In September 2011, Prajwal Parajuly became the youngest Indian author to be offered an international, two-book, multi-country deal. The first one was for The Gurkha's Daughter: Stories, and the second, for Land Where I Flee – a novel about four adult siblings, brought up in Gangtok by their grandmother, who return from other continents to celebrate Chaurasi, her 84th birthday.

Chitralekha, the cunning, beedi-smoking grandmother, is fiery. She holds a grudge against each of her grandchildren who have taken decisions that she cannot accept. In fact, she has a less damaging and a more affectionate relationship with her servant, Prasanti, a eunuch.

And then there are the siblings who have arrived with their own little secret. Bhagwati is embarrassed about her poverty after eloping with a lower caste man; Manasa, a high-flying professional, is reduced to a caretaker at home; Agastaya is a closet homosexual, and Ruthwa, a “louche” novelist trying to salvage her career. But, as we read, we realise that it’s the grandmother and the servant who enjoy more happiness and freedom than the westernised siblings “who keep their true selves hidden from society.”

“I decided to take all the taboo issues in the Indian subcontinent such as homosexuality, inter-caste marriages and eunuchs, and have a blast with them.” Parajuly says. When asked about who his favourite characters in the novel is he answers, “It would have to be a tie between Manasa and Prasanti. Some people might say that Ruthwa is a portrayal of a Prajwal Parajuly gone bad, but I would never do what he did.” With a such a band of eclectic characters, Land Where I Flee is much more than just about homecoming and reunion.

Published in 2013.