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Placard Holder in the Pass
Introduction
Keshav, an itinerant worker, finds himself stranded in a small town in a mountain pass, delivered there accidentally by a truck driver who was a regular there. Locals bring him to the town eatery, where he encounters Aziz, the friendly proprietor of the place. There, he finds a home and a strange calling: standing by the highway and holding a placard advertising the presence of the eatery.
Characters and Relationships
Keshav befriends Kili, an inhabitant of the surrounding hills before reappearing with his stunning bride, Chameli. He also meets a wide variety of people: White, a doctor with an ornithological slant of mind who traverses the pass regularly; his faithful driver, Babu; and Keith, a decaying long-term resident of the pass who tried unsuccessfully to live with Tina, his sister in the UK.
Setting and Mood
The moodiness of the unique weather and topography of the pass remains a constant backdrop as Chameli's disillusionment with Keshav grows in the presence of other ardent admirers. Keith finds himself battling depression and alcoholism, despite White's attempts to help him; Kili too suddenly disappears.
Plot Development
Gradually, the lives of those around Keshav—those who chose the pass as their home, perhaps not as a matter of choice but more due to compulsion—begin to disintegrate.
Summary
In this novel, a migrant worker builds a new life for himself in a small mountain town, only to see it fall apart amidst love, betrayal, and sorrow.
