The Story of Fatima

Saminasha,
With all due respect, people on Chowk seem to derive sadistic pleasure by deriding their religion; I don`t see other people doing it as much as one particular sect. Maybe too much of opression/suppresion is at hand here.
I am all for freedom of expression but I am sure none of us would indulge in using the names of our family members in such a manner. The insinuation of using the names here is not lost. Those are the names of some very pious ladies and should be accorded the respect they deserve.
Regards.

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Well written. An impressive plot, with an obvious but much ignored message (if I got it right) about the injustices perpetuated by the Almighty, “the most compassionate.”

So, Mubashir, are you referring to “A” type” or “C type quarters somewhere in G-6/1-3 behind WAPDA ground somewhere, where the actual ``business`` takes place in the story?

Despite Mullah Abdullah (killed a few years back) and now his sons’ poisonous sermons from Lal Masjid, the wagon stop in front of a Khokha (pan/cold drink shop) across the road from the mosque remains the busiest spot for prostitutes to pick clients. You may check with Intizar Abassi, the Khokha owner, for best time to sight prostitutes negotiating with clients. The Almighty seems not bothered by this “evil” business taking place right under the walls of the mosque as He perhaps is fully engrossed in the enthralling anti-Shia, anti-Mirzai, anti-Hindu, anti-Jew, anti-Christian, anti-everything messages being spewed from the pulpit. But then the Almighty is equally insensitive to the sufferings of humanity. Maybe, He is unable keep pace with the events of the fast moving world.

I like the names you have used for characters—there’s a message hidden there as well.

correction:

``express``

The Bible has two Marys...once was the mother of Christ, the other purportedly ``loose``...Christians seem to be able to live with the complexity of it....

Saman,

With all due respect, a person should be able to expresses whatever they want with religion, as they do with other institutions. People do it in real life-why not prose?

Just finished reading Sheela Jaywant`s, When Abu Died, published on the front page.
It is written in a simple, lucid yet impressive style with no grammatical errors.
It doesn`t take pot shots at religion, neither does it give its characters certain particular names for dramatic effect and sensationalise the issue. More importantly, it does not hold religion responsible for the tragedy that befalls its characters; rather they accept it as a stroke of fate. In doing so, they not only exhibit courage but also grace.
In life, we must always remember that there is a respectable, if not well paid option available.

well nice article but one point i want to raise is that writer should have used characters name carefully...since the name Fatima and zainab and khadija they all are Holy names for muslims and for character name specialy in this kind of plot u should have use some other names....thast all i wnat to reply..

Very well written - nice to see some good stuff coming out of Chowk after all.

Unsentimental look at sex work. About time.

Interesting. Look up some of the articles penned by Kaneez Rehman @ chowk.