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Jo Bachay Hain Sang Samait Lo
ইতালির রোম শহরে সিকান্দারের সাথে লিজার সাক্ষাৎ হওয়া নিছকই একটি কাকতালীয় ঘটনা নাকি সামনে সিকান্দারের জীবন আবারও কোনো পরীক্ষার মুখোমুখি হতে চলেছে? নিজের যে অতীতকে সে বহুবছর আগে দাফন করে এসেছিল তা কি আবার জীবিত হতে যাচ্ছে? সেখানের ইতালিয়ান আর্টিস্ট লিজা নামের মেয়েটি সিকান্দারের জীবনের অন্ধকারকে দূর করতে তার জীবনে এসেছে নাকি সেই অন্ধকারকে আরও গাঢ় করতে? প্রতি রাতে সিকান্দারের দেখা ভয়ংকর স্বপ্নের সঙ্গে তার জীবনের আদতে সম্পর্ক কী? এই মানুষটা কেন খুশি হতে পারে না? কেন জীবনকে ঘৃণা করে? কেন মরে যাওয়ার ইচ্ছে নিয়ে ঘোরে? ঐতিহাসিক ও রোমান্টিক শহর রোমে শুরু হওয়া এই যাত্রা লিজা এবং সিকান্দার দুজনকে তাদের অতীত জীবনের গোলকধাঁধায় নিয়ে যাবে। সেই অতীত যেখানে ভালোবাসা, ঘৃণা, হিংসা, প্রতিদ্বন্দ্বিতা, শত্রুতা ও মিথ্যা সব ছিল।
Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
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March 31, 2017
So, after years of procrastination, I finally managed to read the immensely popular Jo Bachay Hain Sang Samait Lo by Farhat Ishtiaq. There are multiple reasons of reading it too late despite vigorous recommendations from my friends; the main one being that English literature had taken over 100% of my reading time, and I just wasn't reading Urdu books anymore (Ab-e-Hayat and Namal being the only exceptions). Another big reason was me being unable to get my hands on its physical copy, which proved way more difficult than necessary. I mean, why should I have to travel miles to buy a book? Why can't I just go to any market and buy any book I want? World is so unfair to us readers.
So anyway, I was finally able to buy the copy and I started reading it as soon as I got the chance. And boy do I wish I hadn't taken this long to read this book. It's so good. Sooooo goood! This is a trademark Farhat Ishtiaq book, what with being about love and all. She has always written romance beautifully and this book was no exception. She knows how to tug at readers' heartstrings; she made me cry so bad in the end. And this isn't the first time either that I've cried over her book. Me, crying and Farhat Ishtiaq go way back.
Jo Bachay Hain Sang Samet Lo is a story of Sikandar and Liza. It starts with a 32 year old Sikandar, who lives alone and works as a lawyer. He suffers from insomnia, but when he does get sleep, it is plagued with nightmares. He's depressed. He's broken. He's an empty shell. He has a mysterious past. He's recently, temporarily, moved to Rome (Italy) as a part of his job where his path crosses with a beautiful Italian girl named Liza.
Liza is friendly. She is cheerful and so full of life. She is everything Sikandar is not. She tries to befriend Sikandar, but he pushes her away. But she's persistent. And its her stubbornness and dedication that she was able to make a guy like Sikandar open up to her. Love blossoms between them. And its oh-so-beautiful.
Flashbacks are sprinkled throughout their present story. We gradually see what Sikandar was, the family he belonged to and the luxurious lifestyle that he grew up enjoying. And we see how his world was destroyed and by whom. We see how people he cared about most forsake him and left him for the world to do whatever. How he was stripped off everything and had to start from nothing. And adding to that, something incredibly horrifying happens to him, something that people in our society don't believe can happen to a man, but it happened to him, that shattered him completely and brought him to the brink of suicide.
It was horrible. Reading Sikandar's past was gut wrenching. His sufferings reminded of me Salar's from Pir-e-Kamil, but while Salar deserved his punishment, Sikandar was an innocent man caught in fate's cruel joke. Its amazing how Liza was able to impact him and made him see her as a ray of light in his dark life. Although Liza had a past of her own, it was nowhere near as terrible as Sikandar's. It was Liza's ability to see good in everyone that she was able to enjoy her life and spread happiness around her. And it was her persistence that made Sikandar surrender to her and accept his love for her. I cannot explain how heart melting that moment was when Sikandar relented and they started planning their life together.
But of course, just when the future started looking bright, the past came unannounced at the door, clawing its way in, and sucking the happiness out of everyone's lives. There is a big twist that I did not see coming and it changed everything. It revealed that Sikandar and Liza's lives were more connected than they thought. Slowly, yet gradually, everything was brought out in the open like a storm that destroyed me.
In a way, Sikandar and Liza both were betrayed by the people they'd cherished the most. Both were so good at heart that they were unable to recognize the hate and cunning of their siblings behind their facade. Both were victims of same source, but the outcome was drastically different for both. Liza still had people who loved her, but Sikandar had no one!
This book showed that even the most sincere form of love can be plagued by a person's darkness and their past. But the darkness can be overcome by the same force of love and selflessness. The characters of Sikandar and Liza are so precious. They're my babies and I feel like protecting them from rest of the world. Their relationship was heartwarming and beautiful. And I hate the two people who hurt them from the bottom of my heart. Other than them, Ammo Jan is also an extremely loveable character. She reminded me a lot of Sania Saeed's portrayal in Sange Mar Mar. And Shehryar Khan was totally parha likha Da Ji. He was cold and arrogant throughout the story, but his past showed why he was the way he was.
Ultimately, this book is about how one single person can affect the lives of so many around them and change them forever. Its about the hazard of stereotyping that its always the man who abuses a woman and never the other way around. Its about trashing the theory that izzat sirf aurat ki hoti hai, mard ki koi izzat nahi hoti. And above all that, its about love. Plain and simple love.
Its a brilliant book. So glad I finally read it. And I hope this won't be the only Urdu book I read this year. I had forgotten how brilliant our writers are. I needed a reminder, and hopefully I'll find the balance between Urdu and English literature.
