Synopsis The short stories - written originally in Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pushto and Saraiki, and now translated into English - showcased in this anthology engage with the above questions in their own ways, articulating a multiplicity of voices and experiences. They chronicle the birth of the Pakistani nation in traumatic circumstances and its chequered history over the past fifty years, through depicting the "desires and aspirations, fear and horror, pride, shame, helplessness and a thousand other unnamed feelings" of their protagonists. While doing so, they also depict the immensely varied and rich tapestry of the cultural life in Pakistan.