After a very long time this month, I picked up an Urdu novel to read, when ‘Jannat kay Pattay’ by Nemrah Ahmed was gifted to me by a friend.
Set in two very beautiful cities; namely Islamabad and Istanbul, this is a novel about a Law student, Haya, who goes to Sabanci University Istanbul through an exchange program. Her excitement is doubled by her underlying motivation to meet her estranged aunt and cousin-cum-husband; Jahan Sikander. Theirs was a childhood marriage arranged by elders and life took such unpredictable turns that the families were barely in touch and the nuptials seemingly forgotten.
Nemrah Ahmed writes in remarkable, at times almost painstaking, detail and there are many side characters and sub plots that are a part of this story. The author comes across as knowledgeable and observant and shares her rich reserves of information with the reader with an uninhibited abandon. However, it seems that has she tried to give this novel just about everything. So much so it seemed to me that it could have been two or maybe three different novels, all rolled up in one here! From detailed description of Istanbul and Cappadocia to the amazing world of spies and triple agents, and from the dark world of Russian mafia and human trafficking to the very sensitive issue of Palestine and Israel conflict, she has touched upon too many topics in a single book.
While much all of this has been woven somehow into the main storyline, more than once I felt there was an information and topic overload. A slightly more focused approach and editing out of some side tracks could have helped make the narrative crisper and gripping.
Going back to the story, Haya’s spiritual journey forms the back-bone of the book and puts forward many beautiful life lessons from the Quran. Though many may debate why the Hijab or covering of a woman’s face and/or hair is always the main issue when her connection with Allah is discussed, the fact of the matter is that this is perhaps the single most difficult step a woman can take when she moves ahead on her path of spirituality. To sacrifice one’s vanity is a huge deal and the writer has highlighted many relevant issues in detail quoting the Quran and Hadith accordingly. Though it added to the length of an already very long narrative I felt some basic topics that were discussed were so vital and needed to be said. Simple things such as women judging other women for their hijab choices, the so-called segregation at our social gatherings, and being covered not being equal to being shabby! All of these may sound very pedestrian but are very real problems.
On the flip side, the innumerable twists and turns in the plot become exhausting at times for the reader. For instance, the entire episode of the kidnapping by the some mafia gang and the ensuing torture details were a bit too much to digest. Creative liberty pushed to the limits one would say. Specially as the protagonist is saved in the nick of time miraculously and no one ever finds out about this entire episode in her family or university!
Urdu novels in monthly digest are a category of fiction that allows immense diversification in a single story. This book was also originally published as a 15 or more part series in a monthly digest. However, as the new breed of Urdu writers are moving on to the next level, leaving behind the run-of-the-mill family sagas, there might just be benefit in categorising stories into genres such such as romance, thriller, mystery so on so forth. This could allow the content to be more refined and excel the writing to world-class narratives
For example, if the author would have minimised the information surplus and plot twists in this book, it could have focused more on the emotional detail of the main characters. What Haya feels about Jahan and vice versa is not really explored thoroughly in the initial part of the story. Personally, I felt emotionally isolated from the main protagonist as to what she really felt at certain points in time with respect to her spouse. It is only at the tail end when all the puzzles are solved and all mysteries unraveled that the writer expands on the real feelings of the couple. After all this is a love story at its core and should have had the reader more invested in the main characters.
Another issue I found disturbing in this book was Haya’s relationship with her family. She does not share any of her life-altering issues with them. Including an attempted sexual assault, blackmailing, and a kidnapping. Though the philosophy that ‘all of our problems should not always be shared with others’ is shared multiple times in the novel, the above mentioned issues definitely do not fall into that category and particularly not with immediate family and parents. Keeping her target audience in view, Nemrah could have guided girls to trust their families first and foremost. Daughters are not just dehumanised icons of dignity and family honour. They are living breathing souls.
Overall this book is an (over) ambitious tale combining halal romance, Turkish tourism, Intelligence agencies, family politics and much more. A good one-time read that entertains and reminds you to rethink and review your relationship with the Al-Mighty, the latter being the best thing about this book!
My Critical Rating: 7.5/10 (A fair one-time read for me)
Pro-Tip: If you are planning a trip to Turkey, buy and read this book, better still take it along as your travel read!
