Aravind Adiga ‘Last Man in Tower’ speaks of real estate developer Dharmen Shah who offers to buy out the residents of Vishram Society, planning to use the site to build a luxury apartment complex.
Initially, though, not everyone wants to leave; many of the residents have lived in Vishram for years, many of them are no longer young. But none can benefit from the offer unless all agree to sell.
As tensions rise among the once civil neighbours, one by one those who oppose the offer give way to the majority, until only one man stands in Shah`s way - Masterji, a retired schoolteacher, once the most respected man in the building.
Shah is a dangerous man to refuse, but as the demolition deadline looms, Masterji`s neighbours - friends who have become enemies, acquaintances turned co-conspirators - may stop at nothing to score their payday.
First Published: Saturday, July 16, 2011, 15:32