Ruminant

A ghost is after an innocent child’s chocolates.

Not letting pain go waste, a woman finds purpose and creates a shelter for the fragile.
A pizza bridges the generation gap between a grandmother and her grandson.
Facing human cruelty, a young man has to buy his mother’s remains (ashes), yet has hope and happiness.
A single mother who wouldn’t mind being called ‘Handsome’ shows her young daughter how to stand up for other women.
The empowered life of a film background dancer.

These and many more, in a fictional compendium of 22 stories is what constitutes the deeply reflective Ruminant. First time author, Manav Jalan’s thoughts over places and time act like a pool to take a dip; fingers on the pulse, feet on the ground and at times wings to take flight.

Each story a finely etched portrait, they are written in a conversational style, the narrator beckoning the reader with a sense of familiarity. Setting them off, wondering; did I miss a conversation with myself?