The human mind tends to hold a certain degree of gravitational fascination for all that it fears. Whether this comes from a desire to know more about the source of horror, or an intriguing, macabre-laced pull - the fixation with anything terrifying exists, and has led to a booming global market for all things that sends chills down one's spine.
While many of us may have consumed copious amounts of R L Stine growing up, or are fans of Stephen King at the present time, there has always been a void that has existed when it comes to local, mainstream content that successfully encapsulates the genre, all while making us feel at home. Mind you - we've seen numerous iterations of it, and many can be lauded for the effort. Indeed, the horror genre is one that we're still trying to dig our creative claws into, as far as mainstream creation is concerned. However, there are writers who have not only managed to garner massive digital audiences based on their writing skills, but bravely pen down stories that may just have a certain degree of truth to them.
Ayesha Muzaffar, the creator of Abu's Jinns - a thoroughly fascinating Instagram page with a staggering 48,000 followers - is one such writer. The author has three books under her mighty wing, namely: the self-published 'Abu's Jinns,' and two books under the banner of Liberty Books: 'Jinnistan,' and 'The Bhabhis of Lahore and other forbidden tales of the city.' Shedding some light on the process of getting her work published, Muzaffar offers some nuggets that could better inform writers who wish to put their own work out there as well.
"It is difficult to get books traditionally published in Pakistan," she states. "The entire process is a hassle and nothing much really comes out of it in terms of earning through your work. However, I do it because I’m passionate about it, so when the readers appreciate my pieces, I feel the warm chum-chums floating in my belly. I feel happy, that’s what I mean. You can now also find both of my books, 'Jinnistan - scary stories to tell over chai' and 'The Bhabhis of Lahore & other forbidden tales of the city' on Amazon as well. In Pakistan, both of these are available at Liberty Books stores nationwide."
With a best-seller under her wing, and a huge demand for her new book, Muzaffar also opens up in earnest about what led to the birth of this strange, harrowing, yet wildly magnetic Instagram page.
"My abu (father) would narrate incidents of his life," she begins. "Snippets from before his marriage, with such enthusiasm, and I would listen to them as if they were the best stories in the world. The idea of the page (and the first book) of a father telling his daughter enchanted tales originated from there."
While the conception of her Instagram account undoubtedly has a beautiful sentiment behind it, the name - Abu's Jinns - has always been probed as a query. Many believe that Muzaffar's father may have been an exorcist, and the tales she narrates are based in reality. However, while the author refuses to confirm or deny the puzzle, the answer she has is comparatively nonchalant.
"My abu once joked about how all jinns are his jinns at the end," she states. "And thus, the name came into existence. There wasn’t much thought that went into deciding the name, actually. It was a humid afternoon right after choti Eid and I started penning down small stories from my mind’s crypt on Instagram, and this is the first username that I thought of."
While Muzaffar's stories on Instagram have garnered a cult following, the author remains elusive about the extent of truth to these stories. Nevertheless, she manages to be forthright about the inspiration behind her stories to a certain degree.
"Evil exists in all forms and is around us at all times," she explains. "I sense when a story needs to be written. At times I fall ill writing it, and am unable to complete it, but most of the time I enjoy the process. Inspiration is everywhere - I could go to Jalal Sons and bring home a story impatiently waiting to be written."
Her followers are aware of the fact that she travels to gain inspiration and curate stories, with her trip to Turkey being the most notable one from where she returned with newer tales, sharing her intrigue on her social media account.
"In the past three years," Muzaffar explains, "I collected supernatural tales from Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey and the UAE. Some of these tales made it to my page for some time and then were later removed due to personal reasons. As for the experience, it was petrifying. Writing from one’s narrations is one thing but writing after meeting an individual who sees hantu (ghosts in Malay), an individual who is possessed by a demon, a grandmother who went blind living with the jinns, or meeting a child who used to be a part of a black magic cult - can be too much to take in. However, the cultural aspect of it all was a learning experience. I might be willing to do it again, but my husband - not so much."
