Some novels are so compelling that they make the reader reflect long after they have finished reading the novel....
BOOK REVIEW
Book title: The Tea Trolley
Author: Rehana Alam
Reviewed by Muhammad Omar Iftikhar
Some novels are so compelling that they make the reader reflect long after they have finished reading the novel. Rehana Alam’s debut novel, The Tea Trolley, managed to do the same
The story is about Amna, who is leading a compromised life. She has reached a marriageable age, but has not yet found a suitable partner. The story is set in 1979, and the writer gives readers a glimpse of the simpleton lifestyle of that era.
Rehana has talked about the stereotypes of Pakistani women with clarity in her novel. Her description also suits the women of the current era. She has narrated through Amna’s perspectives her concerns regarding marriage. Rehana also shows how women who have a fair complexion and a clear skin have no problem finding a good proposal. This stands true even today as it was back in the 1970s. Through dialogues, Rehana reveals that Amna may not be the kind of girl the society sees as a suitable daughter-in-law.
The Tea Trolley delves into the tradition followed in Asian countries where parents choose their child’s life partner. Amna, the protagonist, is shown quiet beautifully by Rehana Alam as a would-be bride who is expected to bring the tea trolley into the sitting room and make herself look presentable for guests, visiting to choose her as their son’s bride.
Rehana aptly shows how young girls of our society are pressurized when they are asked to prepare for their “new” home while they are still in school. 18-year-old Amna faces the same fate; she wants to finish her university but at the same, she is also concerned about her marriage. Amna’s mother, Rabia, homemaker, is unaware of her daughter’s career plans. While Amna’s plans her summer holidays, Rabia begins her hunt for a son-in-law.
Another interesting aspect of our social system shown in the book are the requirements set by the elders when choosing a son-in-law. Rabia and her six sisters are married in wealthy families and she wants the same for her daughter. This is why Rabia wants a son-in-law who is a banker, a doctor or a lawyer.
Similarly, the groom’s parents notice everything about a girl as if she is a display at a shop. They do not realize that she is also a human being and should not be seen as a business deal or a product to be purchased but as a future member of the family.
In reality, it can be an easy affair if parents choose a son-in-law or daughter-in-law based on values, character, principles and a good family background instead of bank balance and material possessions.
Although the characters do not go through a transformation and at certain points the story is dragging they gain momentum every time guests visit Amna’s home. Rehana’s efforts must be applauded for she wrote a novel, which requires an effort and also created a story that is relatable to the women of our society.
The writer is an independent researcher and a columnist, writing on diverse topics.