So anyway, I was finally able to buy the copy and I started reading it as soon as I got the chance. And boy do I wish I hadn't taken this long to read this book. It's so good. Sooooo goood! This is a trademark Farhat Ishtiaq book, what with being about love and all. She has always written romance beautifully and this book was no exception. She knows how to tug at readers' heartstrings; she made me cry so bad in the end. And this isn't the first time either that I've cried over her book. Me, crying and Farhat Ishtiaq go way back.
Jo Bachay Hain Sang Samet Lo is a story of Sikandar and Liza. It starts with a 32 year old Sikandar, who lives alone and works as a lawyer. He suffers from insomnia, but when he does get sleep, it is plagued with nightmares. He's depressed. He's broken. He's an empty shell. He has a mysterious past. He's recently, temporarily, moved to Rome (Italy) as a part of his job where his path crosses with a beautiful Italian girl named Liza.
Liza is friendly. She is cheerful and so full of life. She is everything Sikandar is not. She tries to befriend Sikandar, but he pushes her away. But she's persistent. And its her stubbornness and dedication that she was able to make a guy like Sikandar open up to her. Love blossoms between them. And its oh-so-beautiful.
Flashbacks are sprinkled throughout their present story. We gradually see what Sikandar was, the family he belonged to and the luxurious lifestyle that he grew up enjoying. And we see how his world was destroyed and by whom. We see how people he cared about most forsake him and left him for the world to do whatever. How he was stripped off everything and had to start from nothing. And adding to that, something incredibly horrifying happens to him, something that people in our society don't believe can happen to a man, but it happened to him, that shattered him completely and brought him to the brink of suicide.
It was horrible. Reading Sikandar's past was gut wrenching. His sufferings reminded of me Salar's from Pir-e-Kamil, but while Salar deserved his punishment, Sikandar was an innocent man caught in fate's cruel joke. Its amazing how Liza was able to impact him and made him see her as a ray of light in his dark life. Although Liza had a past of her own, it was nowhere near as terrible as Sikandar's. It was Liza's ability to see good in everyone that she was able to enjoy her life and spread happiness around her. And it was her persistence that made Sikandar surrender to her and accept his love for her. I cannot explain how heart melting that moment was when Sikandar relented and they started planning their life together.
But of course, just when the future started looking bright, the past came unannounced at the door, clawing its way in, and sucking the happiness out of everyone's lives. There is a big twist that I did not see coming and it changed everything. It revealed that Sikandar and Liza's lives were more connected than they thought. Slowly, yet gradually, everything was brought out in the open like a storm that destroyed me.
In a way, Sikandar and Liza both were betrayed by the people they'd cherished the most. Both were so good at heart that they were unable to recognize the hate and cunning of their siblings behind their facade. Both were victims of same source, but the outcome was drastically different for both. Liza still had people who loved her, but Sikandar had no one!
This book showed that even the most sincere form of love can be plagued by a person's darkness and their past. But the darkness can be overcome by the same force of love and selflessness. The characters of Sikandar and Liza are so precious. They're my babies and I feel like protecting them from rest of the world. Their relationship was heartwarming and beautiful. And I hate the two people who hurt them from the bottom of my heart. Other than them, Ammo Jan is also an extremely loveable character. She reminded me a lot of Sania Saeed's portrayal in Sange Mar Mar. And Shehryar Khan was totally parha likha Da Ji. He was cold and arrogant throughout the story, but his past showed why he was the way he was.
Ultimately, this book is about how one single person can affect the lives of so many around them and change them forever. Its about the hazard of stereotyping that its always the man who abuses a woman and never the other way around. Its about trashing the theory that izzat sirf aurat ki hoti hai, mard ki koi izzat nahi hoti. And above all that, its about love. Plain and simple love.
Its a brilliant book. So glad I finally read it. And I hope this won't be the only Urdu book I read this year. I had forgotten how brilliant our writers are. I needed a reminder, and hopefully I'll find the balance between Urdu and English literature.
July 23, 2016
I read this book in 2014 maybe(I kinda skimmed it today),when college friend who is an avid urdu digest reader hyped it too much.Actually we were reading a Faiz Ahmed Faiz poem for our Urdulit class.You know,the one that teachers love, because it is too difficult to find any different reference shairs for it.If you ever read PTB Urdu in college,You know what I am talking about.So we can say I was pretty intrigued by the title.
This is a contemporary urdu romance novel and when i say contemporary, I mean there is:
✿No instalove*shukar hai*.
✿The MCs don't look at each other with "kan akhiyon".
✿It is neither women centric nor male dominated. Infact the hero is sexually assaulted in the book at some point.
✿Despite having a filmy and cheesy plot, it discussed some of our social stigmas and taboo subjects.You know like Raju Hirani's films(3 idiots,PK) which are a commercial success because they are funny but revolve around realistic subjects at the same time.
✿The story does not revolve around religon.
This is a contemporary urdu romance novel and when i say contemporary, I mean there is:
✿No instalove*shukar hai*.
✿The MCs don't look at each other with "kan akhiyon".
✿It is neither women centric nor male dominated. Infact the hero is sexually assaulted in the book at some point.
✿Despite having a filmy and cheesy plot, it discussed some of our social stigmas and taboo subjects.You know like Raju Hirani's films(3 idiots,PK) which are a commercial success because they are funny but revolve around realistic subjects at the same time.
✿The story does not revolve around religon.
June 19, 2024
I thought it was gonna be a cutesy rom com but I could'nt have been more wrong. It was a lot more than that. It was Sikander going through worst period in his life and him finding leeza- his light, his sunshine, his will to live again. It was Leeza wallowing in loneliness and finding sikander- her protection, her strength, her everything. Their story unfolding in Italy couldn't have been more dreamy. The trope is grumpy × sunshine which then progresses to you drew stars around my stars. The book started off slow but the more you dive in, the grasping it becomes. Farhat Baji wrote it in several POVs and by the time you reach the middle of the book you're in tears because the way whole story flipped ... It was everything. I didn't expect that. I didn't see that coming and all I wanted to do was hug sikander so bad. Literally. I could understand him sm. And there's this thing that writer wrote different characters with similar stories but different outcomes. It gives you an idea of how one deals with trauma and what becomes of it. The writing style is absolutely breath taking and the story isn't any less. This book deserves all the hype. You might as well find it dramatic but I found it profound and heart wrenching. This book shatters your heart and then puts the pieces together. I think I'll be coming back to this book many times in the future. Making it a part of my trophy shelf. Sikander and Leeza have my whole heart.
