Until Death Do Us Unite: Short Story

by Fiza Pathan

In a village somewhere in the Thar desert, in mid-nineteenth century India, the revered Thakur Ram Singh has just died. He will be laid to rest according to traditional Hindu rites. But will he be the only one who will be cremated on the funeral pyre that day? Meanwhile, a Church dignitary and a band of British soldiers from the nearby cantonment casually observe the proceedings as they unfold—until they are joined by a young, spirited seminarian. His name is Brother Jack and he has chosen to interfere. His spontaneous action will result in certain death, a revolt against the Crown, or a major change in the course of his life.

Genres: Short Stories, Historical Fiction

24 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 11, 2020

About the author

IMP: If you are an indie-author & wish to contact me for written or live interviews on my blogs & websites then contact me here - pathan.fiza@gmail.com
or you can text me on 9820763499.

I will then get back to you ASAP.

I also review books already published & in ARC form (pdfs are fine) especially of indie-writers. You can message or text about the same to me via the above given details. Messaging on Goodreads is coming to an end, period. I am also on X, LinkedIn, Fable & StoryGraph, feel free to join me there.

Fiza Pathan is a Roman Catholic born on the 19th of March 1989 and is from Mumbai, India.

Fiza has written and published seventeen award-winning books and short stories, which reflect her interest in furthering the cause of education and in championing social issues. In over seventy literary competitions, she has placed either as winner or finalist, chief among them being: 2020 DBW Awards; 2020 Writer's Digest Self-Published E-Book Awards; 2018 DBW Awards; Killer Nashville 2018 Silver Falchion Award; 2018 IAN Book of the Year Awards; 2018 Book Viral Millennium Book Awards; Readers’ Favorite Book Awards; Reader Views Literary Awards; Eric Hoffer Book Award; Foreword Reviews Indie Fab Book Awards; Mom’s Choice Awards; Literary Classics Book Awards; and Dan Poynter’s Global E-Book Awards. She established her own niche publishing company called Fiza Pathan Publishing OPC Private Limited where she publishes Rare Classics for younger readers.

She has been contributing articles, book reviews, parabolic stories, and theological essays to various Catholic Magazines for the past 16 years. She has been associated with ‘The Examiner’ which is a reputed Catholic newsweekly of India for the past 16 years. In recognition of her various literary achievements as a young Catholic writer, she has recently received the first ever Bronze Pen Award from The Examiner at its 175th anniversary celebrations in the year 2024.

She also contributes theological articles and book reviews respectively to the ICM (Indian Catholic Matters) online magazine as well as ‘The Teenager Today’ which is run by the Catholic congregation of St. Pauls. She also contributed articles to ‘The Vision & Venture’ and ‘Word Power’ as a youth, both of which are Catholic monthlies.

Fiza Pathan is currently pursuing her Masters in Theological Studies from Pontifex University Atlanta, Georgia asynchronously. She also pursues additional theological courses at the Institute of Catholic Culture in Virginia through its online platform to improve her knowledge of authentic Catholic theology, philosophy, and literature. She is currently in the process of becoming a Consecrated Virgin for Christ.

She is also pursuing her Post Graduate Certificate In International Teacher Education (PGCITE) at Podar International School, Santacruz. She is being trained to teach grades 1 to 12 in the IGCSE & IB curricula. Her specializations will be in English Language, English Literature, Global Perspectives (GP), History, TOK & CAS.

She taught English Literature and History for a year at an ICSE school called Lilavati Bai Podar High School, Mumbai (2011-2012).

Fiza Pathan has a bachelor’s degree in arts from the University of Mumbai, where she majored in History and Sociology with a first class. She also has a bachelor’s degree in education, again with a first class, her special subjects being English and History.

She lives with her maternal family & her cat Lopez, and writes essays, book reviews, sketches, novels, and short stories in most genres. You may follow her on Twitter @FizaPathan and visit her blog insaneowl.com or her website fizapathansportfolioforpgcite.com

Reviews

[SHIVKUMAR MANGALAM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Fiza, I ordered your short story Until Death Do us Unite.
One more captivating short story by Ms. Fiza. The repulsive and cruel practice of Sati in the 18th and 19th centuries of India, is very well depicted by the author. The readers are carried to these earlier centuries when they read the story. The minute descriptions of the cremation of the dead Thakur, the willingness of the older wife to be burnt along with the deceased husband, the protests by the younger wife Bhurri, are excellent. The climax of the story is---White marrying Black---White marrying Burrie. The language used by the author is down to earth and simple.
But the reader can easily imagine the travails of Hindu widows in those era, whatever justification was given for burning the widows along with the deceased husbands. If one studies deeply about the conditions of widows in India in those distant years, we could understand the atrocities committed against the widows by the people in their families, by the invading kings and their soldiers, and members of the societies. This does not justify the self immolation or forceable burning of the widows along with their dead husbands in the same piers. It is good that the Britis and Indian Governments banned this evil paractice.
Hats of to Ms. Fiza for bringing out the cruelty of those dark periods very vividly. Shivkumar.

