Mr. Cheng’s Silver Coffeepot (2012, 424 p.) is New Asian Writing’s second anthology of short stories that comprises the fictional work of forty-five writers from around the world who set their stories in a distinctive Asian context. The title page of each story is illustrated with the abstract work of Alan Van Every, a Bangkok-based artist from New York. A brief paragraph about the authors themselves precedes each story, while at the end of the anthology you can consult a glossary of foreign words used in the stories within the covers of this book plus details regarding each illustration.
Mr. Cheng’s Silver Coffeepot, the opening short story by Trirat Petchsingh from Thailand, deals with the common practice of (rich) Thai men to have a mia noi, a second wife, usually much younger than the man himself. This is the case of Mr. Cheng, a successful businessman from Bangkok, who spends his lunch hours with his mistress, “a young northern girl of sixteen.” The title refers to Mr. Cheng’s vision that “the girl’s tiny breasts… were just the size and shape of the lid of the coffee pot at home,” a vision which, towards the end of the story, resurfaces in the most unexpected place.
Lifelines by Ray Malcolm from England, tells the story of a middle-ranking Siamese nobleman who murders his adulterous wife. He is subsequently condemned to death by beheading. The story follows the last moments of Ai Yon as he reflects on his life before being publicly executed in a traditional Siamese ritual. The story is based on a real-life account of crime and punishment in Siam under King Rama V.
Good Girl by Paul Salvette from the United States is the tragic story of a low-ranking Thai police officer who tries hard to help his girlfriend stay off drugs.
Disruptive Feelings by Voicu Mihnea Simandan from Romania is a story about Mircea, a teacher from Europe who works in a school in Bangkok. It’s also about Ploy, a beautiful young Thai woman from the same school, who falls in love with Mircea. It’s a tragic and cruel love story, and essentially the story of a man who is not able to understand his own feelings. Mircea misses Sutipon, the woman he had been living with for the last two years, before she left the country to work abroad. But he also enjoys Ploy’s company who proves to be a pleasant substitute while Sutipon is away. Soon Mircea will be faced with the task of choosing between the two women.
Tsunami Religion by Anjali Prashar from India deals with Karan Patel’s life story and the influence his trip to Pukhet had on his life. While holidaying in Thailand, he is caught, together with his young daughter, in the middle of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Karan Patel becomes separated from his daughter and, while searching for her, he is shocked at the devastation he sees all around him. Will he find his daughter and what will the newfound tsunami religion be?
The Small Moment by Alan Van Every from the United States is about an art teacher living in Thailand who is reminiscing a particular little habit he has.
Nobody Nobody (Weeraesque) by Giacomo Lee from England is a story set in Cambodia, alongside Thailand. This piece was actually inspired by the genre-hop narrative style of Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul. The story is a response to this year’s (2011) flare up of violence around the 900-year old Preah Vihear temple. Primarily a fantasy, the story reimagines the temple’s history to jump between a spiritual past and senseless present, showing the temple’s transformation from a sacred place of sanctity into a political hot potato, an ancient relic caught between crossfire.
In Within the Burmese Dream, author Paul King travels through Myanmar from Yangon to the hills of Shan State. On the way, he comes to learn of curious Chinese medicinal practices still in use in the border regions, as well as the strange wonders of the betel nut. He comes away from the experience in awe of the rich sense of humor of the Myanmar people in spite of a tyrannical political situation, and with the unshakable suspicion that perhaps it was all a dream.
Parallel Lines, San Lin Tun’s flash fiction from Myanmar (Burma), is the story of a young man who reminiscences the advice his mother had given him before he left for the capital to fulfill his dreams.
Death Wish by Maria Melissa Obedoza from The Philippines is a supernatural story that deals with Emil Rodriguez’s motives of highjacking a jeepney in Manila and robbing its passengers. In a puzzle-like narrative, we are introduced to all the characters who will find their way onto that bus. But, as all deeds are met with their respective punishment or reward, Emil is faced with the inconceivable consequences of his, and his own brother’s actions.
In Inocensia by Harriet Chan from The Philippines, Inocensia Baler is the only witness to a murder but she is not able to help the police in catching the murderer as she was nearly killed herself. Will evidence ever be found to prove who the perpetrator of the murder really was?
Beyond the Flickers by Gil Marvel P. Tabucanon from The Philippines is a story about the Philippine’s migrant workers. It is set in Hong Kong where, ironically, the limits of being ‘foreign’ and ‘remote’ did not stop a Filipino boy from a small village from finding a larger family.
