Excerpt

The kitab chor struck the home of Secretary, Petroleum that night.

Jaspreet's father and Kamini's landlady had already filed complaints with the police. Jaspreet's father-the minister of state-had even been sanctioned more Black Cats to guard his house. Books, the Cats had hooted, a thief of books? Bade aadmi ki badi baat.

The shos were still being impatient. Believe me, sirji, no self-respecting Delhi criminal would waste his time on books. This is a city where 'criminal tribes' defecate in drawing rooms after they've done their dread deeds as a signature of their presence. They strangle their victims with live wire. They definitely don't read books. Kya baat kar rahe hai, sahib.

There was a commotion the next morning. Secretary, Petroleum's white Ambassador raced out of the driveway. Mrs Secretary Petroleum could be heard questioning the guards in staccato indignation.

All twelve volumes of the Asiatick Researches or transactions of the celebrated Asiatic Society founded in 1784 by the famous orientalist William Jones, among others, and published in London in 1806, which had belonged to Secretary, Petroleum's father, had gone.