The
book, Clifton Bridge: stories of innocence and experience from Pakistan (2013),
is a collection of 10 tales set in contemporary Pakistan.
Characters
from all walks of life – from beggars to diplomats – are depicted in the
stories covering a wide cross-section of places and times. Set in Karachi, two
wives make a pact when their husband takes a third and younger wife in the
first story, All in the Family. Clifton Bridge, set in Karachi, is about the
sale of kidneys to an organ transplant mafia. Diva is an interesting story of
Sultana, the dreamer married to Khalid with a son, whose performances drew
audiences from around the world. The loneliness of travel takes its toll, and
she’d retreat from the world after her tours – once for almost three months.
One event was called the greatest musical on earth.
Queen’s
Garden is my favourite. It tells of the vegetable stall called Queen’s Garden
near where Amanullah and Maria would regularly meet. After their separation, Maria’s
pregnancy is not wanted. She decides to leave the newborn child “amidst a heap
of cauliflowers” where she knows that the vegetable vendor, Krishnan, will find
and care for the baby. Attached to the baby’s ankle is a tag with the writing: Maria
Fernandes; father unknown, “Krishnanji, please keep the baby for his father.
You know him.” Krishnan was Hindu, the baby’s mother was Christian, but the
father, whom he does know, was Muslim. Krishnan knows what he has to do.
Two
is an Odd Number is about an “unusual couple.” Pregnancy was unexpected, but
ended in a miscarriage. “Each blamed the other. She went [to her family] home to recuperate and
never returned. He was hostile, not wanting her back. Divorce came as a relief.”
But over time, they still pined for each other.
Comments
Post a Comment