The Room on the Roof

Rusty is an Indian. This is a story about an orphaned boy, from the Anglo-Indian descent, living in a European colony in Dehra (a place in Uttarakhand ) with his guardian Mr Harrison and his wife, who wants him to stay away from Indians and groom him as a pure Englishman. However, in this process, Harrison’s stringent behaviour purturbs Rusty’s flourishing teenage years. On the evening of [Holi] when Rusty returns home dirtily smeared in colours, the guardian begins beating him brutally, and then Rusty was unable to control his pent-up frustration pays him back by assaulting his guardian violently. He leaves his house and starts living with his friends

• Rusty: an orphan boy
• Mr John Harrison: A bad guardian of Rusty
• Mrs Harrison: Mr Harrison's spouse
• Kishen: A boy living in Rusty's neighbourhood
• Mrs Meena Kapoor: Kishen's mother
• Mr Kapoor: Kishen's father
• Somi: A Punjabi boy, Rusty's friend
• Ranbir: A muscular boy and the best wrestler in the bazaar.
• Suri: A bespectacled and bony boy and Somi's friend.
• Prickly Heat: Suri's dog

Upon release, the book received positive reviews. Santha Rama Rau of The New York Times commented "Like an Indian bazaar itself, the book is filled with the smells, sights, sounds, confusion and subtle organization of ordinary Indian life".[4] Herald Tribune said that the book "has a special magic of its own". San Francisco Chronicle said that the book has "considerable charm and spontaneity".

The Guardian called the book "very engaging". The Scotsman commented "Moving in its simplicity and underlying tenderness...a novel of marked originality". The New Statesman said that "Mr Bond is a writer of great gifts".[5] The Hindu said that "This story keeps you hooked with the many unexpected incidents... It’s a book worth reading! It will be enjoyed by readers greatly".