‘Dear Diary’ in The Polka-Dot Umbrella and Others is the story of Tara, a reluctant diary writer who only begins writing because her teacher wants her to. The diary entries, hesitant and sparse in the beginning, soon turn into a detail-rich account of her school days. And it is through this that we see how the friendship between Tara and new girl Sushmita develops.

This was a story I enjoyed writing and I am so glad the jury decided it deserved a prize!