Maharani

H.H. is the spoilt selfish beautiful widow of the Maharaja of Mastipur. She lives with her dogs and her caretaker Hans in an enormous old house in Mussoorie taking lovers and discarding them drinking too much and fending off her reckless sons who are waiting hungrily for their inheritance. The seasons come and go hotels burn down cinemas shut shop and people leave the hill station never to return but H.H. remains constant and indomitable. Observing her antics often with disapproval is her old friend Ruskin who can never quite cut himself off from her. Melancholic wry and full of charm Maharani is a delightful novella about love death and friendship.