Introduction

I have been meaning to post about this since ages. Something or the other always comes up; or I end up watching the drama again.

Zindagi Gulzar Hai is Umera Ahmed’s first book and it was published in 2010 by Ilm o Irfan Publishers.

Plot Summary

The story revolves around two characters – Kashaf Murtaza & Zaroon Junaid. There are other characters, but these two are at the center.

Kashaf Murtaza

Kashaf Murtaza is from middle class family. She had to struggle a lot to get admission into one of the most prestigious business management institutes of Karachi. She lives in a hostel room.

Kashaf has lived all her life deprived of the basic necessities. Therefore, she’s bitter, pessimistic, and constantly complaints to Allah for her predicaments. Her reasons for bitterness are poverty; how her uncle’s family treats her and her family, how her sisters never cared about a thing in the world.  She recalls her childhood. Although she was only 12 years old, she vividly remembers that they didn’t get to eat, or read newspaper or watch television just because her aunty and cousins didn’t want to give her the luxury.

Her financial background doesn’t bring her down, though. In her class, she doesn’t hesitate to voice her bold opinions, even passing judgemental statements for other students, including and especially Zaroon Junaid.

Zaroon Junaid

Zaroon Junaid is from the opposite end of the socioeconomic spectrum. He comes from a place of privilege and it shows in his behavior. He spends most of his time with his friends Asmara, Usama and Farooque. The obvious difference of class and mindset creates a constant stream of uncivil and rude arguments between them. Incidentally, these are often in Sir Abrar’s class. He likes Kashaf for her strong opinions.

Irked and irritated by her self righteous attitude, Zaroon tries to befriend her; only to dump her later. In the library, he tells about his plans to Asmara. Little did he know that Kashaf was listening to the entire conversation. After an ugly and harsh confrontation, Kashaf gets scolded by Abrar.

Life After University

The college ends. Zaroon’s life doesn’t change much; but Kashaf’s extended family starts to treat her well, for her designation and the power she holds. In one of the entries, Kashaf talks about how she had to use her contacts to bail her cousin out of jail. She doesn’t like to help the very people who refused to feed them properly, but is helpless in front of her mother who insists that Kashaf must help them in their hour of need.

A couple of years later, they run into each other. Zaroon goes to meet Kashaf in her office and she avenges the library’s scene. Zaroon is upset, but soon changes her mind and sends his proposal for her. After a lot of back and forth and some serious convincing from Zaroon, she concedes and they get married.

Things aren’t a bed of roses for them. After four months, Zaroon accuses her of being a loose character as she loved Azhar, her now brother-in-law. Kashaf leaves his house and stays in MNA hostel for a day but Zaroon comes to pick her up. He wants to give their marriage another chance.

Their marriage works okay, until they meet Asmara. That angle is sorted out, so asmara knows Kashaf is a terrific wife.

Review

This book is Epistolary novel where majority of the story progresses through diaries of the protagonists. We hear both POV’s in equal amounts with just the right amount of overlap.

The characters are vulnerable and the narrative is melancholic, a bit aggressive and has the usual drama that we have come to associate with Umera Ahmed.

There are a lot of classroom debates between Kashaf and Zaroon. They are brutal, blatant, blunt and one can understand where they’re coming from.

Behs-o-Mubahisa is one of the Umera’s strongest suits. We witness the same in almost all her novels. Zindagi Gulzar Hai and Amarbail are two novels that heavily rely on arguments and counter arguments.

Zaroon’s character was almost normal. I mean, I could expect a person from a privilege place to act a certain a way.

It’s Kashaf’s absolute denial of Allah’s blessings and her constant rants that shocked me. I know, I ramble and rant and complain about a million things in one day. But Kashaf was borderline atheist, if I may say so. Although I can understand that strong repulsion when things aren’t going good, it was unexpected to meet a character like her. I guess I was aware that such people exist but I intentionally chose to ignore that fact. Here are some snippets for reference, a sneak peek into Kashaf’s mind.

I cringe everytime I read those words. To be honest, I admit that a person can think of even worse, but it shocked me nonetheless.

Credit

I have taken the screenshots from Pak Society’s website. I was too lazy to type it on my own.

Parting Thoughts

Have you read this book? What do you think of Kashaf’s character? I will meet you in another review.

Shabana Mukhtar