Nevertheless by Imee Cuison from The Philippines is the failed love story of Marcus and Sabine who see their relationship shattered by a series of unexpected events. When he returns from a two-month trip from Haiti where he volunteered as an emergency physician, Marcus realizes that Sabine had an affair with a fellow poet. The sad ending makes us understand that forgiveness is one of the most difficult, but at the same time necessary, parts of any relationship.
Folk Remedies by Lay-Leng Ang from Singapore is the story of a very poor family who tries its best to look after its family members when they fall sick, even if they don’t have money for medicine or for a doctor. All that they’re left with is ‘folk remedies,’ some more effective than others, some more dreaded than others. Folk Remedies is set in 1960s -1970s post-colonial Singapore in a backwater community. The short story was initially published on AsiaWrites in October 2010.
In Voices and Hearts by Timothy Nakayama from Malaysia, the narrator finds himself trapped in a cave-like cell where his only source of food is his imagination and an old typewriter. Will he be released before he loses his sanity?
The Mark by John Ling from Malaysia recalled an incident in 2008, when the leader of the Malaysian opposition sought sanctuary at the Turkish embassy. For twenty-four tense hours, it was hinted, but never confirmed, that an attempt had been made on his life. Was it political posturing? Anti-establishment theatrics? Or clear and present danger? This story speculates on what might have happened.
The Streets of KL by Abirami Anne Durai from Malaysia explores the daily grind of downtown Kuala Lumpur where traffic woes and ascending crime rates are an everyday occurrence and apathy is at an all-time high. One young girl discovers this the hard way when her car breaks down on a hot Friday afternoon.
Hantu: A Malaysian Ghost Story by J.C. Martin from Malaysia is a ghost story that takes place in the Malaysia jungle. In the hope of maturing himself, a Western, cocky, young man is sent by his wealthy father on a jungle trip with a Malay guide. The young man ignores his guide’s advice and considers his beliefs to be just superstition. But, soon enough, the young man will pay dearly for disrespecting the spirits of the jungle.
I Did Not Mean to Sell You by Sushma Joshi from Nepal is the sad story of Chori, a girl from the Nepalese countryside, who is sold by her mother to a brothel, while her brother gets to waste the family’s entire wealth.
Mousetrap by Muhammad Ashfaq from Pakistan is the story of a broken man who, after being deserted by Nadia, his wife, and Honey, his baby-girl, has troubles getting rid of a rat who settled in as soon as the wife had left. On top of that, he doesn’t seem to have a chance in winning the custody case for his daughter.
Ubiquitous Encounter by Mehreen Ahmed from Bangladesh is the story of Minah and Sidu who, although they love each other, cannot proclaim their love in public. While Minah’s family is Muslim, Sidu’s are orthodox Brahmins and thus the families would never allow the two lovers to marry each other. Until one day, Minah is chosen a husband…
Baghdad, My Beloved by Saahith Shetty from India is the story of an orphan Iraqi boy who, even after his adoption in a new family and relocation in India, is still haunted by the war that had claimed the lives of his parents.
Nadia by Nick Sweet from England is a short story that takes place in both Saudi Arabia and Lebanon. Nadia, the wife of a wealthy businessman, feels lonely and abandoned by her husband who has taken two more wives. To entertain herself, she asks Khalid, a manservant, to tell her a story while she is bathing. Thus, we find out about Khalid’s life and the way it interconnects with that of Nadia’s husband. Until, one day, the two are discovered, with a strange twist of fate as the dénouement.
Free Korean Dinner by A.D. Thompson from the USA is the story of a Korean student who, living alone in her seminary dorm in America, feels depressed and alienated.
Sharma by Julie Bowen Kearney from Australia is a short story set in the South of India. When an Australian couple meet Sharma at the Hampi Bazaar, they can’t resist his friendly smile and agree to accompany him the next day on a “nature walk” in “the dusty heat of rural India.” But, the walk turns out to be much more than what they had expected!
In The Cost to Understanding by Irfanullah Farooqi from India, Faheem visits his widowed aunt in a village with the intention to convince her to come to New Delhi with him. Raised in a highly urban set-up, Faheem finds his aunt’s life devoid of comfort and basic facilities. However, as he converses with her on the subject, he questions the credibility of his own understanding.
The Departed by Vijayender Cherupally from India is the story of a young man who, on his return to his native city, finds his mother had aged and was in poor health.
The Date: 26th December 2004 by Nishath Nizar from India chronicles little Raju’s last few hours on the beaches of Tamil Nadu, just before the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami struck the cost of southern India.
