The warmth and intimacy of this moving tale also enriches "Mallika", the story of a little boy and girl who are fascinated with their neighbour, a eunuch; "The Secret", the escapades of a middle-aged bachelor who yearns for some excitement in his life and finds it in marriage; "The Pied Piper of Hamelin", an unusual take on the popular folktale, and the other stories in this unforgettable collection from southern India.