Daily Times

The story of Invisible Ties, authored by Nadya A. R, feels to be a drag until the life of Noor – the protagonist – begins to evolve.

This is the moment when, instead of thinking to put the book back on the shelf, one keeps turning the pages. The story moves on. It picks up the pace. It intensifies.

Nadya has set the story during the 1990s in Karachi. Following a burglary attempt, which leads to the killing of Joseph, the driver Noor’s family had employed, she enters in her shell. The trauma of watching her chauffer killed by the burglars and her mother temporarily being abducted leaves a patch of fear on Noor’s mind, which seems to blotch her thought process permanently. Nadya ensures that this spot remains evident in Noor’s mind. It keeps Noor in a tussle with her past and who she wants to become. Nadya also shows the dark side of the society where elitist women disparage Noor for not being beautiful enough according to their pre-determined standards.

Noor Kamal is a timid girl having a multiple of insecurities. She is part of a story where relationships are at the forefront along with notions of love and loss. What might seem to be a simple plot in Invisible Ties becomes a story that one can suggest someone to read. Nadya has done wonders with her words. They are simple yet hold the power to vividly express Noor’s thoughts and her life to the readers.

There are conflicting emotions spread across the novel. Nadya has – with caution – chose to divide the book into three distinctive parts. While the first part highlights the trauma Noor experiences, the second part narrates the childhood she spent in Karachi. There is much nostalgia for the readers especially those who have been living in this city. During this part, Nadya introduces to the readers the unorthodox obsession Noor has with the antique jade mirror, which she stole from her mother. In the third part, Noor’s transformation is shown. When Noor moves to Singapore with her husband, Meekaal Kalim, the author delves into showing the life of a Pakistani expatriate. The longing to return home is evident for those readers who can connect with Noor’s emotions. It is interesting to see how Nadya shows the challenges the protagonist faces. Without resorting to unnecessary grandeur, she focuses on Noor’s life and that too without glamor or glorification of the protagonist. Nadya keeps Noor’s life as simple as possible. It is in this modesty that one can witness the evolution of the protagonist.

Noor Kamal is a timid girl having a multiple of insecurities. She is part of a story where relationships are at the forefront along with notions of love and loss. What might seem to be a simple plot in Invisible Ties becomes a story that one can suggest someone to read. Nadya has done wonders with her words

Nadya’s words help readers visualize the story as it progresses – one page after the other. Her consistent usage of descriptive imagery to illustrate scenes, characters and their emotions may as well distract some readers. However, I adored how Nadya uses ‘show, don’t tell’ to perfection. The air of dejection – as Noor would have felt were she be a real-life person – was felt throughout the novel. Every novel has a voice of its own that the reader can hear and feel. The voice of Invisible Ties revolves around melancholy. It focuses on Noor’s life that seems to be at a standstill. Nadya’s writing prowess, however, guides her to retain the same aura of dejection throughout the novel. This keeps the readers in sync with the protagonist’s emotions.

Nadya also shows how marriages are carried out in Pakistan without the complete consent of the bride. The bride, however, oftentimes has no other option but to accept a proposal that ends up in her footsteps. In this case, Noor marries Meekaal and moves to Singapore. Noor’s father also wishes her to leave the city and to go away from her past. Aspiring to become a psychotherapist, Noor helps others and in turn, finds some solace of her own. The story deals with certain cultural concords that Noor must deal with and – if she may find the courage – to overcome them to lead a normal life. Invisible Ties is a story about a woman trying to define herself. Will Noor be able to find herself? Read the novel and find out.

The writer is an independent researcher, author and columnist. He can be reached at omariftikhar@hotmail.com and Tweets at @omarifikhtar