Tarjani (Index Finger) is a collection of fourteen short stories which appeared earlier in well-known Odia magazines and were loved by readers. These stories are based on day-to-day lives of individuals, exploring human behaviour, personal beliefs, loneliness and even idiosyncrasies. Some social customs have been lampooned without any pedagogical pretensions. Joy and pain have both been celebrated with clever twists. The themes are varied, some of them being quaint tales told with simplicity and detachment. The title story starts with death but ends with life, exploring generational relationships. Subtle humour is used as an effective tool in many stories. The author is nowhere condescending but has assumed the role of a detached reporter of life as it moves. Readers will find every story a compelling read, urging them not to put the book down.
