During his lifetime, Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhaya wrote 16 novels and over 200 short stories, many of which have been translated into several other languages, including English, Malyalam, Telegu and Sinhalese. Many of his works have also been adapted into films, the most famous being Pather Panchali, Aparajito, Apur Sansar and Chander Pahar. The brilliance of Bibhutibhushan’s stories lies in his preoccupation with a whole universe of human beings discovering their destinies amidst their complicated circumstances; as well as for the feeling of intimacy he invokes among his readers, making even ordinary life seem extraordinary. For this reason, Bibhutibhushan has remained one of the most beloved and well-known writers of our times. The stories in this collection, introduced by the author’s grandson, Tathagata Banerjee, are some of the finest examples of his storytelling.