Black Limericks
Ranjit Lal
Completely outclassed and overwhelmed by her genius younger brother Jayant, 17-year old Maya has always regarded herself as a background person . Her only gift, it seems, is her ability to produce instant limericks a talent which leaves her brother unimpressed and her friends appalled. All excepting Yash, the quick-witted precocious 15-year-old shoulder-high boy she meets while on holiday at her uncle s beach resort on the west coast. However, a terrible truth, held back at a vital juncture changes her life forever and Maya suddenly finds herself catapulted to the centre of the universe with the world looking up at her with awe and respect . But Hari, her obnoxious 19-year-old cousin, plans his moves with predatory cunning and a nightmare beyond belief begins for Maya, from which there seems no escape. Until one night when the spring tide runs strong and Maya is faced head on by her greatest fear yet again and must redeem or condemn herself forever
Ranjit Lal was born in Kolkata in 1955, and educated in Mumbai, graduating in Economics and Sociology. As a freelance writer and columnist, he has over a thousand articles, short stories, features and photo-features published in over fifty newspapers and magazines in India and abroad. He has special interest in areas like natural history, photography, humour, satire and automobiles, on which he writes for both adults and children. He is one of the few Indian journalists to write satire and humour on a sustained basis. He has authored several books including The Simians of the South Block and the Yumyum Piglets; The Crow Chronicles; The Life and Times of Altu Faltu; That Summer at Kalagarh; The Bossman Adventures; Enjoying Birds; Birds of Delhi; Birds from My Window; The Caterpillar Who Went on a Diet and Other Stories; When Banshee Kissed Bimbo and The Battle for No. 19. Ranjit Lal lives in Delhi.