Ghulam Hai Dil Ye Tera by Suhaira Awais

About this novelette

Ghulam Hai Dil Ye Tera (Urdu: غلام ہے دل یہ تیرا) by Suhaira Awais is a short, playful Urdu Ramzan romance between Aaliyan and Rabia. It starts with a fight over pakoras and samosas at iftar, and the bickering slowly turns into something sweeter.

It’s the seventh roza. Aaliyan comes home quite late after Maghrib prayers and walks into the kitchen to find Rabia happily licking her fingers after a plate of pakoras. His heart sinks and a wave of anger rises. He snatches the plate from in front of her – only one pakora and half a samosa are left, drowning in ketchup. “Moti chudail! You ate all my samosas and pakoras!” he roars, looking as if he might cry.

Sitting beside Rabia is her three-year-old little sister, Anfal, who chimes in, in her lisping voice: “Khabardar, don’t call my Aapi a moti chudail!” Rabia had been a little scared at first, but seeing poor Aaliyan’s face and hearing Anfal, she can’t stop laughing. Aaliyan is furious with Rabia, but he can’t even get angry at little Anfal – she’s just a baby. Still, he has to deal with Rabia somehow, because this is her daily routine. At iftar she drinks only juice, sherbet and water, and he always hides his share of samosas and pakoras in the kitchen to eat after prayers. Today she finally found them.

افطاری کے پکوڑے، ایک موٹی چڑیل، اور روزانہ کی نوک جھونک۔

Everyone else has gone out for Eid shopping, since the bazaar rush becomes unbearable later, so only Aaliyan, Rabia and little Anfal are home. “I don’t care – make me two more samosas and pakoras right now, fresh from the oil,” Aaliyan orders. Rabia bristles: what tone is that? Watch how you speak! Haven’t I always told you not to leave your pakoras lying around? I’ve eaten them now, and I’m not making any more. “Today I’ll have them made by you,” he insists, “nicely and politely – or else!” “Or else what? Are you threatening me?” she shoots back, hands on her hips. “Go ahead, do whatever you want. I’m not making anything.”

Suhaira Awais keeps this one light and funny, full of Ramzan-time banter and cute chemistry – perfect for a quick, smiling read.

You can read Ghulam Hai Dil Ye Tera online here or download the complete PDF for free. More by Suhaira Awais: Kisi Aur Ka Hoon Filhal, Tu Lazmi and Tum Faqt Mere, or see all Suhaira Awais novels.