Mango Bite

One mango. One human tooth. One terrifying secret.

Eleven-year-old Balu is about to discover that some childhood nightmares are far more real than they seem.

When Balu’s uncle leaves him in the care of a strange fruit vendor in the remote, unsettling town of Bhoothalli, he finds himself trapped in a place where nothing feels quite right. The vendor is menacing, the atmosphere is unnerving, and Balu soon realises that he may be in far more danger than he imagined.

Just when fear threatens to overwhelm him, a kind old man named Gagoopa steps in. With his comforting presence and captivating stories, Gagoopa offers Balu a brief escape from the frightening world around him. But is there more to this mysterious old man than meets the eye?

As Balu finally boards a bus to return home, he makes a discovery that turns an ordinary journey into a horrifying experience: hidden inside a mango is a human tooth.

What follows leads Balu towards a chilling revelation about the true identity of the ghost, and the dark secret lurking behind the strange events in Bhoothalli.

Blending childhood fears, eerie encounters, unsettling folklore and supernatural horror, Mango Bite is a haunting tale about innocence, fear and the terrifying things that may hide beneath the surface of everyday life.

Perfect for readers who enjoy ghost stories, mysterious strangers, creepy discoveries and unexpected twists, this story offers a bite-sized taste of horror that lingers long after the final page.

Are you brave enough to take a bite?

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About the Author

Vinay Jalla is a novelist, short-story writer, former BBC journalist and artist whose work explores the richness, absurdities and darker mysteries of human life.

With more than 30 years of experience spanning journalism, media, technology and the creative arts, Vinay has always been fascinated by the power of storytelling. His writing draws on childhood memories, family anecdotes, human behaviour and the worlds that exist between the familiar and the unexpected.

His debut novel, Warp and Weft, grew out of stories shared by his grandmother about village life in Dharmavaram, India. Inspired by the fictional landscapes of R. K. Narayan and the sweeping storytelling of Vikram Seth, Vinay created an imagined world shaped by family memories, traditions and the enduring influence of oral storytelling.

His published work also includes Age, Sex, Location, Cricket Bat and My Mother and Other Stories.

Through Jalla Publishing House, Vinay continues to explore fiction, independent publishing and the many ways stories can surprise, entertain and move readers.

With Mango Bite, he takes readers into darker territory, weaving childhood vulnerability, mystery and supernatural dread into a chilling encounter with the unknown.