In India's tropical paradise， stands a town wrapped around a giant roundabout， where a canny caretaker with a French connection holds sway。 Vying for his attention are two competing neighbours。 Appu holds lessons for the living but Maya cares only for the dead。 And a gastronome dog plays ball girl to tennis-loving nuns。

At the centre is an imposing temple so ancient that no one knows exactly when it was built。 Here， even a tiny railway station has set its own rules for acceptance and belonging。 On the other side of the tracks， a baker runs errands for total strangers in the middle of a pandemic。

Malgudi Days meets reality in the search for joy and belonging in a book that is alternatively heartwarming and hilarious。 Anjana Menon takes you to a place that you wish stays that way forever， in these true stories of hope and resilience from a midway Kerala town。