Translated from the Hindi by VARSHA TIWARY “Yogendra Ahuja is a masterful chronicler of the dreary, stifling, and muted landscapes of small towns and bustling metropolises. His settings are often gray, his characters tinged with absurdity. Yet, in crafting the narrative of Laffaz, Ahuja shifts his focus away from conventional “characters” or settings, choosing instead to spotlight a particular tendency. The Laffaz we encounter in this story—a figure endlessly practising the art of fluent deception, assuming new forms, committing fraud in varying styles, telling obscene tales, and waxing eloquent on patriotism and public welfare—is not a singular character. Instead, it embodies a “trend without character.” Portraying such a shapeshifting, elusive “Laffaz” and anchoring it within the framework of a cohesive narrative is a daunting challenge. Yet, Ahuja achieves this with remarkable persistence. No matter how intricate or rugged the path, he does not falter or succumb to frustration. Instead, he steadfastly pursues his quarry to the very end, capturing its essence with a storyteller’s tenacity and insight.