These timeless stories by famed author Banaphool, known as the O. Henry of Bengali literature, are classic works that have never before been translated into English. They deftly examine how relationships between friends, family, lovers, and strangers help people deal with life's absurdities. In the title story, a lovelorn boy eagerly awaits the arrival of his beloved in his hostel room only to be rudely startled. The central theme of "Conjugal Dreams" is the erratic nature of love as two newlyweds deal with their own former partners. In the movie "The Homecoming," an insurance agent returning home for Durga Puja by train meets a most unexpected fellow traveller. A simple gamble in "The Corpse" has highly tragic results. Designed from commonplace events and situations, these sparkling vignettes range from poignant and tragic to whimsical and satirical. In these tales, Banaphool invokes a host of enduring characters even as he makes sharp observations about the human condition.