Abscond

A Short Story

De: Abraham Verghese

Narrado por: Fajer Al-Kaisi

Fate challenges a boy to find his place in the world in a powerful short story from Abraham Verghese, the New York Times bestselling author of The Covenant of Water.

It’s a New Jersey summer in 1967, and thirteen-year-old Ravi Ramanathan has the makings of a tennis prodigy. His surgeon father encourages his ambition, while his mother dreams of their only child following his father’s path. Surrounded by his parents’ love, Ravi chafes a bit at their daily routines and little traditions. Then one unexpected day, everything changes. Realizing how much he took for granted, Ravi must grow up overnight and find a new role in the life of his family.

©2025 by Abraham Verghese. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

So inspiring

It was such a good story about love and family and neighbors I just loved it

Story of universal human experience

This book triggered a wide range of memories and emotions from childhood. It was profoundy touching without being sentimental or manipulative. A lovely, compact story that deeply affected me.

Superior

Verghese is always prescient and even omniscient about the human condition. Enjoy it with another

Rhythms of life

Well done short story. In the midst of the cadence of normal family life there is a sobering pause in the pace and reorder occurs. A beautiful story about a close Indian family and profound readjustments they face. Beautifully written and told.

The depth of engagement

Beautiful story. The few language or cultural terms of which I had no educational background were insignificant to my attention to this riveting narrative. It flowed like a stream that becomes a flash flood. It resolves naturally and calmly. The listener knows it is okay now to go. I loved it,

This should be a YA book

Thoughtful but YA 15 word minimum minimum minimum and and and and and and and and and

Fantastic Storytelling

I loved this. I ironed while I listened to it. The story of an Indian boy and his mother grieving the loss of the father entranced me, especially the Hindu rituals around death and the new things the bereft do to move on. I had listened to The Covenant of Water and decided to try this novella. I was not disappointed.

Awesome story writing!

Love Verghese’s writings. My only complaint is this was over too soon.
Need more of his books out as I have read all of his books that I have found.

Traditions

Young man’s point of view about father’s death and his new responsibilities as the man in the family

Beautiful

Words of wisdom in a short story by one of my favorite writers. He never disappoints me