Fiction
May 2023
Tears of the Weavear
Short stories
by Zaheera Jina Asvat
In these superbly crafted stories, the author takes us into the private worlds of a rich variety of characters, revealing the complex weave of emotions often hidden behind the veneer of everyday lives. The stories take a fresh look at conventions and roles governed by religion and culture, providing earthy portraits of people struggling with ongoing oppressions, especially concerning gender, in post-apartheid South Africa. Bhajee’s concern is a stolen electricity meter, which cannot be replaced because a fictional Mr Ka Ching Ching is the registered owner; and Suhail Mangel, a victim of xenophobia, fears that his family has cursed him. Shaazia cannot conceive, and is offered the option of a surrogate in the form of a second wife. Then there is the woman in Covid-19 lockdown trying to fathom her broken marriage; a family fighting for inheritance in the face of religious law; and a cat who brings gifts to her depressed owner.
