The Roof Beneath Their Feet

This is the story of Chachcho and Lalna and their much talked-about friendship. Chachcho lives with her frigid husband in the Husband in Laburnum House, a cluster of a hundred or more houses that share a common roof. She leads a lonely life until she takes in Lalna, who's been dumped by her husband. Their closeness makes many uncomfortable. Then suddenly one day, Lalna has to leave, to return only after Chachcho's passing. There are rumors and there is gossip in the neighborhood while Chachcho's nephew tries to piece together his memories of the two women, one of whom is his mother. The truth he is searching for could destroy him forever, but to not find out is no longer an option. A beautifully crafted story with many twists and turns, The Roof Beneath Their Feet is easily one of the best contemporary Hindi novels you have read in a long time.