing to rural-Indian audiences. He has worked as a freelance web and graphic designer for the past 17 years. His expertise also includes web programming and search engine marketing.

He has written a couple of feature-length screenplays and a number of short stories. The Bicycle Thief and Other Stories is his debut work.

Manish Sahu lives in Beltarodi, a small village that lies on the outskirts of Nagpur city.

 

Contact

Email: email@manishsahu.com

Website: https://www.manishsahu.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/manishwa