Love Coffee And Murder By Pratik Majumdar

Love, memory, music and murder came together in an intriguing literary evening in Kolkata as author Pratik Majumdar unveiled Love Coffee and Murder, a collection of 50 short stories that explores the many shades of romance, relationships and the darker impulses of human emotion.

Written in simple, accessible language, the stories draw from emotions that are universal—first love, first crushes, love at first sight, heartbreak, unrequited love, confession, separation and unexpected encounters with people from the past. Yet, beneath these familiar experiences runs a darker undercurrent, where passion sometimes leads to crimes of passion and love takes an unsettling turn.

One of the distinctive features of the book is the anonymity of its characters. Most are simply referred to as ‘he’ and ‘she’, with no specific geographical setting anchoring their stories. This deliberate absence of names and locations makes the characters feel familiar and everyday—people who could be anyone, anywhere. Passionate, vulnerable, eccentric, strong and often hopelessly romantic, they inhabit spaces that are equally recognisable: cafés, malls and the ordinary corners of urban life.

The stories are short and lyrical, often unfolding almost like cinematic vignettes. Handwritten letters, songs from another era, music, coffee and conversations lend the collection a distinctly vintage atmosphere. Pratik’s evocative imagery gives each narrative a visual quality, allowing scenes and emotions to linger well beyond the final line.

The emotional range of the collection is equally expansive. Some stories are warm and tender; others evoke an unmistakable ache—the kind that comes from recognising a void that cannot be filled. There are stories that break the heart, while others take unexpected turns, leaving readers with goosebumps.

At the launch and discussion, Mona Sengupta, founder of AHAVA Communications, a premium literary and PR agency, set the tone for the evening by bringing together some celebrated voices from Kolkata’s art and literary circles. The panel included Sudeshna Roy, author, filmmaker and actor; Poulami Bose, theatre actor, director and dancer; and Sourabh Mukherjee, author and Head of AI and Data Consulting. The discussion was deftly moderated by Oindrilla Dutt, who serves as an Arts and Events Curator.

Sharing her experience of the book, Poulami Bose said she found the stories deeply engaging and looked forward to returning to them after work. She particularly appreciated the use of music, which she felt added another layer to the narratives.

Sudeshna Roy revealed that she finished the collection in two nights, describing the stories as addictive and praising the twists that punctuate many of the narratives. Sourabh Mukherjee observed that music and love form a common thread running through the collection. Even in the stories centred on murder, he noted, love remains a powerful emotional force. For Oindrilla Dutt, the appeal lay in the ability of the stories to communicate considerable emotional depth despite their brevity. She also appreciated the fluidity of the language, which allowed the narratives to flow effortlessly.

About the Author

Pratik Majumdar is a passionate cinephile, music enthusiast, and published author. He began his career in advertising, working across India and London, and has since cultivated an extensive collection of Blu-rays, DVDs, and vinyl records. His deep love for storytelling and cinema led to the release of his debut short story collection. 1975: The Year That Transformed Bollywood marks his second book and his first foray into writing on cinema.