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

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.

No surprise, it's wonderful.

As usual, this author hits emotional chords that are universal and profound. This story is both niche and able to be understood by anyone that has experienced sadness, growing pains and parents.

A clear depiction of grief

I was taken by the very clear description of the selfishness of one’s grief and the surreal experience of the otherworldliness that happens when someone you love deeply, dies

The narration was excellent

There are two important aspects to this srory. 1. Our cultures may have different traditions but we all face the same life perplexities. 2. Now is all we really have. Do the kindness, enjoy the scene. start the project now!