The Blue Room by Nafisa Rizvi : Short Notes

 The Blue Room


Prologue

Two  sisters Alia and Rania visit a beautiful country mansion

They were mesmerized by its beauty

They were accompanied by their cousin Kamal and mother Zebunissa

They asked their mother to talk about her childhood and memories


Chapter 1

When Zebunissa was born her grandfather took her in his arms

He narrates the tale to every one of her birth and how he associated it with a dream


Chapter 2

Zebunnissa belong to a prominent family of Jahangirabad

There were 26 families living in town, a bourgeoisie town of Dera Murshid

The settlements there are inhabited by poor people who face  scarcity of water

They were having an ambivalent attitude towards the people of the town

The place was deserted after the coal mines finished up


Zebunnissa lives in an estate sprawled over 85 acres

It had no fixed shape as it expanded with the family.

When Zaib was born she was different, her eyes had something strange in it

His uncle Asad called her " the little wise child"

She had some charisma that made people unsettled

Once her mother's cousin visited with his wife

He tried to rub his hands over Zaibs butt when she gazed at him, he felt sick and screamed

She once looked at a snake and it ran

She had a knack for reading and would read everything

They had a huge library

She once in her forrays found a hidden room, with Blue walls, the wall started talking

The four had different jobs one, the head of walls was facing the river, the other facing the corridor while the two North and South

They endowed her with Wisdom about the family and the nature of humans

With increasing wit, she becomes older.

They started treating her differently.


"They told her about the things they had seen, the words they had heard spoken, the horrors they had encountered since they had been built. 


Chapter 2

Bahadur Ali was the patriarch of the family

He was a lawyer by profession, this career was imposed upon

He was excellent in his career and become a judge in young age

But after his father's death, he left his job and started drinking and merry making

He died

His wife Qurat ul Ain took charge, she was excellent

He had three sons Qasim(had washing disease), Fardiullah and Asadullah (celibate and a doctor); he considered himself Jesus Christ

Farid wife was samar and three children Majeed, Laila and Mehdi

Qasim was their father his wife Jahanara was good wife

Zaibunnisaa was their daughter

Khan Bahadur had a daughter by the name Zainab

She was bred with care, in fact she was spoiled by her parents.

She married Shah Baqar another landlord

Shah Baqar was a poet. 

He would drink alcohol and recite poetry in the kotha

He was in love with Laila, born in kotha, very beautiful

Baqar and Zainab marriage didn't go well 

Zainab's son Aqil was born

One day Zainab attacked Baqar and he too reacted beating her too harsh


Chapter 3

This chapter is about the children

The last to be born was Mehdi

Ayaz was the eldest

Their favourite sports were cricket and flying kites.

They would also play gully danda and other games as well

They were not allowed to pursue education

Unfortunately, Zaib couldn't get higher education.


Chapter 4

Jalal a distant relative of Khan Bahadur came to the Haveli

He was a molvi and he had two sons

He was very notorious

He became a cleric because he was very good in speech

He was a misogynist and loved boys

He raped a boy named Salar

And fled to Khan Bahadur's home


Chapter 

Jalal son Jamal was staring at Mehrunissa

When He caught Zaib eye and become unconscious

Jalal had made some plans

He wanted to lead prayers of the servants

He throws dead chicken at the home of a servant etc

When zaib looked at him he told his father that he is a murderer

'The man is a menace and a danger to our household. The first day I set eyes on him, I could see that his hands were those of a man who has taken an innocent life.



Chapter 

Zaib discussed in her league about jalal.

They decided to Keep an eye out on staff

Peeru, the boy, looked suspicious

He ran from the home

Jalal went after him and killed him

He ran away from Dera Murshid

Qasim allows his wife and children to stay


Chapter 5

Asad, Qasim, Majeed, Jahangir, Mehdi was invited to a neighbouring village to listen to jirga

They hunt and had fun

There is some criticism on feudalism.


"You know, the time will come when we'll all have to give it up,' Ayaz said thoughtfully."

Chapter 6

One day Qasim was going to the court when a powerful landlord and administrator was beating a man

Upon questioning the man kidnapped Qasim

It was Zaib who through her power rescued him


Qasim came back

He started spending more time with children

He would also tell them what he had gone through


Chapter 7

They visit bazaar

Zaib feels someone is watching them


Chapter 8

Zaib was asked to marry a distant relative

Murtaza Ameer.

They had a debt to pay so they asked Zaib in return.


Chapter 9

The boy's family arrived at their home

Zaib felt disgusted

She went to the bedroom

They told him about Saadat Ali, the brother of Akbar Ali, who was a lascivious

person and pregnant a servant

Akbar Ali expelled him from his house and sent him with Shiek Amir Ali.

