Kaali Pari By Muhammad Shariq

About this novel

Kaali Pari by Muhammad Shariq is an emotional Urdu novel about a dark-skinned girl who has heard cruel words all her life. A son goes missing and a powerful family waits anxiously through the night, and her story is at the centre of it all.

The novel opens in the garden of a grand bungalow, where Zaman Shah is pacing up and down, deeply worried. Begum Shah is just as anxious. It is late at night, but neither of them can rest. When they hear cars arriving, they rush forward. “Kuch pata chala Ahad ka?” Zaman Shah asks without even trying to hide his worry. Ahad’s number is switched off, and a few of his friends have been called, but no one has any news yet.

Zaman Shah is restless because Ahad’s nikah is tomorrow, and all the preparations are ready. Sitting in his favourite chair, he remembers his son’s hurt words and silently pleads with him: he knows Ahad is angry, but he must keep his father’s honour and his promise, and come home soon.

Then the story turns to a girl running through a dark, rainy night, not knowing where she is going, only wanting to escape the voices that cut through her like a dagger. The words echo in her ears: kaali, be-barkat, kaali nasal, be-haya. Someone has told her that no one would keep a relationship with her even out of compulsion, and that she is a shadow that will darken their family. Unable to bear it any longer, she runs until a sudden bright light blinds her and something hits her hard. As she falls, she whispers one name, Naufil, and her eyes close.

Near dawn, Ahad finally comes home with many questions in his mind, only to see the family rushing to the car. The younger begum is unwell and being taken to hospital, and Zaman Shah says they hope to come back soon with a new guest, as Allah wills. Muhammad Shariq raises serious questions about colourism and cruelty within families.

رنگ کبھی کسی کی قسمت یا قدر کا فیصلہ نہیں کرتا۔

Read more by Muhammad Shariq: Filhal, or see all Muhammad Shariq novels and the latest Urdu novels.