Kabhi Masoom Kabhi Chanchal by Saira Malik

About this novel

Kabhi Masoom Kabhi Chanchal (Urdu: کبھی معصوم کبھی چنچل) by Saira Malik is a long, complete Urdu family novel about lovable, dramatic Seerat. She is a pampered daughter whose moods swing between innocent and mischievous, exactly as the title says.

The novel opens with a scene every Pakistani household knows. “Kya time ho raha hai? School nahi jana kya?” Seerat’s mother, Maryam Begum, has been trying to wake her for fifteen minutes, but “Maharani Sahiba” won’t even think of getting up. Finally Maryam Begum loses patience and threatens her, and that works: Seerat sits up with a grumble of “Yaar Mom, sone diya karein na!” Maryam Begum is annoyed at being called “yaar” – how many times has she told her, I’m your mother! Seerat just hugs her and says, “Acha meri princess, jo hukm,” and her mother can’t help melting.

The banter continues as Maryam Begum reminds her it’s already seven-thirty and Seerat scrambles to get ready, still half lost in her own dreamy thoughts. Seerat lives in a world of daydreams and drama, and the writer has fun with her over-the-top reactions, using plenty of exclamation marks and emojis to show her mood.

کبھی معصوم، کبھی چنچل — امی ابو کی لاڈلی سیرت کی کہانی۔

At the breakfast table the whole family is together. Seerat’s father, Malik Qasim, looks at his daughter fondly and thinks how this girl is sometimes silly and sometimes sensible – kabhi masoom, kabhi chanchal. With a snap of her fingers she pulls him out of his thoughts, says goodbye, and heads off to school with her brother Noman Bhai, while her parents watch her go with a mix of love and amusement.

Saira Malik writes in a light, chatty style full of ghar ki nok-jhok, mother-daughter teasing and a father’s soft corner for his daughter. It’s a long read that suits anyone who enjoys cheerful family stories with a lively heroine.

You can read Kabhi Masoom Kabhi Chanchal online here or download the complete PDF for free. You may also like Meri Dastan E Muhabbat by Mehak Roshan and Hui Jo Ulfat by Irum Tahir, or browse more romantic Urdu novels.