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[Phil Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before I jumped in and started reading “Until Death Do Us Unite” by Fiza Pathan, I did some research to better understand the Indian burial custom of Sati. I learned of an ancient burial ritual that appeared to be a cremation with a twist - the wife was considered his chattel, has no rights, and she was to die with him.
I was aware of other rituals, such as the hitobashira in Japan, where people are buried alive, and there are others that used the practice of sacrificed to appease the gods. These weren’t unknown to me, but this was something I didn't consider.
Perhaps I grew up in a coddled American worldview, and maybe I didn’t look into all the corners of historical experience. But I am always set back when I think of taking another human life for the sake of a ritual. And the concept of “women have no rights” has always been absurd in my mind.
Fiza’s short story describes the practice and the emotions of the Sati death ritual. And in her account, she reveals the opposing response to the acceptance of a ritual sacrifice as part of a funeral.
The wife of the deceased must die in his funeral pyre.
When the  Sati cremation of the deceased begins, there is an intervention, and contrasting beliefs collide.
Fiza Pathan weaves an account replete with the contradiction of intense passion for humanity, ancient ritualistic practices, and the nonchalance of those who defer to complacency. Her historical facts give the reader context and her characters are well-placed and properly defined in their roles. She gives voice to historical episodes, almost like a wake-up call.
I liked the way that Fiza carefully chronicled the story, creating tension and resolution, and how she opens our eyes to a history nobody wants to repeat. And she brings it in for a soft landing.
This is my kind of storytelling - 5 stars here.

[Wendy Slater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiza Pathan is wonderful writer.

This is a short story about the (now outlawed) Hindu custom of Sati. Befor sati was outlawed during Queen Victoria's reign, if a wife's husband died, the wife would be burnt and cremated in a funeral pyre with her deceased husband.

[Geraldine Winters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Until Death Do Us Unite by author Fiza Pathan transports the reader into a tumultuous period of colonial India under the British Empire in the nineteenth century. A momentous clash of ancient Hindu customs and Western influence come to light during a shocking incident where tradition, principles, religious practices, and one’s own faith are brought into question.

As the story unfolds, the author’s brilliance is demonstrated in her ability to elicit strong emotions through the power of her writing. A full range of feelings are experienced in this story’s detailed and moving scenes, from the very onset to the last turn of the page. The specific incident that sets the stage for the story’s conflict brings into question the power of culture, tradition, and morals. History has seen entire countries in revolution when any of those values are questioned or even broken. This exceptional story captures a glimpse of such an incident and what transpired afterward through historical fact. This is a powerful, emotional story by a very talented author and is highly recommended.

Educational and inspiring, other well recommended works by Fiza Pathan are Caste Metal and My Sweet Lord.

[Debbie Wentworth Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiza Pathan gives us a look at the practice of sati, the burning of the living wives of the dead man through the eyes of the youngest--the youngest son who is kicked because it's unbecoming to cry for one's father, the youngest Hindu priest in training, the younger wife, and the youngest Christian priest in training.

In early nineteenth-century India, Thakur Ram Singh died peacefully at the age of 92. His elder wife who is over seventy is ready to die with him, but his younger wife, Bhurri, is only sixteen. Her yearlong marriage has been one of rape and misery.

The youngest Hindu priest-in-training, Kalamana, is horrified to see the men setting the women on fire. Though only seven years old, he tries to stop the ceremony.

The youngest Christian priest-in-training, Jack White, joins the Christian officers and priest to see what is going on. The British are disdainful of the "absurd natives," but none tries to stop the murders. Jack, horrified by what he is witnessing, rushes to save the women at the risk to his own life though the other Britishers try to stop him. He marries the younger girl on the spot to prevent her husband's family from killing her. Then he realizes what he has done. If he weds her, he loses his chance at the priesthood, but if he rejects her, she will be burned alive. With Bhurri's life in the balance, he has only a few days to decide.

Neither religion comes off well in this story. Both seem more concerned about the ritual and the relationship between the British and the Hindus than a living, breathing woman. Only the youngest in either religion care about actual people, Kalamana and Jack.

