Galti By Abad Dawood

About this novel

Ghalti by Abaan Dawood is a short Urdu horror novel about a worried mother and a little boy who keeps hiding. Far away, an evil old woman plots in a crumbling hut, and the title means the mistake.

In his foreword, Abaan Dawood says the journey from reader to writer has been long, and Ghalti is his first attempt. He has tried his best to avoid unnecessary length and anything vulgar, so readers can enjoy it without discomfort, and he hopes their feedback will help him improve.

The story begins with Rabia calling for her son, Saad: “Saad! Mama ki jaan, kahan ho? Bahar aa jao beta, Mama aap ko dhoond nahin sakti.” She has been calling him for five minutes, but it feels as if her voice is not reaching him at all. Saad usually comes running at the first call, but today half an hour passes, and Rabia starts to panic. She has already searched every corner of the house. Her hands and feet go cold, and she looks for her phone to call her husband, Ashar, but even the phone has disappeared. “Ya Allah, rehem farma. Mere maalik, mere bachche ki hifazat farma,” she prays.

When she finally turns around, Saad is standing right behind her with an innocent face. “Mama jani, I’m here,” he says. “Shaitan, kidhar thay?” she cries in relief and hugs him tight.

Then the scene changes to a broken-down hut filled with devilish laughter. A hideous old woman greets a woman named Meeran Bano and tells her she has brought good news: tomorrow, her wish of many years will finally come true. Meeran is impatient and wants to know exactly what will happen. The old woman reminds her of a promise she made, and promises to fill her lap with wealth. Abaan Dawood leaves readers wondering how these two threads will meet, and what mistake, or ghalti, will bring them together.

ایک چھوٹی سی غلطی کبھی کبھی پوری زندگی کا امتحان بن جاتی ہے۔

Read Bewa by the same writer, or browse more horror Urdu novels and the latest Urdu novels.