By Frederick Noronha 

Panaji, May 12 (INS): Sameer Khan's fictionalised story might seem to run parallel to that of the big Bollywood star currently in the news, but this novel was actually born in the mind of Mumbai-born, New Zealand-based marketing specialist Nigel Fernandes.

The first-time author in his 30s has his novel "Consequences" (Goa 1556, 214 pp, Rs.200) peopled by drink-and-driving accused, bodyguards, contract killers, hospital staff, defence lawyers ... much like what the television keeps talking about these days.

Action in the crime-thriller, with red trails dripping over its off-white cover, is set over barely a month in mid-2011. It is set mainly in Mumbai and Goa, the latter increasingly a playing field for the rich and famous from India's commercial capital, some 600 km north of it.

In his story, Fernandes takes us to a small but strange lot of people involved in alleged hit-and-run cases fuelled by drunken-driving. But now, they are on the run, as each one appears to be getting hunted down and targeted by a mysterious group that leaves the media and police puzzled.

He tells us of "Allan Pereira found unconscious in a pub...Sandeep Kothari... who runs into the unexpected while heading for his morning jog at Worli (seaface in Mumbai)". Then, the latest target is "Bollywood star Sameer Khan".

It is not hard to imagine what triggered off this entire novel by the Mumbai-origin expat who, "when he is not writing, promotes wind surfing".

Published in 2013, the book catches attention because of its theme, the concern that urban India feels over the way in which influential drink-and-driving individuals get treated by the supposedly long hand of the law.

From television studios to police flunkeys and luxury hotel resorts in Goa, the scenes change in quick succession in Fernandes' novel.

At one point, the television reporter gets a clue: "It wasn't a website, but a link with the word 'stopdad' mentioned once.... A thought crossed her mind. What the hell does a British blog have to do with Allan (an accused in a drinking-and-driving case)."

But then it dawns that 'stopdad' was a semi-acronym, 'dad' stood for 'drinking-and-driving' and the blog was campaigning to stop it.

As retribution and mystery push the story forward, it's clear that Fernandes has more serious issues of accidents, crime and punishment on his mind.

Not coincidentally, this book is devoted to author Fernandes' own two-and-a-half-year-old nephew Jared, who was "killed by a reckless motorist".

Born and educated in Mumbai, Fernandes spent half-a-dozen years in New Zealand. He has also been working on other books.