Summary

Chakrabarti’s collection opens with the title story, “A Small Sacrifice for an Enormous Happiness,” which follows a man named Nikhil as he endeavors to deepen his relationship with his secret lover, Sharma. Nikhil, a man of great means, approaches Sharma and asks whether he would be willing to allow Nikhil to impregnate Sharma’s wife, Tripti, so that he and Sharma can have a child together. To show his seriousness, Nikhil gives Sharma a rare heirloom from his family, a necklace of great value. Although Sharma promises to speak to Tripti—whom he has married only for show—he behaves cagily around Nikhil for quite some time. Nikhil begins attempting to speak with Sharma at the steel foundry where he works, but Sharma pretends not to know Nikhil. Eventually, Nikhil takes matters into...