The weight of expectations
Ayesha Husain’s debut novel, “What More Could She Want?” offers a thought-provoking exploration of the challenges of marriage, mental health, and individual satisfaction. The story follows the protagonist, Noor, a young woman who enters into marriage with Zain, arranged by their parents. As Noor grapples with the pursuit of happiness, she confronts the challenges of turbulent marriage, family and societal pressures, and the complexities of battling depression.
The book will resonate with women of all ages and relationships as the author portrays the reality of women in traditional households. Although Noor’s character is surrounded by many people, she finds peace and satisfaction in conversations with herself. This self-reflection gives her the courage to put herself out there and work on being more than what others want and allow her to be.
Husain explores how women are often expected to prioritise their family’s needs above their own and how this can lead to feelings of discontent and unfulfillment. Noor struggles to find validation and recognition as a wife and daughter-in-law in her new family and feels the weight of societal expectations. While navigating her life, she continues to hold on to the ambitions that she was passionate about during her student life.
In addition, the book explores topics such as unhelpful family dynamics, harmful intrusion, and the unjust burden of social prejudices that are frequently imposed on individuals. The novel frequently highlights the theme of self-evaluation and personal development. Noor finds the answer to questions in conversations she has with herself, and it is in this self-reflection that she finds the courage to put herself out there to acquire and work on being more than what her conventional roles allowed her to be.
The use of simple language and short chapters makes it easy for the reader to swim along Noor’s life as she finds herself fading into the background of her in-laws, husband, and then her children’s life until one day, a surprise encounter with Idrees awakens her heart in ways she had long forgotten.
Husain’s gentle nod to cultural nuances such as weddings, daawats [social invites], and the back and forth of extened family members provides a very relatable background for Pakistani readers. The author’s portrayal of the contrasting strong and weak demeanours of those who are capable of providing support during difficult times will also strike a chord with readers. Additionally, the descriptive headings at the beginning of each chapter captivate the reader’s attention.
In sum, What More Could She Want? is a powerful and relatable story for a cross section of women. Husain’s commendable effort at storytelling brushes upon relevant themes and portrays the reality of women in traditional households in our society. The book is a full-circle read, bringing the reader to a much-awaited closure. A noteworthy phrase that encapsulates the essence of the book is,
“A woman does have a home she can call her own… it rests on the solid foundation of courage.”
Aqsa Anwar is an educationist and an avid reader. All facts and information are the responsibility of the writer