Moth Smoke was Hamid`s debut novel. The much-renowned writer for his prize-winning novels including 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist' and 'Exit West' came up with an entirely different context in 'Moth Smoke' which was published quite a long time ago back in 2000.
Hamid attempts to highlight the rather significant differences between Pakistan`s elite and the rest of the country which is impoverished to its core.
The story begins with Daru, a young banker settled in Lahore who has had its fair share of tragedy with the loss of his father is exposed to precarious challenges both financially and morally.
Daru loses his job due to an induced economic situation, one that was caused by a knee jerk reaction to Pakistan`s Nuclear launch. For what it's worth, he owes his status in Lahore`s elite to his lifelong friend Aurangzeb aka Ozi and his father. They have been quite benevolent to Daru his whole life but by this stage, as the story commences, differences set in.
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Ozi and his beautiful life Mumtaz return from New York, a couple that thrived in the states with an infant is ready to settle back in the dwindling city of Lahore. Perhaps they are here to dive back into the Elite circles of the city where they can wine and dine as they did back in Manhattan.
Daru is not only disturbed by Ozi`s return, but his existence also seems to be insignificant. According to Daru maybe his childhood friend is living the life, a trophy wife, from one of the wealthiest families, after all, a corrupt official(Ozi`s dad) played his part in nurturing their son.
The story encompasses as Daru begins to transcend from his banker status, drugs and subsequent drug dealing to live off the trail. Drugs were just the start of Hamid`s portrayal of Daru.
The character evolves as Daru plunges into an affair with Mumtaz, his best friend`s wife. Someone who has helped him financially through thick and thin, if it wasn't for Ozi Daru would never make it to the weekend parties per se.
Parties where every now and then someone snuck him up with a joint.
Hamid eloquently puts Daru`s intimate affair with his best friend`s wife along with his failure, failure as a son, as a banker and now a drug dealer.
It's for the readers to decide whether Daru’s life turns out to be an epic failure or not. Leading a difficult life in Lahore behind bars won’t be easy for Daru but again he tried his best to survive.
Another rather interesting character is ‘Murad Badshah’, Daru’s dealer and his means of livelihood after he loses his job.
Moth Smoke is a brilliant representation of Pakistan’s elite partying at the helm of mediocre.
The rich have it all, from alcohol to drugs and not to mention free sex, the poor however or those who end up like Daru suffer and suffer at the hands of the system.
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