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Set during Karachi's restless times, The Empty Room is a taxing novel that focuses on an artist's trapped life. The period between 1969 to 1979 put Karachi in turbulent waters, as power was transferred multiple times before ending up in the hands of Zia Ul-Haq. During this time, countless people were displaced, assaulted and killed. It is in this timeline that the story is set in and a handful of chapters highlight the plight of people and their defiance against the unfairness of the political situation. Although this story is majorly Tahira's, I did appreciate how cleverly Sadia shed some light on other characters that deserved to be appreciated.
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Tahira is married off in a hurry to Shehzad only to realise that married life isn't what she expected it to be. A subtle sense of menace is evident right from the start, where Tahira is made to feel excluded from her husband's family. Shehzad's parents and his three sisters are clear about their contempt towards her, often throwing insults about her family and not sparing a single opportunity without criticizing her. In spite of being a brilliant painter, she isn't allowed to paint. She struggles to understand her husband who at times displays unexpected gentleness but is mostly miffed at her. She misses the easy banter that she shared with her siblings back home and often seeks solace in the quiet presence of her brother Waseem who urges her to leave behind Shehzad. But Tahira pushes aside the thought when she realises she's pregnant.
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It is only while painting does she truly relax, submitting herself to the beauty of colours. While she receives constant support from Waseem and her childhood best friend Andaleep, she feels obliged to go back to her husband's family due of societal norms. Her in-laws' treatment towards her remain indifferent even after giving birth to two children. For years, Tahira hopes for Shehzad to love her and waits patiently while he seeks pleasure of other women outside of their marriage. It is only at the very end does she find her voice to lay out her terms but it takes something momentous to trigger it.
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There were many characters that I truly loved, Waseem being my favourite of all. His concern edged with helplessness as he witnesses his sister suffering in a loveless and an abusive marriage, his strong opinions as a conformist and also as an avid reader, his eagerness to be a good friend, all of this made him an empathetic supporting character. Then there's Andaleep, with her honesty and unflinching support for Tahira. Tahira's own children who stand up for her against their father's beatings. There's a lot of goodness that makes an appearance to help Tahira float. There's no doubt that many women like Tahira, educated and talented, are trapped in such marriages but we only have the ridiculous rules set by the society to blame.
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Sadia's writing style is unique, making the readers take a bit of time before warming up to her words. Although the story was intense, I couldn't help but feel that few chapters were stretched unnecessarily, slowing down my reading pace. The ending felt a bit rushed but I was nevertheless glad to see how Tahira fared. The Empty Room is a complex but an important read, one that portrays the socio-political side of Karachi back in the '70s.
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Rating : 3.7/5.