Krishan Chander is a stalwart of the Progressive Writers' Movement and a venerable name in Urdu and Hindi short story writing. His timeless stories astound both in terms of quality and sheer volume, yet he remains under-read outside his own languages. With simplicity and stylistic flair, this much-awaited volume brings together a novella and three stories that represent the best of his oeuvre. In 'The Dark River', a gothic tale of love and murder unfurls amidst great beauty. It will take all of Lata's strength to navigate the underbelly of Mumbai with nothing but a vermillion dream in 'Same Old Desire'. In 'Plums', the narrator realizes that there are things that time cannot touch: the citrus mischief of love, memories and plums. Even the most hardened criminal cowersbefore the silence of those who havenothing more to lose in 'Breaking the Strike'. Varied and evocative stories that carry the delicate essence of Urdu and Hindi into another language.