My Friend Sancho

TAG: Romance, Thriller
Rating: 3 / 5 worms
Posted by: Memyself

This not so well known book is the debut book of journalist turned writer Amit Verma, who used to work for a Mumbai tabloid now WSJ, Guardian and Observer. This guy is also known for his famous blog India Uncut.
The book reveals a story of a journalist of the Crime beat section in a tabloid, who one day receives a routine call from a boring Inspector to cover a significant arrest. The arrest is in the areas where police has been informed that people of Chhota Shakeel gang are hiding. The journalist, along with his photographer, accompanies them to the place for the arrest, where gunshots would be the last resort as assured by the Inspector. Then he hears a scream, which he thinks of a female, and gets poised to shoot. A little commotion follows. After 2 minutes constables come out followed by their inspector whispering something which he was not able to understand then but now remembers clearly as “Thank God! He was a Muslim“.Inspector informs him that Mohammad Iqbal, a Chhota Shakel gang member has been killed in an encounter after he tried to fire back. Then, the journalist was told to leave.
After around 6 days, his boss calls him up tells him that they are going to start a new section for which he needs to cover a new story. He is told to meet a lady from a NGO, who was accomapanied by a frail looking girl. She reveals a shocking connection of the encounter and this girl. The floor slips from under journalist's feet. So, did the cops screw up?
What follows is how the protagonist uncovers this story and how a relationship emerges between the cynic journalist and the girl. A recommended read if you find fiction boring. A short book with much of a content.