Short Story by Raja Rao. India’s struggle for independence saw division between those who supported Gandhi’s directive of passive resistance and those who advocated violent confrontation. Here, a revered cow is martyred after leading a group of peaceful protesters and standing upon the barricades as fighting is about to begin.
Novelette by Arthur Conan Doyle. The hereditary King of Bohemia hires Sherlock Holmes to retrieve (steal!) photographic evidence of a scandalous affair. Uncharacteristically, the great detective underestimates the woman and is unable to complete the assignment. Rather than displaying frustration or anger, Holmes is smitten with admiration for her intellect.
Short Story by Ismat Chughtai. A mother leaves her young daughter in the care of her adopted sister. The sister’s husband spends his time entertaining “young, fair and slim-waisted boys”, while she spends her day being “attended to” by a personal servant/masseuse who also shares her bed.
Short Story by T. C. Boyle. A fictionalized account of the mysterious death of American blues musician Robert Johnson, who was rumoured to have sold his soul to the devil in exchange for musical prowess. The story suggests that rather than the devil, a jilted woman brought about his demise.
Short Story by James Hurst. The innocent outlook of a physically challenged boy is contrasted with the pride and cruelty of his older brother. It is as if the older boy has two younger brothers: the imaginative storyteller that he clearly loves, and the disabled boy he is ashamed of.