The Tiffin by Mahtab Narsimhan

Every day in the vast and vibrant city of Bombay, thousands of dabbawalla delivery-men transport hundreds of thousands of freshly prepared lunches in tiffin boxes.
 
When a secret note placed in a tiffin box goes astray, the consequences for a young boy are devastating. Seperated from his mother and forced to work as a slave in a cafe, Kunal is sure that if he could just find his family, his life and fortunes would change forever.
 
Kanal vows to find his mother and it seems the answer may lie with the tiffins once more. If a lost note was the beginning of his destiny, can he use another to change it?
 
A charming, heartbreaking and beautifully evocative novel about fate, friendship and family.