The River Beneath the Bazaar

by Maria Khalid

Between mountains and rivers, deserts and shrines, a granddaughter follows the scattered whispers of her grandmother’s tales — myths of fairies, shadows, and unseen guardians. Each valley yields a fragment, each story carries both wound and wonder, until she learns that what she inherits is not just silence, but a country stitched into her very blood.

The River Beneath the Bazaar is a spellbinding journey across Pakistan’s landscapes and legends, where memory becomes myth and myth becomes the only language for grief. From Lahore’s forgotten riverbanks to the Indus delta, from Balochistan’s salt-bitten coast to the fairy-haunted mountains of Hunza, each chapter reveals the fragile threads binding history, love, and loss.

At its heart lies a question that lingers like a can a homeland be both scar and salvation?

95 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 25, 2025

About the author

Maria Khalid is a senior media and communications professional from Islamabad, Pakistan, with over a decade of experience in journalism, editorial leadership, and digital storytelling. She serves as Editor of Hilal English Magazine, where she transforms complex national and international topics into engaging narratives that educate, inspire, and connect with readers.

Holding a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from the National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad, Maria combines rigorous research, editorial precision, and innovative digital outreach to foster engagement and public understanding. Her work spans content development, multimedia storytelling, and strategic communication, reflecting a deep commitment to civic education and informed readership.