In a neighbourhood in Karachi, Mona, a recently widowed mother of two grown women, is trying to settle into her new life. Things take an unexpected turn when a mysterious man becomes a tenant next door in Mrs. Baig’s house. The calm rhythm of Mona’s days—gardening, cooking, time with friends and family in Karachi—is upset by the vivacious, affable, and at times almost impertinent Salamat Ali. He is both a breath of fresh air and a disconcerting presence. One day, Salamat Ali, encouraged by Mrs. Baig, presents Mona with a marriage proposal. As her family swoops in to defend her honour, Mona asserts herself against their ministrations and makes a most unexpected decision.

The Story of a Widow is a beautifully observant novel, one that pays careful attention to the delicate movements of the heart in romantic and family life. It is equally concerned with the traditional mores of society, which both support and constrain men and women. Gently humorous and profoundly perceptive, The Story of a Widow is the moving tale of a woman’s discovery of her voice, and herself.