Abscond

A Short Story

By: Abraham Verghese

Narrated by: 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.

Critic reviews

"Even though the story is written in the third person, Fajer Al-Kaisi's use of a clear, deep voice for the narrative suggests an adult Ravi who is thinking back on a day in his youth that changed his life. For Ravi's remembered dialogue as a teen, Al-Kaisi uses a voice that is higher and less sure. He renders Tamil phrases naturally alongside American teen slang, reflecting Ravi's own bicultural experience."—AudioFile Magazine

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.

Quick but so touching and deep

Masterfully written and read. So many emotions in such a short time - really deeply moving work of literature.

Tenderness of story

Relationship of son to mother and neighbor as they reveal stories about his father, who has sudden died.