A Hindi translation of Ruskin Bond’s A Handful of Nuts by Rachna Bhola ‘Yamini’, this novel is the story of a 21-year-old writer in a small town in India. Alternately witty, poignant, tender and hilarious, the tale begins with the writer describing his simple and frugal life in Dehra. He occupies a tiny room, spending his days eating at the roadside restaurants, watching cinema and reading all English publications he can find. His goal is to find avenues to get his short stories published, and though he finds plenty such publications, none of those pay well. As he is ruminating about his financial condition, the Maharani of Magdor walks into the hotel. He spirals into memories of his teenage days when he had fallen in love with her daughter, Indu. When the Maharani came across his love letters to her daughter, instead of breaking into a fit of fury, she had complimented him on his writing talent. His literary ambitions are constantly thwarted with a trail of romances, intriguing incidents, compelling trials and tribulations that sprawl across the complex plot. A movie star, a journalist, a circus tiger and many more such fascinating creatures bring alive the vibrant spirit of the town of Dehra. Each character in the story has their own eccentricities, brilliance and turmoil. The realistic depiction of small-town life echoes deeply with the contemporary socio-cultural milieu. A gripping listen, the novella balances simplicity with depth, drawing the listener into a charming, humane and funny account of a young man’s coming of age.