In Tangerine Sky by Samyak Ghosh from India, Rana seeks refuge in a tranquil town of North Sikkim to cope up with the death of his surrogate mother. Soon he undertakes a journey within, which will reveal the pains of his displacement.
In Blood Ties, Vandana Kumari Jena from India takes parental love to the extremes. When Kavita finds out that her twenty-eight year old son is not her and her husband’s biological child, she sets on a journey to find her real son. Will she find him?
In The Mystical Music by Sheila Samanta Mathai from India, a strange music follows the main character for ten years. She is finally drawn to an ancient heritage church in Mumbai where she discovers the reason behind the mystical music of her mind and becomes a benefactor to a young girl, helping her to pursue a career in music.
One-Day Bride by Sunita Lama from India is the love story of Annie and Andrew and the circumstances that brought the two of them at the pulpit, in the ‘House of God,’ taking their marriage wows. Unfortunately, as the title of the short story suggests, their union didn’t last long!
In Durga and the Holy Cow by Amita Murray from England, Durga, the head farmer on azamindar’s land, wonders if his wife, Seema, is planning to kill him. As he voices out his thoughts, a cow that was grazing nearby starts talking to him. After the initial shock, Durga interrogates the cow and finally finds out why his wife behaves the way she does.
Honour by Ritika Pathak from India is a very short story that deals with the testimony of the girlfriend who witnessed the murder of her boyfriend, who came from a lower caste. Angry and confused, she feels the need for revenge, but how can she confess when her own father was behind the murder?
Traffic Light, by Puskar Pande from India, is the very short story of a man faced with a dilemma: should he part with a five rupee coin and give it to a crippled beggar nursing a very young child in his arms, or should he just wait for the traffic light to turn green and drive off, ignoring the beggar’s pleas.
Good Luck Charm by Vibha Batra from India is the story of Shreya who, throughout her life, has relied on the luck a special T-shirt has brought her. But, when she became a successful person and was about to get married with “the man of her dreams” she realised that the lucky mascot has taken away all the fun and thrill from her life.
Thirst by Hardik Sharma from India is the story of Mrs. Dixit, a lonely woman who suffers from Alzheimer’s. She likes to feed the pigeons that come regularly by her window but, one day, she gets in trouble exactly for doing that.
Aqua Regia, which is Latin for ‘Royal Water,’ by Subhashree Kishore from India is the story of Chitra, a successful businesswoman, working in an MNC with substantial interest in the soft drinks market. While attending a wedding, she reminisces a trip to her native village by the river Tamiraparani in South India. While there, stopping at an old shop she tastes paneer soda, a soft drink made with rose essence. She tries to convince the owner, an old woman named Valliamma, to sell her the secret of the paneer soda. Would Chitra ever find out the secret ingredients in the old woman’s drink?
The Time Has Come by Sangita P. Menon Malhan from India is the story of a man who, upon consulting the astrologer, is forced to stay at home on the day his death was predicted. Will all the prayers and chanting of mantras save him?
Brink of a Beginning by Ankita Banerjee from India is the story of Niti, a young woman who, after her mother’s death, moves from the parental house to the big city.
Love and a Wedding by Vipul Rikhi from India is the story of a writer who, while attending his best friend’s wedding, falls in love with the bride.
Annapurna Devi by Abha Iyengar from India spans over the lifetime of the eponymous narrator who has everything that her name promises but what she really craves, which is time and attention.
In Five Hundred Miles by Sabiha Armin from India, a soldier’s wife attends yet another medal award ceremony, but her mind drifts away to a world of an unknown letter.
Of Heroes and Hopes by Naheed Muqeetulla from India follows two young girls who share the same hopes and dreams but come from different backgrounds. Lakshmi, a poor watchman’s daughter harbours two ambitions – to go to school and to meet the Bollywood hero, Salman Khan. Circumstances however, are against her. Fate intervenes when she befriends her master’s daughter. Through their interaction, both girls discover the true meaning of life, love and gratitude. The story explores themes relating to many aspects of the Indian culture and society, including class division and discrimination, literacy and education, the benevolence and courage of the Indian people as well as their obsession with Bollywood and its actors and “heroes.”
As the title implies, One Night and a Morning in Maya’s Life by Norden Michael Lepcha from India tells the story of Maya’s memorable night, detailing her elopement with Benay, her secret lover. It would prove to be a very memorable night and an unforgettable morning after, for her new partner and their planned future together.
Mr. Cheng’s Silver Coffeepot is available in paperback at
Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk or CreateSpace for 12.00USD