Saada died after falling from a horse and they had a debt to repay to Sheikh's family


Chapter 10

The function had started

They were musical programs

They invited singers

Unfortunately, the singer was Lali aka Lala Rukh

Zainab met her and she informed her that she had been left by Baqar too


Zaib was married

Her in-laws mocked her because they thought she was too old 


Chapter 11

Zaib started to love her husband

She found out that he didn't care about his family's chitchat

Jamila would always try to defame her

Murtaza was suffering from epileptic fits

Zainab returned to the folds of her loving family and son. Lali returned to her brothel alone.

'We don't feel sleepy. During the day, our bodies shut down for a few minutes while we're working at something trivial or doing chores. That's enough. We're refreshed after that.'


Chapter 12

Zaib's relationship grew with Murtaza

He was a good lad

She asked about his childhood

He was reluctant but told her everything

He told her that he met an old beggar who asked to protect Zaib and the blue walls

Murtaza told her about his imaginary friends who would go on different adventures

Zaib was astonished at his story but at the same time felt dejected for not telling about the blueroom.


Chapter 13

Zaib visits Shahi Manzil after 1 year, she spent 1 month

The walls told her that it is her responsibility to help the people in need.


Chapter 14

She returns

There is a pir sahib who visits the family

He accuses Zaib of evildoing, but she resists which shocks him


Chapter 15

Jailma had a stroke after an altercation with her husband

Zaib took care of her when everyone left her.

No one praised her when Jamila recovered


Chapter 16

A messenger from Shahi Manzil told them that her father is ill

She left for Shahi Manzil

Her father's bp shoot up and he fell in the bathroom

He had a concussion, there was a clot in his brain and thus he went into coma

Zaib found that Ayaz and Mehr were in love with eachother


Chapter 17

Zaib was surprised to find that Mutaza had come to Shahi Palace

He decided to stay

He told Zaib that he has left his home

He disclose that Jalal was fueling his parents about you

They informed the police


Chapter 18

On the 30th day Qasim died.

They felt the loss of a father

Everyone was dejected

Even it rained for three days

Murtaza took charge of the house


Chapter 19

Zaib decided to leave the house and move into the city

She discussed it wall who discouraged it

One day the flour of the house started filling with water

Her grandmother told that the house is crying.


Chapter 20

Zaib sent Murtaza to find a house in the city

She informed all members of the league who were angry at first but then agreed to move out from the Haveli cautiously.

Chapter 21

They all gather in the family

Zaib reveal what she's gonna do

Jahanara and Quratul Ain were angrier

"If you cut yourself off from your roots, you will bleed! Your children will wander aimlessly on the earth not knowing where to build their homes or bury their dead."

Fraid and Samar decided to go too.


Chapter 22

Zaib's final departure with From Walls was bittersweet.

They were angry

They told her that she was pregnant


Qasr e Zaib

Chapter 1

They travelled by about 6 hr journey

They reached a five-bedroom house

They name the house as Qasr e zaib meaning Zaib house


Chapter 2

They find their niches

Ayaz became a corporate lawyer

Majeed architectural engineer

Jahangir doctor

Laila became Vet

Mehdi join art classes

Zaib  was angry at Mehr for wasting her talent


Chapter 3

Her daughter Aaila was born after seven months in the new house

She went to Shahi Manzil

In a funny way, Jalal attacked her baby 


Chapter 4

Qurat ul Ain died

And after 7 months Jahanara died

Mehr was pregnant

A baby named Sulaiman

Zainab came to the city

Asad stayed

Farid went somewhere


Chapter 5

They're invited to a party

Zaib has lost her powers of controlling people with her eyes.


Chapter 6

Murtaza brought Aisha and Mumtaz

She was in the city to meet her family

She told them about Akbar Ameer who is in jail

Murtaza went to his home to meet with his father and Mother

Zaib with his power tried to persuade Baber to leave Ayesha

Murtaza confronted his mother and father

He meet his imaginary friends, they said goodbye to him

Murtaza father warned him, but when he was released he committed suicide.


Chapter 8

Zaib's second baby Raila was born

Jahangir liked and girl who was from a rich class

They married and his father in law a bought a new house for him


Chapter 9

Zaib is unhappy about the family breaking.

She goes to Asad.


Chapter 10

Laila marries a businessman faisal

Mehdi goes to Italy


Chapter 11

Jalal was finally killed

Murtaza shot him


Chapter 12

Majeed dies


Chapter 13

Farid returns

The aura tells her that you can't escape fate.

Laila baby is born, kamil


Epilogue

Zaib  watch shahi manzil

Meet with Blue Walls after 1068 days


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