Despite imbibing potentially true tales from her travels, when asked about experiences from within her personal life, there is a great degree of hesitance. There is talk of abandoned projects due to supernatural activity impacting the penning of stories, but nothing is set in stone. Even so, it becomes imperative to ask about whether or not the author has ever experienced anything paranormal, thus determining whether or not real life experiences inform her writing. This is where Muzaffar opens up about an eerie conversation with a cat.
"It’s a rather interesting and somewhat unbelievable story, to be honest," states Muzaffar. "I was a newly wed bride and most of my nights, if not all, were spent ordering food for midnight movie sessions with the husband. That particular night, my husband was out with his friends and all the other people in the house were fast asleep in their rooms. As usual, the rider called me when he reached. Keeping in mind the silence and the in-laws’ light slumber, I quietly closed the door behind me to fetch my paratha roll."
"Now, my father-in-law has housed many cats. Most of them are stray cats that he later vaccinates to keep around. The cats are taught to roam in the garden and the garage, and not follow any of us inside the house. At that time there was this particular white cat - a billa, that groaned each time it saw me. It was the size of two watermelons and its eyes x-rayed me each time I crossed its path. I did not think much of it. That night, as I went to get my food, the cat followed me. I could sense it behind me. When I turned around, it was staring at me but that was usual of it to do, so I moved away and started to walk towards the main door."
"When I moved past him, I heard my name. It was a whisper: Ayesha. I had been writing. Thinking that my mind was playing games, I kept walking, but with a slower pace. Ayesha. There it was again - louder this time, and more of a hiss. I froze. I thought that if I stood still and closed my eyes, it wouldn’t happen again, but it did. This time my name was taken rapidly: Ayesha, Ayesha, Ayesha. The voice was unfamiliar and inhumanly - the kind that would take me ages to describe and it rang in the ears, like a shriek, or perhaps a doorbell that malfunctions due to the rain. I gathered some courage to turn around and there it was, the cat, right behind me. It was almost grinning, if that is even possible. I dropped the bag with food."
"The silence was haunting. I heard the sauce splatter across the marble floor. I ran towards the door as fast as my legs could carry me. The cat followed. Calmly - as if it had all the time in the world. The door knob would not turn. With sweaty hands I moved it clockwise, then anti-clockwise, then pushed the door with all my might, but it just did not open. A moment later, which seemed like an eternity - with tears rolling down my flushed face, I let out a small prayer. And that was it - the door opened and I ran inside."
"Everyone was still fast asleep and my husband had not returned. When he did return, at 3 AM, we searched for the paratha roll but did not find it. There were no signs of any sauce either. I had to show him the order receipt on my phone to make him understand that I had, after all, ordered food, but of course, with no cat in sight - the other parts were blamed on my hyperactive imagination."
Whether or not one chalks this upto a hyperactive imagination, having all this translate into Muzaffar's craft works wonders. With 'Abu's Jinns' and 'Jinnistan' both being thoroughly engaging reads, one naturally gravitates towards her recent release, 'The Bhabhis of Lahore and other forbidden tales of the city.' Comprised of longer stories with several parts, one cannot help but feel a magnetic pull towards Muzaffar's writing. The apt local references blend with controlled horror elements to produce stories that one feels compelled to read, and cannot put down. Every single one of her books has been a page-turner, and it is no surprise that the author has raked up ace reviews, alongside a bevy of fans who appreciate her passion for concocting these delightfully terrifying narratives. Yet, Muzaffar has no desire to propel herself into the limelight in a massive manner, opting out of pursuing narrations on YouTube or on podcasts.
"I don’t think I’m wired for that," says Muzaffar. "Writing is my forte and I believe I’m comfortable doing just that - making love to words, writing about the uncanny happenings around us."
As Muzaffar continues to unearth newer stories, her fans wait with bated breath - consuming all she puts out with their evening cup of tea, or huddled under the covers late at night, wondering whether the noise they hear outside their bedroom is their mind playing tricks on them, or one of abu's jinns finding a home for itself in their pla