Laburnum for My Head: StoriesEvery May something extraordinary happens in the new cemetery of the sleepy little town – a laburnum tree, with buttery yellow blossoms, flowers over the spot where Lentina is buried. A brave hunter, Imchanok, totters when the ghost of his prey haunts him, till he offers it is a tuft of his hair as a prayer for forgiveness. Pokenmong, the servant boy, by dint of his wit, sells an airfield to unsuspecting villagers. A letter found on a dead insurgent blurs the boundaries between him and an innocent villager, both struggling to make ends meet. A woman’s terrible secret comes full circle, changing her daughter’s and granddaughter’s lives as well as her own. An illiterate village woman’s simple question rattles an army officer and forces him to set her husband free. A young girl loses her lover in his fight for the motherland, leaving her a frightful legacy. And a caterpillar finds wings. From the mythical to the modern, Laburnum for My Head is a collection of short stories that embrace a gamut of emotions. Heart-rending, witty and riddled with irony, the stories depict a deep understanding of the human condition. |
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age-set airfield animal army asked Assam Babu baby bamboo became began black tea bloom boar boar’s called camp carcass cemetery child commander dark daughter dead death decided elders elephant eyes face father felt field flowers gaonburah garden grandmother happened head headstones heard hunter husband Imchanok Imdongla Indian army Jiten Johnny jungle Khalong kill knew laburnum tree leader learnt Lentina living look maid marriage Martha Medemla mind monkey morning mother Naga nephew never night once paddy planted Pokenmong Porky realized rice rogue elephant sahibs saplings seemed sense shot shouting soldiers Sonny Sonny’s soon spot started stood stories strange Tangchetla Tekaba tell thing thought told took Town Committee trying turned underground underground government village voice waiting walked wanted wife woman woman’s women wonder word Yes madam