Chinal Aur Deegar Afsanay
By Iqbal Khursheed
Sang-e-Meel
ISBN: 978-969-35-3708-6
178pp.

In the relentless onslaught of modern communication, the power of brevity in writing cannot be overstated. Many, striving for maximum impact with minimum text, have mastered the art of conveying profound meaning with just three to five carefully chosen words.

This technique, while seemingly stark to traditionalists, proves remarkably effective for conveying critical information swiftly and efficiently. In an era where readers are perpetually chasing breaking stories and the latest updates, the ability to grab attention and deliver a message instantly is paramount.

This potent skill is notably embodied by Iqbal Khursheed, a renowned Urdu fiction writer, journalist, interviewer, columnist, vlogger and film critic. He demonstrates an exceptional command of this concise, impactful style, applying it not just to factual reporting but also to his narrative work. Khursheed ingeniously leverages this technique to craft his stories which, though presented as news, explore entirely fictional territory.

His approach illustrates that the principles of impactful, condensed communication transcend factual reporting, proving invaluable even in the realm of imaginative storytelling, making his fictional accounts as compelling and immediate as any breaking news bulletin.

A collection of 17 insightful Urdu short stories combines a matter-of-fact, almost journalistic clarity with underlying warmth that resonates deeply

One may argue that using such short sentences limits the writer’s creativity and expression. However, for Khursheed, it is quite the opposite. By carefully selecting each word, he creates a sense of urgency and captures the essence of a story in just a few short words. This requires great skill and precision in writing, making it an impressive feat.

Khursheed’s latest literary offering is a collection of 17 insightful short stories, predominantly centring on individuals from humble backgrounds. Each narrative features protagonists who, at first glance, are ordinary. However, through Khursheed’s masterful storytelling, these everyday characters are imbued with distinctiveness and an engaging quality that makes them truly stand out. This remarkable transformation highlights the author’s exceptionally keen eye and his profound ability to immerse himself in the lives of these people, understanding their struggles, their joys and their unique perspectives.

The stories serve as testament to how attentive observation, coupled with empathetic exploration, can illuminate the extraordinary within the seemingly commonplace. Khursheed’s narrative talent shines through, offering readers a rich tapestry of relatable experiences and characters that resonate long after the final page is turned, demonstrating a deep connection and understanding of the human spirit across diverse walks of life.

In Chinal, the author skilfully tells the story of a young girl who takes on the unusual role of looking for a groom herself. In our society, it is typically the boys or their families who search for a suitable girl for marriage. However, the writer sheds light on why this girl has taken on this task, revealing her troubled family history. It is heart-wrenching to read that even her own father’s family does not see both her sister and her as worthy enough to be considered by any potential suitors. The tone of this situation is one of sadness and unfairness, as the girl is denied the opportunity for a happy and fulfilling marriage due to societal expectations and her family’s rejection.

In Chinal, the author skilfully tells the story of a young girl who takes on the unusual role of looking for a groom herself. In our society, it is typically the boys or their families who search for a suitable girl for marriage. However, the writer sheds light on why this girl has taken on this task, revealing her troubled family history.

Khursheed stands out as a keenly observant author whose literary landscape is intrinsically tied to his urban environment. His narratives empathetically explore the pulse of the city and the lives of its people, particularly those who feel a profound sense of belonging to it. Influenced by his background in journalism, Khursheed skilfully sidesteps the conventional single-strand narrative. Instead, mirroring the nuanced approach of news reporting, he masterfully presents his readers with a spectrum of possible viewpoints, acknowledging that truth can often be multifaceted.

This technique is vividly demonstrated in his story Stage Dancer. In this story, while newspapers might have framed the dancer as a mere victim of a recent riot, the narrator delves deeper, unravelling the actual sequence of events and offering a more complex, humanising account that challenges superficial interpretations and invites readers to engage with a richer reality.

Khursheed masterfully understands how to surprise and captivate his audience with unique narrative perspectives. A compelling example of this skill is found in a tale featuring a worker at a city morgue. This individual, accustomed to the silent repose of countless departed souls, finds himself profoundly astonished by the appearance of one particular deceased person. The sheer impact of this discovery is so immense that, despite his duties, he chooses to leave early, driven by an urgent need to follow the dead man’s family. His sole aim is to uncover the reason behind the profound enigma that has so deeply startled him.

Through this narrative, Khursheed expertly guides his readers on an immersive journey, transforming a seemingly ordinary death, initially presumed to be a mere theft, into a gripping exploration of hidden motives and human connection. His stories consistently delve into the unexpected, pulling readers into the heart of mysteries that begin with the mundane but reveal profound depths.

Stories such as Tabinda Kab Mari? or Makko Dada serve as poignant testimonials to the fraying edges of our society. They are not merely tales; they are stark reflections, holding up a mirror to the gradual, often unnoticed, decline that seems to permeate our communities. What is particularly striking, and deeply unsettling, is the ‘fall down’ aspect they vividly portray — not a sudden collapse, but a slow, insidious descent.

Beyond depicting the fall itself, these stories powerfully underscore a pervasive sense of apathy that often accompanies such decay. The characters or situations within these narratives frequently highlight a disheartening reality: in the face of hardship, struggle, or moral compromise, there is a striking absence of collective concern. These works, therefore, prompt deep introspection into our own passive roles and the collective responsibility we share in either perpetuating or reversing this troubling societal trend.

Indeed, the stylistic nuances and narrative approach in his final piece, Man O Tu offer a subtle yet discernible echo of Orhan Pamuk’s distinct voice and thematic concerns, a testament to the author’s wide-ranging literary awareness and ambition. This collection feels like a maturation of his distinctive narrative voice.

For those readers who seek fiction that combines a matter-of-fact, almost journalistic clarity with underlying warmth that resonates deeply, Khursheed’s latest book is highly recommended. Its fiction, presented with the directness of news reporting but infused with a profound human sensibility, makes for a compelling and emotionally resonant reading experience that showcases the author’s growing literary stature.

The reviewer writes short fiction in Urdu and is currently working on her first novel

Published in Dawn, Books & Authors, January 11th, 2026