Totally recommended!!!
Totally recommended!!!
October 16, 2023
The reason I'm giving 3 stars is, I have always loved short novels written by farhat ishtiaq but didn't like how the story was dragged at the start. However my feelings changed when the past was unfolded. I cried at the time when came to know about sikandar's tragedy. Liza's character was good but the way she was prioritizing sikandar in the first half, felt little cringe. Overall story was good, but i think my expectations were set little too high. ✨
January 18, 2026
লাভ স্টোরি খুব বেশি উপভোগ করতে পারি না আমি। কিছু দূর গিয়েই বিরক্ত হয়ে যায়। না, সব লাভ স্টোরিই বিরক্তিকর হয় না। এইটা আমিও মানি। কিছু কিছু ভালোই লাগে।
যাইহোক, 'জো বাচে হ্যায় সাঙ্গ সামেট লো' নিয়েছিলাম পাকিস্তানি বই পড়ার ইচ্ছে থেকে আর কি! সত্যি বলতে তখন জানতাম না যে এইটা আসলে লাভ স্টোরি। জানলেও হয়তো নিতাম। তবে বইটা শেষ করার পর আর যা-ই হোক রোমে ঘুরতে যেতে খুব ইচ্ছে করছে।
উপন্যাসের কেন্দ্রে আছে সিকান্দার। যিনি কাঠখোট্টা টাইপ একজন মানুষ। সে তো এরকম ছিলো না। সে ছিলো একজন হাসিখুশি ধরনের মানুষ। জীবনের এক দুর্বিষহ পরীক্ষার পরে তার কাছ থেকে যেনো সব হারিয়ে গেলো। পরিবার তো গেলোই, সেই সাথে যেনো বেঁচে থাকার ইচ্ছেটাও নিয়ে গেলো। কিন্তু জীবন কি একভাবেই চলে? না। সিকান্দারের জীবনেও আসলো একজন মানুষ। লিজা। লিজা শুধুমাত্র একটা সাধারণ মেয়ে নয়। সে যেনো সিকান্দারের অন্ধকার জীবনে আলো হয়ে আসলো। এখন প্রশ্ন হচ্ছে, এই আলো কি সিকান্দারকে অন্ধকার থেকে উদ্ধার করতে পারবে? জানতে হলে পড়ে ফেলুন বইখানা।
এই উপন্যাসের সবচাইতে ভালো দিক হচ্ছে ক্যারেক্টার বিল্ডআপ। এটা আমার কাছে বেশ ভালো লেগেছে। সিকান্দারের অতীত, তার অপরাধবোধ, সুখী না হতে পারার যন্ত্রণাগুলা খুব সুন্দরভাবে লেখিকা ফুটিয়ে তুলেছেন। শুধু তার চরিত্রই না। প্রত্যেকটা চরিত্র'র বিল্ডআপগুলা চমৎকার ছিলো।
অনুবাদের কথা আলাদা করে বলতেই হবে। রুসমিতা বিনতে মেহেদীর অনুবাদ ছিলো একদম সাবলীল আর অনুভূতিপূর্ণ। অনুবাদ বলে মনে হচ্ছিলো না৷ একদম মূল বইয়ের মতোই মনে হচ্ছিলো।
সবমিলিয়ে, এটা শুধুমাত্র একটা প্রেমের উপন্যাস না। আরো অনেককিছু মিলিয়েই উপন্যাসটা৷ পড়ে ফেলুন। হ্যাঁ, সিরিয়াল সিরিয়াল একটা ভাইব পুরক বই জুড়েই আছে। সেটা অস্বীকার করার উপায় নাই। তবে আশা করি মোটের উপর বেশ ভালোই লাগবে।
যাইহোক, 'জো বাচে হ্যায় সাঙ্গ সামেট লো' নিয়েছিলাম পাকিস্তানি বই পড়ার ইচ্ছে থেকে আর কি! সত্যি বলতে তখন জানতাম না যে এইটা আসলে লাভ স্টোরি। জানলেও হয়তো নিতাম। তবে বইটা শেষ করার পর আর যা-ই হোক রোমে ঘুরতে যেতে খুব ইচ্ছে করছে।
উপন্যাসের কেন্দ্রে আছে সিকান্দার। যিনি কাঠখোট্টা টাইপ একজন মানুষ। সে তো এরকম ছিলো না। সে ছিলো একজন হাসিখুশি ধরনের মানুষ। জীবনের এক দুর্বিষহ পরীক্ষার পরে তার কাছ থেকে যেনো সব হারিয়ে গেলো। পরিবার তো গেলোই, সেই সাথে যেনো বেঁচে থাকার ইচ্ছেটাও নিয়ে গেলো। কিন্তু জীবন কি একভাবেই চলে? না। সিকান্দারের জীবনেও আসলো একজন মানুষ। লিজা। লিজা শুধুমাত্র একটা সাধারণ মেয়ে নয়। সে যেনো সিকান্দারের অন্ধকার জীবনে আলো হয়ে আসলো। এখন প্রশ্ন হচ্ছে, এই আলো কি সিকান্দারকে অন্ধকার থেকে উদ্ধার করতে পারবে? জানতে হলে পড়ে ফেলুন বইখানা।
এই উপন্যাসের সবচাইতে ভালো দিক হচ্ছে ক্যারেক্টার বিল্ডআপ। এটা আমার কাছে বেশ ভালো লেগেছে। সিকান্দারের অতীত, তার অপরাধবোধ, সুখী না হতে পারার যন্ত্রণাগুলা খুব সুন্দরভাবে লেখিকা ফুটিয়ে তুলেছেন। শুধু তার চরিত্রই না। প্রত্যেকটা চরিত্র'র বিল্ডআপগুলা চমৎকার ছিলো।
অনুবাদের কথা আলাদা করে বলতেই হবে। রুসমিতা বিনতে মেহেদীর অনুবাদ ছিলো একদম সাবলীল আর অনুভূতিপূর্ণ। অনুবাদ বলে মনে হচ্ছিলো না৷ একদম মূল বইয়ের মতোই মনে হচ্ছিলো।
সবমিলিয়ে, এটা শুধুমাত্র একটা প্রেমের উপন্যাস না। আরো অনেককিছু মিলিয়েই উপন্যাসটা৷ পড়ে ফেলুন। হ্যাঁ, সিরিয়াল সিরিয়াল একটা ভাইব পুরক বই জুড়েই আছে। সেটা অস্বীকার করার উপায় নাই। তবে আশা করি মোটের উপর বেশ ভালোই লাগবে।
March 19, 2014
This is the the best novel by Farhat Ishtiaq ....no words !!!!
April 12, 2020
I'm still in love with this book!
June 16, 2017
Now that I have actually got myself an internship for the summer, I am glad I am done with this. I can't even fathom how people take out time for themselves and for reading while working 9-5.
The book was waaayy too slow (a problem with many episodic novels). Also, it lacked those WHaaaaattt moments. It was very simple and dragged.
Yes, it was beautiful at moments, especially what Sikandar went through reminded me of Salaar from Peer e Kamil. The writing style was good but I am not going to read any other Farhat Ishtiaq book anytime soon.
The book was waaayy too slow (a problem with many episodic novels). Also, it lacked those WHaaaaattt moments. It was very simple and dragged.
Yes, it was beautiful at moments, especially what Sikandar went through reminded me of Salaar from Peer e Kamil. The writing style was good but I am not going to read any other Farhat Ishtiaq book anytime soon.
July 28, 2025
the way i SOBBED while reading this book? like full on tears, ugly crying, heart clenching kinda sobbing. Sikandar and Liza wrecked me in the best way possible. Their story was gut wrenchingly beautiful. It's been years since i read it first and i still feel the same every damn time i pick it up again
April 9, 2025
For now I just wanted to go to ROME, to view lisa ka roma😩❤️ oh my God after a very ling time Ive read kind of emotional yet soft or happy ending urdu novel… that was my first ever farhat maam read, and i love ittt🥹
September 6, 2025
The charm of this story is it is so very human.It portrays the human psyche and emotion in a beautiful way like other Farhat Ishtiaq stories.
Waiting to see the adaptation on screen!
Waiting to see the adaptation on screen!
August 8, 2019
This book didn't disappoint me even a bit, i loved reading it. It's a beautiful story about love and loss, about forgiveness and about never giving up!
Synopsis: Sikandar, a distant 32 years old, arrives in Italy for some official work and meets liza in a pizzeria. Liza is this cheeful chatterbox of a person which irritates the hell outta Sikandar because he's been keeping people at a distance for the past 12 years now.
12 years ago, he was an ambitious Harvard law student. He had goals and a vision. His whole life was mapped out infront of him. He was happy. But that one unfortunate event 12 years ago changed the entire course of his life and the struggles he faced afterwards made him bitter.
Liza, a telented and renowned artist, has had her own troubled past that involves her family falling apart but she never let that influence negatively on her. Because she had her sister, Sam, by her side who could die for her. Liza loved her sister, painting and her Rome (itlay) more than anything in this world.
Destiny intervenes and Sikandar and liza cross each other's paths more than once. Sikandar, who has not smiled or laughed in the last 12 years, soon realizes he can't resist smiling and laughing when he's with her. Her livelihood makes him want to feel the colors around him.
But he cannot let himself make a new relation at any cost, he decides. He was stung by his own blood relations, how could he make or believe any new relation?
Sikandar and Liza's story takes us on an emotion filled ride down the lane of their pasts that are filled with confusions, hatred, jealousy, betrayal, uncovered truths, mistrust, false accusations and conspiracies.
Synopsis: Sikandar, a distant 32 years old, arrives in Italy for some official work and meets liza in a pizzeria. Liza is this cheeful chatterbox of a person which irritates the hell outta Sikandar because he's been keeping people at a distance for the past 12 years now.
12 years ago, he was an ambitious Harvard law student. He had goals and a vision. His whole life was mapped out infront of him. He was happy. But that one unfortunate event 12 years ago changed the entire course of his life and the struggles he faced afterwards made him bitter.
Liza, a telented and renowned artist, has had her own troubled past that involves her family falling apart but she never let that influence negatively on her. Because she had her sister, Sam, by her side who could die for her. Liza loved her sister, painting and her Rome (itlay) more than anything in this world.
Destiny intervenes and Sikandar and liza cross each other's paths more than once. Sikandar, who has not smiled or laughed in the last 12 years, soon realizes he can't resist smiling and laughing when he's with her. Her livelihood makes him want to feel the colors around him.
But he cannot let himself make a new relation at any cost, he decides. He was stung by his own blood relations, how could he make or believe any new relation?
Sikandar and Liza's story takes us on an emotion filled ride down the lane of their pasts that are filled with confusions, hatred, jealousy, betrayal, uncovered truths, mistrust, false accusations and conspiracies.
one-day
April 8, 2025pre-read
I've been eyeing this book for years, and it hasn't been translated yet. Why? I really need to read it. This book needs to be translated into English and reach me somehow. It's like the universe is teasing me with this unread treasure.
I've been eyeing this book for years, and it hasn't been translated yet. Why? I really need to read it. This book needs to be translated into English and reach me somehow. It's like the universe is teasing me with this unread treasure.
May 16, 2020
This book didn't disappoint me and is my absolute favourite.
March 13, 2020
Jo Bache Hain Sang Samait Lo / جو بچے ہیں سنگ سمیٹ لو
Updated 13-Mar-2020: Detailed review on my blog.
***
Non-review rant
Why do I feel that some of my reviews have disappeared? Ah, I have to do it again.
Years ago, I once had a dream. And the first half of the story including the trauma of main lead was there, almos scene to scene. however, I had never thought of penning anything but dear-diary moments until then. I therefore left it for Farhat Ishtiaq to write. And she did a great job.
This was published after a couple of years of my dream. No offense to her or her fans. I am just saying many people can get same idea for a book.
Review
It is just right combination of Farhat's trademark chemistry between the lead; and the tragedy the characters go through; and the evil relatives; and fair amount of mystery and twist. As I said before, I could have totally written the same book and I am happy that I didn't have to :D
Verdict
4 stars. Don't read it if you take the tragedies to your heart.
Updated 13-Mar-2020: Detailed review on my blog.
***
Non-review rant
Why do I feel that some of my reviews have disappeared? Ah, I have to do it again.
Years ago, I once had a dream. And the first half of the story including the trauma of main lead was there, almos scene to scene. however, I had never thought of penning anything but dear-diary moments until then. I therefore left it for Farhat Ishtiaq to write. And she did a great job.
This was published after a couple of years of my dream. No offense to her or her fans. I am just saying many people can get same idea for a book.
Review
It is just right combination of Farhat's trademark chemistry between the lead; and the tragedy the characters go through; and the evil relatives; and fair amount of mystery and twist. As I said before, I could have totally written the same book and I am happy that I didn't have to :D
Verdict
4 stars. Don't read it if you take the tragedies to your heart.
August 14, 2020
فرحت اشیاق کا یہ ناول میرے پسندیدہ ناولز میں سے ایک ہے
اس کی کہانی کچھ یوں ہے کہ
لیزہ سکندر پروفیشن سے ایک پینٹر ہے اور اس کا تعلق روما(اٹلی) سے ہے جہاں اس کی ملاقات سکندر محمود سے ہوتی ہے۔ جو پاکستان کا ایک کامیاب بزنس مین ہے اور فطرتن نہایت لیا دیا سا انداز رکھنے والا شخص ہے۔ اس کے اکھڑ مزاج اور ریزرو ہونے کی وجہ بہت دلچسپ انداز میں کھلتی ہے
لیزہ اپنے چلبلے انداز میں پوری کہانی کے دوران آپ کو اپنی طرف متوجہ کیے رکھے گی۔
ابتدا میں یک طرفہ محبت کی یہ داستان کہانی چلنے کے ساتھ دو طر فہ محبت میں بدل جاتی ہے لیکن قسمت ان کے لیے کیا راز چھپائے ہوئے ہے اور ان کی زندگی کیا رخ اختیار کرتی ہے یہ آپ کہانی پڑھ کر جانیں گے
بہت اچھے انداز میں لکھی گئی یہ کہانی ہمیں اٹلی کی مختلف جگہوں کی سیر کراتے ہوئے اپنی پر تجسس کہانی کے ساتھ جوڑے رکھتی ہے
اگر آپ کو اٹلی گھومنے کا شوق ہے تو یہ کہانی آپ کے لیے ہے۔ اگر آپ کو اٹلی سے کوئی خاص دلچسپی نہیں ہے تب بھی یہ کہانی آپ کے لیے ہے کیوں کے اس کو پڑھنے کے بعد آپ زندگی میں ایک بار تو روم ، فلورنس اور ملان دیکھنا چاہیں گے
اس کی کہانی کچھ یوں ہے کہ
لیزہ سکندر پروفیشن سے ایک پینٹر ہے اور اس کا تعلق روما(اٹلی) سے ہے جہاں اس کی ملاقات سکندر محمود سے ہوتی ہے۔ جو پاکستان کا ایک کامیاب بزنس مین ہے اور فطرتن نہایت لیا دیا سا انداز رکھنے والا شخص ہے۔ اس کے اکھڑ مزاج اور ریزرو ہونے کی وجہ بہت دلچسپ انداز میں کھلتی ہے
لیزہ اپنے چلبلے انداز میں پوری کہانی کے دوران آپ کو اپنی طرف متوجہ کیے رکھے گی۔
ابتدا میں یک طرفہ محبت کی یہ داستان کہانی چلنے کے ساتھ دو طر فہ محبت میں بدل جاتی ہے لیکن قسمت ان کے لیے کیا راز چھپائے ہوئے ہے اور ان کی زندگی کیا رخ اختیار کرتی ہے یہ آپ کہانی پڑھ کر جانیں گے
بہت اچھے انداز میں لکھی گئی یہ کہانی ہمیں اٹلی کی مختلف جگہوں کی سیر کراتے ہوئے اپنی پر تجسس کہانی کے ساتھ جوڑے رکھتی ہے
اگر آپ کو اٹلی گھومنے کا شوق ہے تو یہ کہانی آپ کے لیے ہے۔ اگر آپ کو اٹلی سے کوئی خاص دلچسپی نہیں ہے تب بھی یہ کہانی آپ کے لیے ہے کیوں کے اس کو پڑھنے کے بعد آپ زندگی میں ایک بار تو روم ، فلورنس اور ملان دیکھنا چاہیں گے
July 24, 2023
Would give it 3.5 stars as the novel was dragged unnecessarily in the middle and towards the ending, same scenes and conversations are written repetitively which is very irritating for a reader a like me.
I liked the story though, at the beginning it's engaging and the reader easily gets connected with the characters, plot is set in Rome, Italy. Author has given a beautiful (expected) closure to the story.
Main themes are siblings rivalry, jealousy, betrayal and hatred caused by discrimination among them by the parents. The story revolves around main character 2 sisters (Sam and Lisa), 2 brothers (Sikandar and Zain) and how their lives are interconnected over the period of time through some coincidents and tragedies.
Overall it's a good read, recommended.
Lessons Learnt:
- Don't take extreme measures as it can lead to drastic and consequences.
- Don't assume things, discuss and resolve your issues with the closed ones. Conversation is very important.
I liked the story though, at the beginning it's engaging and the reader easily gets connected with the characters, plot is set in Rome, Italy. Author has given a beautiful (expected) closure to the story.
Main themes are siblings rivalry, jealousy, betrayal and hatred caused by discrimination among them by the parents. The story revolves around main character 2 sisters (Sam and Lisa), 2 brothers (Sikandar and Zain) and how their lives are interconnected over the period of time through some coincidents and tragedies.
Overall it's a good read, recommended.
Lessons Learnt:
- Don't take extreme measures as it can lead to drastic and consequences.
- Don't assume things, discuss and resolve your issues with the closed ones. Conversation is very important.
October 3, 2024
GUDDUS. 💐💐💐💐✨✨✨✨
The love I have for this book. I cannot sometimes put it in words. It was so comforting. I cried, smiled and laughed. Male lead had trauma, and his trauma was shown in such a nice way. Grumpy x Sunshine Trope executed so beautifully. I would recommend this book to everyone.
One thing, I hate THAT woman, in start she was a victim [what happened with her and her step dad. She was 15, a child and the man was adult. it is called statutory rape] just like Sikandar. But she chose to take the wrong path and be a bitch by ruining others' lives, while Sikandar chose not to hurt anyone because of his trauma.
Liza is the total sunshine. A character so positive, could light up one's life. Every Sikandar deserves a Liza <3
The love I have for this book. I cannot sometimes put it in words. It was so comforting. I cried, smiled and laughed. Male lead had trauma, and his trauma was shown in such a nice way. Grumpy x Sunshine Trope executed so beautifully. I would recommend this book to everyone.
One thing, I hate THAT woman, in start she was a victim [what happened with her and her step dad. She was 15, a child and the man was adult. it is called statutory rape] just like Sikandar. But she chose to take the wrong path and be a bitch by ruining others' lives, while Sikandar chose not to hurt anyone because of his trauma.
Liza is the total sunshine. A character so positive, could light up one's life. Every Sikandar deserves a Liza <3
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2023
I would give this book a 4.5/5 . For the first 200 pages I found it ordinary and typical but as soon I went half way through it , Man I couldn't resist it . The brilliance of depicting the country , cities and monuments is worth mentioning.
Farhat Apa wrote it after a break of two years and truly to me this was her best work.
The storyline is amazing and the ending is exquisite.
A must read ya all if you're looking for something lighter and lively to read.
Farhat Apa wrote it after a break of two years and truly to me this was her best work.
The storyline is amazing and the ending is exquisite.
A must read ya all if you're looking for something lighter and lively to read.
January 7, 2024
4.5 ⭐
This novel was a rollercoaster of emotions.
In the beginning, it was a little slow but the build-up paid off at the end. I was not expecting the kind of hardships that Sikander went through. His and Liza's love was so pure and heartwarming.
This book made me smile, laugh and cry. All of the characters and their emotions were written in-depth which made our connection with them stronger.
I still don't know what the title means though!
This novel was a rollercoaster of emotions.
In the beginning, it was a little slow but the build-up paid off at the end. I was not expecting the kind of hardships that Sikander went through. His and Liza's love was so pure and heartwarming.
This book made me smile, laugh and cry. All of the characters and their emotions were written in-depth which made our connection with them stronger.
I still don't know what the title means though!
August 31, 2023
Sikandar's POV was worth reading. Other than that Liza's character was adorable. 😍
Ending was bland. Everybody had daddy issues😂
Ending was bland. Everybody had daddy issues😂
September 13, 2023
جو بچے ہیں سنگ سمیٹ لو سکندر اور لیزا کی کہانی ہے۔ اس کا آغاز 32 سالہ سکندر سے ہوتا ہے ، جو تنہا رہتا ہے اور وکیل کی حیثیت سے کام کرتا ہے۔ وہ بےخوابی میں مبتلا ہے ، لیکن جب اسے نیند آتی ہے تو ، یہ ڈراؤنے خوابوں سے دوچار ہوتا ہے۔ وہ افسردہ ہے۔ وہ ٹوٹ گیا ہے۔ وہ ایک خالی خول ہے۔ اس کا ماضی ایک پراسرار ماضی ہے۔ وہ حال ہی میں ، عارضی طور پر ، اپنی ملازمت کے ایک حصے کے طور پر روم (اٹلی) چلا گیا جہاں اس کا راستہ لیزا نامی ایک خوبصورت اطالوی لڑکی کے ساتھ ملتا ہے۔۔
لیزا دوستانہ ہے۔ وہ خوش مزاج اور زندگی سے بھری ہوئی ہے۔ وہ سب کچھ ہے جو سکندر نہیں ہے۔ وہ سکندر سے دوستی کرنے کی کوشش کرتی ہے ، لیکن وہ اسے دور کرتا ہے۔ لیکن وہ ثابت قدمی پر ہے۔ اور یہ اس کی ضد اور لگن ہے کہ وہ سکندر جیسے لڑکے کو محبت میں مبتلا کرنے میں کامیاب ہوگئی تھی۔
فلیش بیکس کو ان کی موجودہ کہانی میں طابار دکھایا جاتا ہے۔ ہم آہستہ آہستہ دیکھتے ہیں کہ سکندر کیا ہے ، جس خاندان سے اس کا تعلق ہے اور وہ پرتعیش طرز زندگی جس سے وہ لطف اندوز ہو رہا ہے۔ اور ہم دیکھتے ہیں کہ اس کی دنیا کس طرح تباہ ہوگئی اور کس کے توسط سے۔ جو لوگ کل پرواہ کرتے تھے ےک دم بیگانے ہو گئے۔اس سے ہر چیز سے کیسے چھین لیا گیا اور اسے کسی چیز سے شروع نہیں کرنا پڑا۔ اور اس میں اضافہ کرتے ہوئے ، اس کے ساتھ حیرت انگیز طور پر دہشت انگیز واقعہ رونما ہوتا ہے ، جس پر ہمارے معاشرے کے لوگ یقین نہیں کرتے ہیں وہکدی مرد کے ساتھ بھی ہوسکتا ہے ، لیکن اس کے ساتھ ایسا ہوا ، جس نے اسے مکمل طور پر بکھیر دیا اور اسے خودکشی کے دہانے پر پہنچا دیا۔
یہ خوفناک تھا. سکندر کا ماضی پڑھنا تکلیف دہتھا۔ اس کے دکھوں نے مجھے پیرکامل سے سالار کی یاد دلادی ، لیکن جب سالار اپنی سزا کے مستحق تھا ، سکندر ایک معصوم شخص تھا جو قسمت کے ظالمانہ لطیفے میں پھنس گیا تھا۔ یہ حیرت انگیز ہے کہ کس طرح لیزا اس پر اثر انداز ہونے میں کامیاب رہی اور اسے اپنی تاریک زندگی میں اسے روشنی کی کرن کے طور پر دیکھنے پر مجبور کیا۔ اگرچہ لیزا کا اپنا ماضی تھا ، لیکن یہ سکندر کی طرح خوفناک نہیں تھا۔ لیزا کی ہر ایک میں اچھائی دیکھنے کی صلاحیت رکھتای تھی کہ وہ اپنی زندگی سے لطف اندوز ہونے اور اپنے ارد گرد خوشی پھیلانے کے قابل تھی۔ اور یہ اس کی استقامت تھی، جس نے سکندر کو اس کے حوالے کردیا اور اس نے اس کی محبت کو قبول کرلیا۔
لیکن یقینا. ، جب مستقبل روشن نظر آنا شروع ہوا ، ماضی دروازے پر غیر اعلانیہ آیا ، اور ہر ایک کی زندگی سے خوشی چوسنے کی کوشش کی۔
ایک طرح سے ، سکندر اور لیزا دونوں کو ان لوگوں نے دھوکہ دیا جس کی وہ سب سے زیادہ پسند کرتے تھے۔ دونوں دل میں اتنے اچھے تھے کہ وہ اپنے بہن بھائیوں کی نفرت اور چالاکیوں کو پہچاننے سے قاصر تھے۔ دونوں ایک ہی ماخذ کا شکار تھے ، لیکن اس کا نتیجہ دونوں کے لئے کافی مختلف تھا۔ لیزا کے پاس ابھی بھی وہ لوگ تھے جو اس سے پیار کرتے تھے ، لیکن سکندر کے پاس کوئی نہیں تھا!
اس کتاب سے ظاہر ہوا ہے کہ یہاں تک کہ محبت کی انتہائی مخلص رشتہ بھی کسی شخص کو اندھیرے میں دھکیل سکتے ہیں۔ لیکن اس اندھیرے کو محبت اور بے لوثی کی ہی طاقت سے قابو پایا جاسکتا ہے۔ ان کا رشتہ دل دہلا دینے والا اور خوبصورت تھا۔
آخر کار ، یہ کتاب اس بارے میں ہے کہ ایک ہی شخص اپنے آس پاس کے بہت سے لوگوں کی زندگیوں کو کس طرح متاثر کرسکتا ہے اور انہیں ہمیشہ کے لئے بدل سکتا ہے۔ یہ دقیانوسی تصورات کے خطرے کے بارے میں ہے کہ یہ ہمیشہ وہ آدمی ہے جو عورت سے بدسلوکی کرتا ہے ۔ صرف مردانہ عزت ہی سب ہے اور عورت پاوں کی جوتی ہے۔ اسکو بس حکم پر چلانا ہے۔
مگر میں نہیں چاہتی اس ناول کو ڈرامہ بنایا جائے اور تباہ کیا جائے۔
لیزا دوستانہ ہے۔ وہ خوش مزاج اور زندگی سے بھری ہوئی ہے۔ وہ سب کچھ ہے جو سکندر نہیں ہے۔ وہ سکندر سے دوستی کرنے کی کوشش کرتی ہے ، لیکن وہ اسے دور کرتا ہے۔ لیکن وہ ثابت قدمی پر ہے۔ اور یہ اس کی ضد اور لگن ہے کہ وہ سکندر جیسے لڑکے کو محبت میں مبتلا کرنے میں کامیاب ہوگئی تھی۔
فلیش بیکس کو ان کی موجودہ کہانی میں طابار دکھایا جاتا ہے۔ ہم آہستہ آہستہ دیکھتے ہیں کہ سکندر کیا ہے ، جس خاندان سے اس کا تعلق ہے اور وہ پرتعیش طرز زندگی جس سے وہ لطف اندوز ہو رہا ہے۔ اور ہم دیکھتے ہیں کہ اس کی دنیا کس طرح تباہ ہوگئی اور کس کے توسط سے۔ جو لوگ کل پرواہ کرتے تھے ےک دم بیگانے ہو گئے۔اس سے ہر چیز سے کیسے چھین لیا گیا اور اسے کسی چیز سے شروع نہیں کرنا پڑا۔ اور اس میں اضافہ کرتے ہوئے ، اس کے ساتھ حیرت انگیز طور پر دہشت انگیز واقعہ رونما ہوتا ہے ، جس پر ہمارے معاشرے کے لوگ یقین نہیں کرتے ہیں وہکدی مرد کے ساتھ بھی ہوسکتا ہے ، لیکن اس کے ساتھ ایسا ہوا ، جس نے اسے مکمل طور پر بکھیر دیا اور اسے خودکشی کے دہانے پر پہنچا دیا۔
یہ خوفناک تھا. سکندر کا ماضی پڑھنا تکلیف دہتھا۔ اس کے دکھوں نے مجھے پیرکامل سے سالار کی یاد دلادی ، لیکن جب سالار اپنی سزا کے مستحق تھا ، سکندر ایک معصوم شخص تھا جو قسمت کے ظالمانہ لطیفے میں پھنس گیا تھا۔ یہ حیرت انگیز ہے کہ کس طرح لیزا اس پر اثر انداز ہونے میں کامیاب رہی اور اسے اپنی تاریک زندگی میں اسے روشنی کی کرن کے طور پر دیکھنے پر مجبور کیا۔ اگرچہ لیزا کا اپنا ماضی تھا ، لیکن یہ سکندر کی طرح خوفناک نہیں تھا۔ لیزا کی ہر ایک میں اچھائی دیکھنے کی صلاحیت رکھتای تھی کہ وہ اپنی زندگی سے لطف اندوز ہونے اور اپنے ارد گرد خوشی پھیلانے کے قابل تھی۔ اور یہ اس کی استقامت تھی، جس نے سکندر کو اس کے حوالے کردیا اور اس نے اس کی محبت کو قبول کرلیا۔
لیکن یقینا. ، جب مستقبل روشن نظر آنا شروع ہوا ، ماضی دروازے پر غیر اعلانیہ آیا ، اور ہر ایک کی زندگی سے خوشی چوسنے کی کوشش کی۔
ایک طرح سے ، سکندر اور لیزا دونوں کو ان لوگوں نے دھوکہ دیا جس کی وہ سب سے زیادہ پسند کرتے تھے۔ دونوں دل میں اتنے اچھے تھے کہ وہ اپنے بہن بھائیوں کی نفرت اور چالاکیوں کو پہچاننے سے قاصر تھے۔ دونوں ایک ہی ماخذ کا شکار تھے ، لیکن اس کا نتیجہ دونوں کے لئے کافی مختلف تھا۔ لیزا کے پاس ابھی بھی وہ لوگ تھے جو اس سے پیار کرتے تھے ، لیکن سکندر کے پاس کوئی نہیں تھا!
