The Roof Beneath their Feet

Synopsis

In an old neighbourhood where rooftops become places of refuge, rebellion, and possibility, two women forge an extraordinary bond that defies the expectations of family and society. Chachcho and Lalna meet above the streets, where gossip cannot quite reach them and imagination is free to flourish. Years later, after Chachcho's death, her nephew begins piecing together the truth of their relationship, uncovering a story shaped by memory, longing, silence, and the lives women build beyond the boundaries imposed on them.

From International Booker Prize-winning author Geetanjali Shree, The Roof Beneath Their Feet is a playful, lyrical, and emotionally rich novel that moves between past and present with remarkable ease. Beautifully translated by Rahul Soni, it is a meditation on friendship, freedom, love, and the stories that survive long after those who lived them are gone.

About the Author

Geetanjali Shree is one of India's most celebrated contemporary writers. The author of five novels and numerous short story collections, she became the first Hindi-language writer to win the International Booker Prize for Tomb of Sand. Her work has been translated into many languages and is acclaimed for its formal inventiveness, wit, and exploration of memory, identity, and the lives of women. This edition is translated from the Hindi by Rahul Soni, an award-winning translator of contemporary Indian literature.

Publisher

And Other Stories

Publication Date

February 3, 2026

Format

Paperback

Pages

184

Subjects

Literary Fiction · Fiction in Translation · Indian Literature · Women's Fiction · LGBTQ+ Fiction · Family

ISBN

9781916751392