Ishq Mar Muqaya by Noor Malik

About this novel

Ishq Mar Muqaya (Urdu: عشق مار مکایا) by Noor Malik is a lively Urdu family romance set in a busy household called Raza House. It is full of mischief, temper and the slow arrival of love, and the title comes from a Punjabi expression of helpless devotion.

It opens on a cloudy morning. The women are busy in the kitchen getting breakfast ready, and the head of the family, Raza sahib, sits in the lounge with his glasses on, reading the newspaper. Suddenly his grandson Talal storms in like a whirlwind, shouting for his Dado. Raza sahib lowers the paper and glares; Talal grins, says hello and stuffs a biscuit into his mouth, clearly hiding some fresh piece of mischief. Before long a family friend, Colonel sahib, arrives with a complaint about him, and the scolding, teasing and laughter carry on through breakfast.

رضا ہاؤس کی صبح: شرارتیں، ڈانٹ، قہقہے — اور کہیں دل میں چھپا عشق۔

Then we meet Ahad, who could not be more different from Talal. He is tall and fair, with three-day stubble, in white shirt and trousers, and you can tell at a glance that he has a temper. He used to joke and laugh, but these days he is serious and quick to anger. He has an important meeting at the office and leaves without even waiting for breakfast. Somewhere else, someone sits writing in a diary about how strange ishq and mohabbat are, and about carrying a face in the heart that can never be forgotten.

Noor Malik’s opening is warm and funny, with a houseful of characters and a hint of hidden heartbreak beneath the jokes.

You can read Ishq Mar Muqaya online here or download the complete PDF for free. More by Noor Malik: Piya Ke Iqrar Rang Niraly, Naseeb Ki Likhi Tanhai and Wani, or see all Noor Malik novels.