Humsafar (novel)

Humsafar

First Edition Cover
Author	Farhat Ishtiaq
Original title	Urdu: هم سفر‎
Country	Pakistan
Language	Urdu
Genre	Drama, Romance
Publisher	Ilm-o-Irfan Publishers
Publication date	2008
Media type	Paperback

Humsafar (Urdu: هم سفر‎) is a romantic novel written by Farhat Ishtiaq. The novel was first published in 7 parts in Khawateen Digest monthly from July 2007 to January 2008. It was later published as a complete novel by Ilm-o-Irfan Publishers. The story revolves around Ashar and Khirad's relationship with their daughter, Hareem, and how she unknowingly bridges the distances that exist between her parents. The novel is written in a retrospective manner and told mostly in flashbacks. The first half of the novel is based on mostly Ashar’s reflections and his point of view while the second part of the novel is told mainly from Khirad’s point of view.

The story has been adapted into a drama serial (Humsafar), produced by Momina Duraid and directed by Sarmad Sultan Khoosat. The drama aired on Hum TV from September 2011 to February 2012. Following the production of the serial a new edition of the book was published.

The novel begins with the arrival of a bitter and angry Khirad Hussain at Ashar Hussain’s office. Khirad informs Ashar that her daughter Hareem is a patient of congenital heart disease and requires immediate open heart surgery. As Ashar is Hareem’s biological father and a rich businessman, it is Hareem’s legal right that he provides her with the care and money she needs, since she is unable to afford Hareem’s medical treatment (Khirad lives in relative poverty but still provides the best she can for her daughter, however her surgery is so expensive that it is out of her reach). Furthermore, Khirad also threatens Ashar that she could easily get a DNA test ordered from a court. Khirad leaves with Ashar all the legal documents (including her current address and phone number) on his desk. Her presence leaves Ashar in a daze, anger and complete shock, and he is so taken aback to see her standing in front of him that he does not realizes the weight of all the things she said and left with him. He leaves his office without touching or even looking at all the files and the picture of his daughter.