Urdu has more precise words for this than English does. Judaai is not the same as heartbreak; firaaq is not the same as loss. The lines below know the difference.
“A masterpiece that is sure to capture your imagery, engage your emotions, lurk in your memory, and leave you craving for more.”

“When she isn't playing with make believe people in her head she is yelling frustratedly at broken code.”

“Its bark, root and leaves are used to make medical tea, which cures fever, jaundice, kidney diseases and gastrointestinal diseases.”

“When someone so close to heart leaves you in a world, where every hurdle you have to face yourself mere whim is more than enough to shudder a person.”

“The leaves of this herb are usually lance-shaped and the lower leaves are about 7–11 mm wide and 12–16 mm long, and are ovate in shape.”

“The shells on the beach look like the abandoned toenails of the old fishermen, and they are more beautiful there, than on the foot.”

“The sad prose mingled amidst the happier ones will not feed on your depression but they will leave you with a sense of purpose and hope.”

“What would I possibly hope to gain out of a correctional facility when nothing I am is broken or needs fixing?”

“Oz looked at the keep and felt the pressure leave, watching the crow flying away, he thought, he will never be far behind, will he?”

“After twenty minutes of unbearable silence only broken by huffs from his father and sniffs from his mother, Major Zahoor tightly shuts his eyes and then speaks.”

“How she loved to dance as a child, and always did so with no one watching, alone, the door locked.”

“Most men never know how to fill their own bellies if the wife is away, yet they claim to be the ruler of the domestic kingdom.”

“Leaves are green or dark green in color mottled with yellow splashes, variegated foliage and sometimes green inside with cream color edges.”

“Leaves do not contain hair; they are egg shaped and have prickly margins and are arranged in alternate form on the stem.”

“Kenvoka rushed out and was in time to see a girl backing away from the explosive leaves, Kenvoka’s newest invention to keep out trepassers.”

“When it is of shame and secrets, you should always protect the secrets and leave the sacred curtains of shame unraised.”

Our authors, in their own words and in the press.
Discover the journey of Naveed Ahmad, an educator and poet . His debut book, Bay Nateeja, published by Daastan, explores deep human emotions.
ہر کتاب کا ایک خانہ ادھورا ہوتا ہے اور اس ادھورے کونے کو قاری اپنے تصور کے رنگوں سے بھر دیتا ہے۔ بہت سی باتیں ان کہی رہ جاتی ہیں مگر سننے والا ان ان کہے الفاظ کا بھی مفہوم اخذ کرلیتا ہے اور اسی طرح بہت سی کہانیاں نامکمل ہوتی ہیں مگر دیکھنے والے کی نگاہ اسے مکمل کر دیتی ہے۔یہ کتاب ناتمام قصوں اور کہانیاں کا گھر ہے اور انھیں مکمل کرنے کا اختیار قاری کا تصور محفوظ رکھتا ہے۔
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From the turmoil of Partition to the operating rooms of Lahore, the legacy of neurosurgery pioneer Prof. Dr. Bashir Ahmad (1934–2014) stands as a timeless story of resilience, intellect, and devotion to humanity. His life’s work not only built the foundations of modern neurosurgery in Pakistan but also inspired generations of doctors to serve their homeland with […]
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”یہ ڈھاکہ کالج کے قریب ایک پُرہجوم بازار تھا۔یہاں ضروریاتِ زندگی کی تمام چیزیں دستیاب تھیں۔یہ ہر طبقے کے لوگوں کی خریداری کے لیے سب سے مشہورجگہ تھی۔ایک بہت اچھی مارکیٹ تھی جہاں زیورات، بیگ، کپڑے، اسٹیشنری کی اشیاء، بیڈ شیٹس اور تکیے وغیرہ ملتے تھے۔“
ماریہ شہزاد کا تعلق لاہور سے ہے۔ انھوں نے دنیاوی تعلیم کے ساتھ ساتھ دینی تعلیم بھی حاصل کی اور وفاق المدارس سے منسلک رہیں۔ ماریہ نے ناول نورِ سحر کےعلاوہ بہت سے افسانے اور ناولٹ بھی لکھے۔ وہ جذبات کو الفاظ کی صورت میں پرونے کے ہنر سے خواب واقف ہیں۔ مصنفہ کو منظر […]
In this Daastan interview, Khalid Salamat shares his journey, decades in consumer marketing, and how life shapes his writing.