Short stories are increasingly becoming popular with readers owing to their brevity. The genre of short stories contains enormous possibilities for writers to exhibit their talent. In Daniell Comes to Judgement, Keki N. Daruwalla has used his own characteristic style - making the book a pleasurable reading experience. Daruwalla's work is a collection of around 20 stories, both old and new, of varying lengths. The subjects have been drawn from everyday life. Even if some of the topics seem familiar, each story has twists and turns that would keep the readers hooked. What is noteworthy about Daruwalla is his ability to depict the innermost feelings of women. Almost half the stories are narrated from the points of view of female characters. The women in his stories are so real, that it is quite possible for a female writer to be envious of him.
In one of the stories, "The Trojan Horse", Daruwalla even writes about the emotions that horses experience; he employs history to weave a tale of love. In some other stories he has used myths, traditions and religious fundamentalism to spin his yarn, but without malice towards any particular community. Daruwalla's prose is easy to follow. One can effortlessly move from one story to another while reading Daniell Comes to Judgement. However, the presence of too many voices in a single story should have been avoided.
The author does not hesitate to discuss the follies of men and women. Another good thing about the book is that, although the stories may have been written keeping a particular time and space in mind - their presentation lends them a universal appeal. Daruwalla has the keen eye of a satirist. The scenes from the book can well be compared to satirical paintings.
The author is equally at ease while writing about life in the mountains and the rustic valleys. He maintains the same tone, even when he is narrating from the perspective of a foreigner. This is one of the great strengths of Daruwalla. It allows the reader to grow familiar with his style of writing. He has been able to hold on to his style for most part of the book.
However, a few stories towards the end fail to live up to the expectations of the readers. It becomes apparent that they were written much earlier and later revised, so that they can be included in the volume. Furthermore, stories such as "The Bride Returns" seem to have been written in a perfunctory manner. They do not go with Daruwalla's style of writing.
A reader might be disappointed if he is expecting the author to stick to the rules of modern short-story writing. Only some stories strictly follow the rules. The story, "Daniell Comes to Judgement", is about an old painting and it ends on an anticlimactic note. Another story, "Bars", deals with the proclivity of the Indian State to imprison citizens on flimsy pretexts. However, most of the stories are about fellow men and women, some of whom live in far-flung areas or are neighbours.
Daruwalla appears uninterested in creating plots that involve the complexities of modern life. They might thus not appeal to the contemporary reader. He is more adept at describing scenic beauty. The author does not venture deep into the psyche of his characters.
As a result, although the stories in the volume are entertaining, they fail to leave behind a lasting impression. The book may fade from memory with the passage of time .
