Written by: Muhammad Asif Nawaz
Posted on: July 07, 2021 | 
Awais Khan with the Latest Copies of his Books
Awais Khan’s debut novel was released to rave reviews in Pakistan. In the Company of Strangers is a lot more than what it purports to be initially, a romantic tale in adversity. It rather fits the criterion of being a social, cultural and interpersonal commentary on the country. With crisp writing and tight narrative, but despite swinging towards predictability at times, the book is an absorbing read.
The book paints a vivid picture of the country as it is ravaged by a string of suicide blasts, which have also shaken the cozy drawing rooms of the elites of Lahore. Against this backdrop, Mona, a forty-one-year-old damsel in distress, yearns for a sense of belonging. Despite her wealth and social status, Mona feels fettered. She’s in an unhappy marriage and her two children, who study abroad only get passing mentions in the novel. Bilal, her husband, a construction tycoon who cheats on her, hunts with the hounds of the upper-class society males. Mona is introduced to Ali, who had left the glamorous but shallow world of modelling, owing to its overwhelming debauchery. The financial pressure on Ali to provide for his brother, who has lost a leg in a suicide blast, compels him to re-enter the modelling industry. The stage is set. Mona is miserable in her world, and as Ali enters it, things take a turn: a sordid affair, a realisation of other possibilities and the imminent threat of losing everything.
The covert affair between Mona and Ali drives the narrative of the story, but the gradual unravelling of appearances pervasive in Lahori society, is what makes the novel interesting. Although the themes are not novel, they remain relevant. The prevalence of suicide bombings, propelled by a thread of terrorism is something that could’ve found a broader appeal had the novel been released some years ago. All down to their mannerisms and notorious indifference, the Lahore elites have been written about with keen observation, and are almost reminiscent of Moni Mohsin’s books - even if the comic angle is not deliberate here. But the Pakistani modelling scene and its untidy intricacies, seem to have borrowed from themes in South Asian shows and movies. This, of course, doesn't take anything away from the novel, but even though its tackling of the subjects is at times original, the themes may not always be.
While the novel does a great job at highlighting the complexities of human relationships, the development of its characters shows room for improvement. Mona, for instance, comes across as confused and lacks depth for the most part. She derides the criminal nonchalance of the Lahori elite, yet is guilty of giving into its charms at every juncture. Whether she actually loves Ali and is willing to give up her money, status and power to be with him, or he is just a form of escape for her, remains unclear. Ali’s side is portrayed with more clarity, but his story suggests early on that he’s in for sorrow. Bilal might come across as self-indulgent and cruel, but he’s later redeemed by his humanitarian efforts. The plot remains engaging, but the characters are unpredictable, sometimes unjustifiably so. A mother-in-law, who’s adept at playing the role of a stereotypical mother-in-law in a patriarchal society, randomly turns on her son for his escapades. This makes for an interesting albeit unconvincing read.
At times the novel tends to distract from the intended focus by going into too much detail about the lifestyle of the elite: the characters eat Belgian chocolates, drive BMWs and shop from Victoria’s Secret. However, this is soon done away with. As a result, the novel remains subtle in its commentary on the different strata of Pakistani society. This makes the novel stand out, and the usual allegation of catering to western readership, does not hold water. All in all, the novel is highly readable and a page-turner.
Despite some of its shortcomings, In the Company of Strangers takes you to the intricacies of Pakistani society which haven’t been amply explored in the Pakistani English writing landscape. For this reason, specifically, it is a worthy read. The twists in the tale are certainly not easy to brush aside, once the novel comes to an end. As far as pleasure reading goes, this novel perfectly fits the bill.
You may also like:
