I am a sucker for short stories and here was one with an eye-popping cover and a title that intrigues. When I purchased the book on kindle and started reading, I was in a rattling auto-rickshaw traversing through Mumbai streets. I read the first story, from which the book gets its title. Then, I stopped. These were stories that need to be slowly savoured on a monsoon evening with a hot cup of tea, not read in a jiggling autorickshaw. 

The stories in this anthology have simple plotlines with characters you meet or hear about in your everyday life. The magic happens in the language. The author plays with prose, juggles verbs and hypnotizes you. If you are looking for a quick thriller, this book is not for you. You cannot pop in these stories like the pani puris at the roadside shop. You need to relish them slowly like a gourmet dish ordered in a five star hotel. My only regret was the serving was as tiny as those served in these hotels. Seven stories is too little! In all probability, this is my greed speaking. Rochelle, I want more!

Arithmetic of Breasts is a must-read for anyone who loves well-written short stories.