Samjhota By Muniba Asif

About this novel

Samjhota (Urdu: سمجھوتہ) by Muniba Asif is a complete Urdu marriage-of-convenience romance between a young woman and a widower. She is pushed into marrying a widowed businessman, and he agrees to remarry only for the sake of his children.

The novel opens with an argument between two sisters. “What is your problem? Such a good proposal has come for you,” Aneela snaps, watching her younger sister pull clothes out of the cupboard. The answer is blunt: “Aapa, I have no wish to marry your husband’s boss.” Aneela grabs her arm and pleads with her to listen – the match is excellent. If she marries Shah Meer, she will live like a queen, and her brother-in-law Waqas will get a promotion too. Her sister is horrified that her own marriage is being treated as a way to advance someone’s career, and leaves the room looking helpless and hurt.

The scene then moves to Shah Meer’s home. He greets his mother, Jahan Ara, at the breakfast table, and she wastes no time: she has found a girl for him, very pretty and very decent. Shah Meer, a handsome man with a strong personality who looks far younger than his age, isn’t pleased. Why does she keep bringing up marriage? Jahan Ara reminds him that his children need a mother; servants can look after them, but nobody can replace a mother’s care, and his two little ones won’t let anyone near them. In the end, after much argument, Shah Meer agrees on one condition: the girl will come into this house only for the children – he will have no other relationship with her.

ایک طرف بہن کی ضد، دوسری طرف بچوں کی خاطر کیا گیا ایک سمجھوتہ۔

We also learn about the family. Jahan Ara raised her sons almost alone after her husband passed away early. Her eldest went to America to study and married there, which hurt her deeply. Shah Meer’s first marriage didn’t last long, and it left him with a son and a daughter. Now his mother’s only wish is to see his home settled again.

Muniba Asif sets up a classic “compromise” story – a reluctant bride, a cold husband and two children caught in between – and the title suggests that both of them will have to learn to live with choices they didn’t fully make. A good pick for fans of marriage-based family drama.

You can read Samjhota online here or download the complete PDF for free. More by Muniba Asif: Inteqaam Ki Aag, Mera Kia Kasur and Mein Gunahgar Nahi, or see all Muniba Asif novels.