Confusion hi Confusion by Zahra Jaffri

About this novelette

Confusion Hi Confusion (Urdu: کنفیوژن ہی کنفیوژن) by Zahra Jaffri is a short, comic Urdu story about a house full of cousins and a secret surprise. They are planning a welcome-home party, and then a cancelled flight turns everything upside down.

The story opens with Arisha standing in the middle of the drawing room, shouting at the top of her voice: “Bilaaal!” “One minute, one minute! My supply isn’t complete yet – oye Bilal, hurry up, yaar,” Sahar answers, pulling his leg. “Never do any work on time,” Arisha taunts. Bilal arrives with a big bag in his hand, and Arisha calls everyone to get ready. Then Parikha shouts “Stop!” and Amrah turns around to glare at her.

The cousins are clearly preparing a big surprise, with plenty of bickering about who is doing what. Once Arisha has explained the plan, the countdown begins – “one, two…” – as the cousins launch whatever mischief they’ve been cooking up.

کزنز کا سرپرائز، ایک کینسل فلائٹ، اور گھر بھر کی کنفیوژن۔

Meanwhile, Bi Jaan is in the car with her elder son Adnan and his wife Ruqayya, complaining. “Allah! This flight had to be cancelled today of all days… the wretched people didn’t even bother to tell us.” Adnan reassures her: there must be some wisdom from Allah in it; Ashar will make arrangements soon and come home. Ruqayya agrees from the back seat – whatever happens is for the best. Bi Jaan asks where Imran and Saima have gone; Saima’s sister was unwell, so they went to see her. And when will Irfan and Huma be back from their business meeting? By tomorrow, Adnan says.

The fun begins when they get home. Adnan and Ruqayya help Bi Jaan to her room and head toward theirs, but they hear noise from the drawing room. They walk in, and their eyes widen and jaws drop: all the furniture is gone, everyone is soaked from head to toe, the room is upside down and pieces of balloons lie everywhere. “What is all this?” Adnan Sahib’s voice booms, and the cousins freeze where they stand. “Woh… woh… Taya Abbu…” Sahar stammers.

Zahra Jaffri delivers a light, funny family comedy full of mix-ups – exactly what the title promises.

You can read Confusion Hi Confusion online here or download the complete PDF for free. You may also like Nikki Eid Da Tohfa by Sajeela Nisar and Ghulam Hai Dil Ye Tera by Suhaira Awais, or browse more Urdu afsanay.