Top 5 Indian Fiction Books Under Rs 500

Malgudi Days is a lovely bunch of short stories, all set in the made-up town of Malgudi in South India. The people here feel so real a chatty postman, a naughty school kid, even an old astrologer who always has something to say. Narayan’s style is simple, almost like someone sitting across from you telling these tales. You don’t just read about Malgudi, you sort of wander its streets in your head. They are short and quick reads but they will stay longer. This is an example of a book you can put down and pick up anytime and it still feels fresh.

Godaan is not just a story, it’s like stepping into a village from years ago. It follows Hori, a poor farmer, whose simple wish is to own a cow. But life keeps throwing him troubles money issues, family tensions, unfair systems. The book talks about real struggles of rural India, but in a way that makes you feel for every character. Premchand’s writing is plain and straight from the heart, nothing fancy, yet it hits deep. It’s not the fastest read, but it’s worth taking slow. By the end, you almost feel like you’ve lived in Hori’s world yourself.

This book takes you straight into the days of Partition, 1947. Mano Majra is just a tiny village where Sikhs and Muslims had always lived side by side. Things were quiet until one day a train comes in, carrying nothing but the bodies of the dead. From there, the calm starts to break. Juggut Singh, a big-hearted local with a bad past, and Iqbal, an educated outsider, get caught up in the chaos. There’s also a soft but heartfelt love story, despite the constant presence of danger. Khushwant Singh does not just tell you history, he makes you feel history the fear, the loss, the tiny hints of hope.

It feels more like a documentary than a novel, like someone corrected their memoir to make it into a story. Ravin and Khushi meet on a matrimonial website, and both are looking for that match. What starts with a few casual chats slowly turns into real love. Before long, the families are talking, the wedding date is being set, everything appears ready to go. Then, all of a sudden life throws a curve that nobody saw coming. The writing is uncomplicated, straight from the heart, no fancy words just feelings. It's a story that will make you laugh in spots and leave you feeling a something in the back of your throat by the end.

Set in 1974, this story follows Indu, a young woman who inherits her grandmother’s flat and dreams of turning it into a women’s library. Her parents think it’s just something to keep her busy until she marries Rajat, her fiancé studying in London. Then Rana walks in a witty young lawyer who helps her with the library, and soon, with much more. Just as life starts to sparkle, the Emergency is declared. Everything shifts, and Indu is caught between love, duty, and her own independence. Light, warm, and full of old-Bollywood charm, it’s also about making choices when the world around you is changing fast.