Dadi Ki Hukumat By Samaa Chaudhary

About this novel

Dadi Ki Hukumat (Urdu: دادی کی حکومت) by Samaa Chaudhary is a complete Urdu family comedy set in the house of a formidable Dadi. In Kulsoom Akhtar’s home, the writer says, no one can find any peace, and a family wedding turns everything into chaos.

The novel opens with a booming phone call. “The effects of black magic on this child have turned into possession,” a voice thunders. “Bring him to me as soon as possible, or it may be impossible to break this spell.” Bi Bi slams down the phone – and in the room, a storm of questions erupts: how? when? who? The whole family, who had been glued to the TV screen, now stares at each other just as the electricity goes off at six in the evening, leaving them with nothing to do but discuss this dramatic news. This, the writer announces, is the home of Kulsoom Akhtar, where the word “sukoon” simply doesn’t exist.

Then comes the wedding rush. “Girls, are you ready? Hurry up, the groom’s family has invited everyone to the mehndi,” Shaziya calls, annoyed that her brother keeps saying they need to leave but nobody is getting ready. Shehr Bano, listening in surprise, asks how Mamu has invited people to his own daughter’s mehndi – is the son-in-law already part of the family now? We’re not going, and that’s final. Witr laughs from the moving car: they haven’t even had the nikah yet, it’s not like Maria is getting married first – and if Phuppo Jaan and Papa had said no, their cousins wouldn’t keep staring at Adil Bhai as if they’d swallow him.

دادی کی حکومت، جادو ٹونے کا شور، اور مہندی کی افراتفری۔

In the middle of all this, Tahmina is trying to fill envelopes with notes when news arrives that Bitto Khala has fallen – and the commotion reaches its peak. Zafar fumes: why can’t that woman sit still – what need was there to stand on the wall watching fireworks at her age? He and Bitto Khala never get along, thanks to her strange antics. Tahmina, meanwhile, asks her elder sister-in-law Shaziya whether everything for the groom’s family’s rasm is arranged, while everyone else is busy getting ready.

Samaa Chaudhary writes a lively, crowded family comedy full of gossip, wedding chaos and an eccentric Dadi ruling it all.

You can read Dadi Ki Hukumat online here or download the complete PDF for free. More by Samaa Chaudhary: Ishq Ki Pehli Barish, Jo Milay Thay Rastay Mein and Mere Armaan Aur Tum, or see all Samaa Chaudhary novels.