On the City Wall by Rudyard Kipling

Set during a Hindu festival in colonial India, this story follows an educated prostitute named Lalun who becomes a key player in both British and native political intrigue. Through her salon, soldiers, journalists, and nationalists converge in a space where power, charm, and manipulation meet. The plot intertwines personal relationships with social unrest and colonial complexity. Kipling portrays Lalun as both savvy and symbolic. A nuanced tale about the intersections of class, gender, and politics.