Pathan's description of Jack through the eyes of his superior could apply to Kalamana also, "If Bishop Briggs perceived anything negative in the young seminarian's character, it was that he was too idealistic. But that would change with the proper coaching."

What a sad thought that the longer we might follow our religion, the harder our hearts might become to people!

This is a beautiful and horrifying story about a horrifying ritual in which women's lives were considered useless apart from their husband's, about the cold indifference of other men to the horror, and the courage and decency of the most innocent and valiant.

Pathan builds strong characters in the short story and great tension as the reader waits to see which will win out: Jack's religion or his compassion.

I expect to see this powerful story in anthologies of the future to be taught to young students.

[Linnea Tanner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The excerpt to the short story, "Until Death Do Us Unite," about a young wife who would be burned along with her dead husband on a funeral pyre drew my curiosity. The story takes place in mid-nineteenth century India at the height of the British Empire. The story begins with a procession of Hindu men and women attending a funeral. Some of them are carrying the body of the rich landlord, the revered Thakur Ram Singh who has died peacefully in his sleep. He is to be laid to rest according to traditional Hindu customs. That includes burning his aged and teenage wives on the funeral pyre that day. At a distance, British soldiers casually observe the proceedings as they unfold. They are soon joined by a young man from the seminary who is horrified by what is happening. His impulsive action to interfere could cause a revolt and change the course of his life.

Author Fiza Pathan has woven a poignant tale told from various perspectives to give insight into traditional Hindu beliefs and the consequences of interfering with the custom. It is a heart-wrenching story to learn of the young wife's abuse at the hands of her husband. Yet, she is considered nothing without her husband and must unite with him in death. From this horror springs forth a love story that will grip your heart.

"Until Death Do Us Unite" is a quick read that leaves a lasting impact. Highly recommended.

[Joy Lo-Bamijoko · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful story, told with passion and love about a Hindu custom that required a wife to be burned alive on the pyre of her dead husband.

Thakur Ram Singh, a wealthy landlord died at a ripe old age. Before his death, he had married a young underaged girl, whom he constantly raped and allowed his seven sons to rape. He died and this poor girl was supposed to be burned alive with him so that they would be united in the afterworld. His aged wife, the mother of all his children was happy to perish with him, but the young wife, whom he’d married only a year before was wailing and fighting for dear life.

Her savior came in the form of a seminarian named Brother Jack, her knight in the shining armor. He saved her but… that changed everything. Both the girl named Bhurri and the seminarian named Jack saw their lives turned around. Short of creating a spoiler for this story, I will stop and let others read and enjoy the beautiful ending. Kudos to the author, a great storyteller.

[Mason Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some stories hit you like a slow burn — they creep under your skin and stay there for days. Until Death Do Us Unite is one of those stories. It’s unsettling, intense, and absolutely unflinching in the way it deals with one of the most horrifying social practices in India’s past. I picked it up not fully knowing what to expect, and by the time I turned the last page, I was both emotionally drained and deeply moved.

Set in 19th-century India, during the time of British colonial rule, the story takes place against the stark and scorching backdrop of the Thar Desert. It begins with what seems like a straightforward funeral for a prominent man. But you quickly realize that there’s something much more disturbing at play. Without giving too much away, let’s just say the story dives headfirst into a cruel tradition that once existed — and that many today still struggle to talk about.

Fiza Pathan doesn’t soften the edges here. She writes with a raw intensity that forces the reader to confront the brutal reality of gender-based violence, oppression, and social injustice. And yet, the story isn’t just one-note tragedy. There are moments of resistance, of unexpected courage, of moral awakening. And there’s a strong emotional undercurrent running through it all — a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there’s a flicker of humanity that refuses to die out. One of the strengths of the story is how vividly the scenes are described. You can feel the desert heat, hear the sounds of chanting voices, and sense the tension as traditions and individual wills clash. The pacing is tight — every scene matters, every detail pulls you further into the world. But more than the setting, it’s the characters who stay with you.

There’s a young boy, innocent and horrified by what he witnesses; there are ritual enforcers who blindly follow custom without conscience; and there’s a newcomer — an outsider — whose role becomes pivotal as the events escalate. These characters are drawn with nuance. No one feels like a caricature, and even the well-intentioned are shown to struggle with the weight of their choices.

What's really interesting is how the story also weaves in the complexities of colonialism. British characters are present, and their reactions to the events are mixed — ranging from indifference and arrogance to genuine moral conflict. Pathan doesn’t paint them as saviors or villains. Instead, she uses them to highlight how privilege, power, and cultural distance can sometimes blind people to cruelty — or push them toward action.

