“I open my eyes to see a Mexican wave of women dashing to their seats, each breathing a loud sigh of relief—except for Big Mama.

“As soon as we leave the building he lights a cigarette and puffs hungrily. He sags against the wall, spent. I feel pretty much the

“This future life is unknown to you. Now at this moment you look up at your unmoving, silent waiting audience. You half-raise your left arm

“The bird swooped down over them, landing a short distance away, near the dragon. They seemed to know each other, and stood nose to beak

“They pick me up from the police station in the early morning. I am not surprised to see them even though it is over a

“A leap away from becoming ghost. She stood erect, her bathing floral suit, sugared marigolds, a petal cap. She knew it wouldn’t last.¡Saltá, mamá!—Jump. Extract

“Priest and wise-woman have left him alone with a man whose brothers are afeard to come near him and whose heriot, should he die, will

“The day it happened was a black day. I’d had a good run of late, but still get them sometimes. I’ve learnt to take action otherwise

“As arranged, I met with Satyan in a solitary shack found where the margins of the city met open countryside. ‘Welcome to the Hanuman Chai

“Routine was the word. I liked routine, a route to somewhere in time. A rope with which to pull myself along, by sheer force of

Hello, my name is Scruffy, and I’ve lost my blanket. Where can it be? It’s snuggly and warm and smells just like me. I know,

“The carpet on the stairs is thin and tattered. A thousand shuffling footfalls have worn it bare. The bedroom upstairs has a bed and a

“On the road ahead a wagon was on its side. Two German soldiers were on the ground, being treated for injuries. Several others were languishing

Sidra stepped forward and looked out again. She looked around apprehensively. She knew she looked awkward but there was nothing she could do about it.

“The horror of coming ashore for good. God. A punch in the gut, and an irritation that has her glaring back at his lighthouse for

“Within a year I would not even look at Alec. I seemed hardly to notice him when we drove past the compound in the back

“Wadud’s story was entangled in the story of his nation, bookended by the two most important and bloody events in its history, its first birth

“This is the most important secret my father told me: Whenever you are lost, you must turn your shirt inside out.” Extract from ‘Way Back

“Noor’s mother wore black and the air was scented with gardenias when they stepped out of the house. They crossed the road holding hands, making

“I put my eye to the peephole and flick the switch on the wall. Inside the room, the ceiling light beams on the grass-green carpet