Page 86 - February EW 2024 PDF

Books

Engaging ONE WAY TO LOVE ; LOVING keep her emotions to her-
self. She meets Luqman,
romances YOU TWICE; THREE TIMES Ayub’s friend, at Tehzeeb’s
LUCKY (JASMINE VILLA SERIES)
Andaleeb Wajid wedding in the first book
and there’s mutual at-
NDALEEB WESTLAND PUBLICATIONS traction. However, their
WAJID, a young Rs.399 Pages 276; 296 & 290 romance takes off in the
ABangalore-based, second book when on
hijab-wearing woman, who finding herself seated next
has written over 40 novels to Luqman during a long
in genres ranging from of faith, Yusuf has raised Romance stories flight, Ana feels her control
young adult and romance his three daughters after written by Muslim over her emotions slipping.
to horror, often raises eye- the death of their mother, women published in Vexed at this change, she
brows because her overtly given them good educa- women's magazines regrets meeting him. Luq-
Muslim identity is seen to tion and freedom. Though enjoy phenomenal man, a handsome young
be in contradiction with temperamentally differ- popularity among man with a lucrative job
her choice of the genre ent, all three sisters share Urdu readers is much sought after by
derisively termed ‘chick a strong bond and exude young women, so Ana re-
lit’. Is a hijab-clad Muslim confidence, pride, and self- fuses to admit her feelings
woman reading and writ- respect. too, has no desire for mat- for him. The story moves
ing romances an anomaly? Within this context, rimony and is taken aback through many twists and
Actually, not! And those the three novels move in by his father’s decision. turns and misunderstand-
familiar with the tradi- different directions as they However, when the two ings. She accepts her
tion of women writing in follow the diverse romantic meet, it’s love at first sight father’s wish to marry the
Urdu, for instance, novels trajectories of the three and smitten by each other, young man whose proposal
by Hijab Imtiyaz Ali and sisters. Each sister experi- they decide to marry. they have received, only to
Sughra Humayun Mirza, ences love in her own way With this begins discover later that the boy
or short stories published and on finding her prince Tehzeeb’s struggle with a in question is Luqman’s
in women’s magazines charming, encounters the new life, new role in a new elder brother Farhan. In
and periodicals, know the complex social contexts family, rituals, societal all, Loving You Twice is
phenomenal popularity in which their love stories expectations and class a heady mix of romance,
of romances among Urdu unfold. Faced with the asymmetries. Called upon passion, heartbreak, and
readers. In fact, romance challenge of breaking the to discharge the role of the suspense.
was one of the most popu- norms set by their father, perfect bahu, the free-spir- Three Times Lucky
lar genres in the late 19th they exhibit resolute spirit. ited Tehzeeb feels stifled introduces Athiya, the
and early 20th century in The first book in the and trapped in an endless youngest, and most
Urdu women’s magazines series follows the story of round of inane parties and impetuous of the three
and periodicals whose the eldest, Tehzeeb Hasan. senseless dressing. The Hasan sisters. Unlike the
Muslim women readers Tehzeeb’s life in her family novel captures Tehzeeb’s other two, Athiya doesn’t
eagerly consumed it. home she dearly loves is intrepid struggle to hold regard the institution of
The three books under fairly settled. Marriage is on to her own identity marriage as a source of
review, which together not on her mind as she amidst the women of her bliss. Her life takes a turn
constitute the Jasmine keeps dodging neighbour- husband’s household. when she accepts Farhan
Villa series, broadly fall hood aunties who send her Ayub’s unconditional love Ahmed’s offer of work
within this category. All marriage proposals until helps her overcome their at his office. Farhan is
novels are dedicated to one one day when after Friday many differences. It is the besotted with Athiya and
sister in a family of three prayers, her father meets strength of her husband’s when she gets into trouble
sisters, their romantic his old friend Bakhtiyar love that finally persuades after recklessly accepting
encounters and trysts with Ahmed in a mosque and her to return to him. an assignment, he is there
the issues of romance and the friend asks for her The second book fol- to save her, except that
marriage. hand in marriage to his lows the story of Ana, the Athiya is disinclined to
Jasmine Villa is the only son. Tehzeeb’s father second sibling, a reserved accept any favours from
home of Tehzeeb, Ana, and agrees and asks her to and self-possessed young him. It is through the
Athiya who live with their meet the boy. Young and girl. Unlike elder sister intervention of friends and
father Yusuf Hasan. A man handsome Ayub Ahmed, Tehzeeb, Ana prefers to siblings that the young

86 EDUCATIONWORLD FEBRUARY 2024