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The Butterfly flutters again The Return of the Butterfly
Considered a socialite, Butterfly has some thought-provoking opinions about the life and times in Pakistan and in other parts of the world. She shifts from the local to the global with ease. She is the centre of her universe, in fact of everyone’s universe. Yet, Mohsin’s Butterfly is not based on just one person but, "The Butterfly is a composite character, inspired by many real people, some of whom are also men". Butterfly is insouciant about her spelling and speech gaffes. She must speak English, however, just as she must have "top ke brands". Sometimes, indeed, the humour of the language is much greater than the absurdity in the situations. In fact, more than a situational comedy, the book is about conversational slips peculiar to her. Sometimes the technique may appear exaggerated and over-the-top, but in North India at least, people are familiar with this use of language.
One can almost imagine Mohsin debating whether she would be able to get away with some of the things she writes and then deciding to go ahead with it. As she says in an interview: "Haw… I do have hidden shallows". Butterfly’s fashion sense is ludicrously represented, "Michelle Obama in yellow frock and green shoes! Vaisay mein hoti to I would have added some more bling. You know jhoomar ya solitaires ki bangles ya gulband ya rani haar or something." And how would Butterfly achieve diplomatic relations with India? "I would have makkhan lagaoed them (Indians) by telling them how my favourite book is The Wide Tiger (which I haven't read but hear has won the Noble Prize) and how my favourite film is Slump Dog Millionaire (which I didn't like but hear is going to win the Oscar)" Mohsin’s third Butterfly book, is positioned in Pakistan between 2008 (Benazir’s assassination) and 2013. While Butterfly flutters frivolously about her business of kitties and parties, she also makes comments about the social set-up, albeit in her own way. "But then Benazir bechari — hai, itna meine usski death ko feel kiya hai na — was killed and then Mush came on TV in an open necked shirt as if he’d just returned from playing golf…." If that’s not an indictment, then what is? Butterfly’s husband, Janoo, is from a "Khata-peeta khandan," who obviously provides well for her to do her fluttering in peace. It’s from this position that the Butterfly comments on life and society. The book is funny; yet the satire is bearable. Basically, in spite of her frivolousness, Butterfly is not bad at all. And that’s why one loves her too!
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The
irrepressible Butterfly is back, with her in-your-face irreverence for
everything in the society, except for her own place in it or for her
bling and parties, favourite brands, and the high-flying circuit. She
is vain and opinionated but she’s honest and upfront about what she
wants from life. And she will settle for nothing but the best. She
deserves it. How hard she works for the society by throwing parties.
Humph!