اس کتاب سے ظاہر ہوا ہے کہ یہاں تک کہ محبت کی انتہائی مخلص رشتہ بھی کسی شخص کو اندھیرے میں دھکیل سکتے ہیں۔ لیکن اس اندھیرے کو محبت اور بے لوثی کی ہی طاقت سے قابو پایا جاسکتا ہے۔ ان کا رشتہ دل دہلا دینے والا اور خوبصورت تھا۔
آخر کار ، یہ کتاب اس بارے میں ہے کہ ایک ہی شخص اپنے آس پاس کے بہت سے لوگوں کی زندگیوں کو کس طرح متاثر کرسکتا ہے اور انہیں ہمیشہ کے لئے بدل سکتا ہے۔ یہ دقیانوسی تصورات کے خطرے کے بارے میں ہے کہ یہ ہمیشہ وہ آدمی ہے جو عورت سے بدسلوکی کرتا ہے ۔ صرف مردانہ عزت ہی سب ہے اور عورت پاوں کی جوتی ہے۔ اسکو بس حکم پر چلانا ہے۔
مگر میں نہیں چاہتی اس ناول کو ڈرامہ بنایا جائے اور تباہ کیا جائے۔
June 27, 2024
Wow.. this novel is sure to take you on a journey- what might start off as a love story of a stoic man fighting his demons and the girl he encounters, this novel peels off the story in layers like an onion revealing more in due time, every time.
A story about two brothers (Sikandar and Zain) and two sisters (Lisa and Sam), it is about how their lives intersect and changes the direction of them forever. The writing of Ishtiaq is sharp and atmospheric especially in creating a dream or the walkabouts of exploring a city with details n precision of a local. exploring themes of sibling rivalries in different forms, love, loss, betrayal, trauma and its effects, parenting, generational trauma, PTSD and forgiveness. Every story and POV has a purpose and how it comes together to resolve things. However it does overstay its welcome resulting in a fairly long read
While Ishtiaq’s focal point of the story is Sikander, whom she takes through a wringer, turning the tables and genre of problems associated in Urdu literature with women, she gives them all to him…with Lisa being the sunshine in his life. But in doing so, she encounters the, what I call Imtiaz-Ali-problem, where the purpose of the female love interest is the growth of the protagonist. While she offsets that with giving the girl her own set of problems but that too end up circling with that purpose of serving the male protagonist.
The novel however succeeds in jumping the back and forth timeline, with a mystery unfolding that I kinda saw it coming, which might be intentional, or might surprise some. But a novel that leaves you with a smile and many lessons to learn from.
A story about two brothers (Sikandar and Zain) and two sisters (Lisa and Sam), it is about how their lives intersect and changes the direction of them forever. The writing of Ishtiaq is sharp and atmospheric especially in creating a dream or the walkabouts of exploring a city with details n precision of a local. exploring themes of sibling rivalries in different forms, love, loss, betrayal, trauma and its effects, parenting, generational trauma, PTSD and forgiveness. Every story and POV has a purpose and how it comes together to resolve things. However it does overstay its welcome resulting in a fairly long read
While Ishtiaq’s focal point of the story is Sikander, whom she takes through a wringer, turning the tables and genre of problems associated in Urdu literature with women, she gives them all to him…with Lisa being the sunshine in his life. But in doing so, she encounters the, what I call Imtiaz-Ali-problem, where the purpose of the female love interest is the growth of the protagonist. While she offsets that with giving the girl her own set of problems but that too end up circling with that purpose of serving the male protagonist.
The novel however succeeds in jumping the back and forth timeline, with a mystery unfolding that I kinda saw it coming, which might be intentional, or might surprise some. But a novel that leaves you with a smile and many lessons to learn from.
December 30, 2023
Another masterpiece of Farhat ishtiaq.✨ When two opposite poles meet, who influences whom... Liza's way of thinking is what i liked the most. Always finding good in bad regardless of her tragic past. She's cheerful, lively and always in high spirits. And her love for her ROME🤌🏻✨. But Sikandar is the total opposite of her. His tragic past destroyed him. Depressed, miserable and all blue. He endured so much.🥹. WORTH MENTION : Their Understanding.Lizaa, I love you🤍 .....Çok çok seviyorum🤍..... Ti amo🤍...she's such a sweetheart ...I love them 🩷.But the plot twist, how they both were related to each other, I was on my knees. Like why?? Just why?? And Sikandar's past. 😮💨. Well, i really enjoyed it.👍🏻
June 28, 2024
One of the best Urdu novels I have ever read!
October 4, 2024
I beg Netflix to please please please do this project justice. The emotions, the helplessness of Sikander, the joy of liza! Everything! I need it all to be perfect or I will be so mad!!!!
October 22, 2024
i sobbed my heart out. this was intense and beautiful
December 21, 2024
LEEZA IS LIVING MY DREAM LIFE!!!
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