3 Review(s)

Neither Night Nor Day is a mix of thirteen short stories written by Pakistani women authors. This book shows readers the various viewpoints and ideologies that exist in the country and in the minds of its citizens. Summary Of The Book Neither Night Nor Day is a collection of thirteen short stories penned down by Pakistani women writers. This book takes readers right into Pakistan, as well as into the mindsets of Pakistanis. An excellent blend of the old and new, Neither Night Nor Day celebrates the everyday life of the common men and women of this Islamic nation. The book starts off with an introduction by the editor Rakhshanda Jalil. This is followed by the stories Plans in Pink by Kiran Bashir Ahmad, The Tongue by Nirhat Hasan, She Who Went Looking For Butterflies by Zahiba Hina, and Leaves by Khalida Hussain. The story after which the book has been named is written by Sabyn Jaueri-Jillani. It showcases the struggle of a Pakistani woman in Britain. As she tries to establish her identity in a foreign land, readers learn about her insecurities and uncertainties. The next, The Breast by Soniah Kamal, tells the scary tale of how a woman is cruelly punished for nursing a stranger’s baby, after having lost her own child to infanticide. Sorayya Khan’s The Five Queen's Street highlights the brutality of the 1947 Partition, when a young Muslim girl watches in horror as her Hindu neighbour is kidnapped by a furious Muslim mob. The next few short stories are A Brief Acquaintance by Maniza Naqvi, The Job Application by Nayyara Rahman, and A Sandstone Past by Sehba Sarwar. The Wedding of Sundri is about the honour killing of a 12-year-old bride in rural Pakistan. Written by Bina Shah, this story is a heart-wrenching account of how a young girl loses her life over a trivial matter. The Goonga by Qaisra Shabraz, shares with readers the pain of a deaf and mute father, whose son is ashamed to accept him. That Heathen Air is the last story of Neither Night Nor Day. This collection showcases the various realities of Pakistan. The stories are presented from the viewpoints of the old, the young, the immigrants, women, men, and more. As ideologies conflict with each other, these thirteen stories give a glimpse of things that also happen on this side of the border. About Rakhshanda Jalil Rakhshanda Jalil is an Indian editor, author, and translator. She was born in Aligarh, but has grown up in Delhi. Jalil is currently the Director of Media & Culture at the Jamia Millia Islamia University. Release and Other Stories, published in 2011, is her first collection of short stories. She has also written Winter's Night & Other Stories. A mother of two, Jalil’s favourite books are the two volumes of INTACH's Delhi: The Built Heritage.