The writing style itself is direct and emotionally loaded. There’s no fluff here. Pathan knows the power of restraint, and she uses it to full effect. She lets the horror of the situation speak for itself, and it does — loud and clear.

Despite the heavy subject matter, Until Death Do Us Unite isn’t hopeless. In fact, what makes it so powerful is that it dares to imagine a break in the cycle. It dares to show that resistance — even from unexpected people — is possible. And that one choice, one moment of bravery, can have lasting impact. If you’re looking for a feel-good read, this isn’t it. But if you want a story that grips you by the throat, makes you think deeply about history, culture, and injustice — and still manages to offer a glimmer of hope — Until Death Do Us Unite is a must-read.

It's emotional. It's important. And it's one of those stories you won’t forget anytime soon.

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by Fiza Pathan even though we have been GR friends for years...

You can read this book for free if you have Kindle unlimited. Several other books by FP are available if you have Kindle unlimited.

The book is only 24 pages long but I'm amazed at how much of a story there is in these pages!

An old man who has died is going to be burned but so are also his two living wives! This was the custom and none but a little boy who has never seen this done, tries to stop what is happening!

English soldiers are there, doing nothing!

It's horrible to hear what was done to women!

¶¶ This is a part that Faza wrote in a comment:

In 1987 India enacted the Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, which criminalized the glorification of Sati and imposed stricter penalties. That means in short that there were still many Sati cases even taking place in India in the 1980s! Sadly though we have now what Sociologists call as the 'urban Sati' where young newly wed Hindu brides are burnt by her in laws if her maternal family fails to pay the stipulated dowry on time or even other 'bride giving' post-marriage dowry money to her in laws. Also, if a new bride upsets her husband or her in laws, then too bride burning can take place.

This is called 'Bride Burning' or 'Kitchen Deaths' in the Sociological rule book. I have touched on this briefly in my multiple award-winning novella 'Nirmala: The Mud Blossom'. This kind of death till date creeps me out, it takes place practically everyday all over India."

[Emmanuel Bhaskar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Until Death Do Us Unite is a deeply moving story that offers a real experience of a horrifying bygone practice: the forced immolation of a widow alongside her deceased husband. For those of us living in post-reform India, it is almost inconceivable that such a custom existed merely two centuries ago. Known as Sati, the practice derives its name from the Sanskrit word meaning "virtuous woman." It was rooted in an inhumane belief that equated a widow's ultimate loyalty to her husband with her willingness to embrace death alongside him.
The author masterfully crafts a cinematic narrative, portraying the public enactment of this cruel ritual following the death of Thakur Ram Singh. The story takes an unexpected turn when a courageous prospective priest dares to intervene, risking his own safety to challenge the custom.
The monologue of Thakur's young widow, recounting her life after marriage, is profoundly disturbing. Her experiences lay bare the oppression women endured under the guise of cultural tradition. Though I have read extensively about Sati and Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s crusades to abolish it, Fiza’s narration surpasses anything I’ve read. It is raw, evocative, and unforgettable.

This story is difficult to digest, but it is an essential read for anyone who values women's freedom and dignity. It serves as a reminder of how far we have come—and how far we must still go—in the fight for equality and justice.

[Teodora Oniceanu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read from Fiza Pathan.
Treating with disturbing subjects seems to be her specialty. Although a little milder in presenting us the great suffering of her female main character, Fiza succeeds in making us go through a series of sensations which differ from one another. We can almost feel Bhurri's terror in being burned and her devotion both to God and to the man who in her eyes becomes her god. The story makes me wonder though, if men of those times didn't feel they were (like) gods to their women. Although the western civilisations were quite emancipated, the idea of becoming a god to another human being was - and I dare say it still is - attractive to certain individuals in any society.
I also felt that this story perfectly illustrates how hard was for women in India to obtain their right to be treated like a human being, independent from a man and it explains why the Indian women today are less confident than some Indian men, more cautious and I dare say empathetic.
I think the book is valuable for the mentioned details but also for its entertaining side which isn't missing. Reading more about the younger Kalamana, a character who's featured as an Indian hero in Caste Metal, was a real pleasure.
What can I say other than it's a must read?

[Karen Ingalls · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this short story the reader learns about the ancient Hindu custom called sati. It is the practice of the widow being burned alive next to her dead husband. The husband and wife will now spend eternity together. This custom is no longer practiced except for a few isolated cases.

[Reet Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiza Pathan at what she does best: tell stories of vulnerable and marginalized communities, and remind us that all our freedoms are hard won.