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The book is a significant addition to the genre of short story. The stories are a presentation of a throbbing and living sensation of life. The strength of the narration lies not only in the poignancy and realism but also in the dexterity with which the tales have been written. A discerning reader would not miss the command of the author both in matters of moral concern and technical virtuosity. He reintroduces through his characters the age-old messages of humanism, care and cure of the world. Though the author has represented mostly the trials and frustrations of the human life, his central vision is not of despair but hope. The Taj Mahal, a story that carries an extract from a letter that Aurangzeb wrote to Shah Jahan in 1652, and Retribution, that carries an extract from The Tribune reporting the Tantrik’s (character in the story) death, substantiate how Harish Dhillon remains close to reality and arrests the factual details of ordinary experiences of the people. Some of these stories were first published in The Tribune. Dhillon has used the theme of love in myriad shades. The Song of Silence is a moving story of Roquiya Hussain, a deaf and dumb journalist, and Shafiq Ramzan’s amorous relationship. Ebadaat brings the transformation of a dacoit into a saint for the love of Reshma, whom he ironically addresses as daughter in the end. A Midas Touch celebrates the love of Khurshid and his wife. After her death, unlike Shah Jahan, he does not build a mausoleum for her, but a hotel named Taj, where others relish life. A Fine Madness tells the story of a newly wedded girl, who leaves her husband, having fallen in love at first sight with a Rajasthani singer who entertains tourists, reducing herself to a mere beggar. The hesitant singer, later, marries her, moved by her constancy. The Last Letter, too, is a tale of unconsummated love. The Taj Mahal
revolves around the love of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz. Though the story is
retold, the writer’s characteristic genius gives it a fresh touch. The
story runs parallel to the loving relationship of Sharif, architect of
Taj Mahal, and his wife, Shaheen. He unfolds Shah Jahan’s cold blooded
ruthlessness in getting Shaheen poisoned and pays a tribute to salute
the love of a common man, Sharif, who did not have the luxury of
affording a mausoleum for his wife The themes of filial piety and parental love have been touched. If The Fall of a Rose Petal touches the desperation of a daughter who administers a lethal injection to her father to liberate him from the suffering of Senile Dementia Alzheimer. The Decision illustrates the helplessness of a father to voice his doubts and misgivings at his daughter’s affair with a married man. Being a widower, he holds himself responsible for his daughter’s troubles. The Nun and the Father discusses the theme of divorce and the difficulty of a father in conveying the same to his daughter. Retribution is a comment on fake sadhus. Guilt is the highlight in The
Account and The Loose End. In both stories, the protagonists
find peace when they make amends. In A Place to Rest the author
delineates a rich and farsighted man’s wish to lie in a place of peace
after death. The place becomes a place of worship where pandemonium
rules. The Darker Dawn highlights how a kind old man, in his bid
to help a wounded terrorist, gets into the police net and is Each story is an in depth
study of human nature. To put more aptly, in the words of Mathew Arnold,
the stories offer both "sweetness and light", and are of
international standard. |
