Xyz puzzles and other stories: People at cross roads

XYZ PUZZLES AND OTHER STORIES is a collection of seven short stories. In a nut shell, the stories weave around human feelings and emotions in mundane life, spread over office and domestic environments. The social settings and moorings of many bygone decades happening around locations in south India can be seen recorded in the stories.
While bittersweet memories are depicted in “HOMAGE,” friendship withered away has been narrated in the title story, “THE XYZ PUZZLES”. The inner turmoil suffered silently by men is depicted in the stories, THE ISLAND OF NEUROTICS, CORPORATE HOLIDAY and “THE JOURNEY BEGINS”. The aspirations and struggles of a village for electricity and a bridge connecting them to main land and the fulfilment of such desires, half a century ago is the centre point of the story, “THE BRIDGE”. Some glimpses of the matrilineal system of life prevailed in Kerala can be traced in the story, “THE FALL OF A KING”.