The Taliban Cricket Club - Timeri N.Murari

I saw this book two times at Books Kinokuniya, wondered what would be the story. Two months latter i bought this book in a book sale.My first thought after i finished reading was that 'this story sounds cinematic'. Yes, i think the escape and the ending were absolutely cinematic , nevertheless enjoyable. And the author makes the reader to rejoice with the characters, that was the success of this book.

The protagonist of this story is Rukhsana an aspiring journalist in Afghanistan whose life took a abrupt turn after Taliban captured the country. One day Rukhsana along with some other journalists were summoned to the  'Ministry for the Propagation and Prevention of Vice'. Rukhsana was scared to death but unexpectedly the minister Zorak Wahidi talked about organizing  cricket tournament , winning team will be going to Pakistan for further training. On the other hand , through previous experience , minister knew Rukhsana and now want to marry her.
Education:
Rukhsana was sent to Delhi for her higher studies. In Delhi, he learnt cricket properly and played for the team. She loved cricket the moment she started playing. Her love of game was very much visible when she trained her cousin for the tournament. Rukhasana was survived by her mother and younger brother Jahan.

The Team
 Rukhsana and Jahan convinced their cousins to join the team which will give them the chance to go out of the country. But the problem was that none of them ever played the game. Rukhsana was the only one who knew and played it before. So she needed to teach them how to play. But Talibans did not allow women's to go out without covering head to toe and without mahram. Accidently Rukhsana dressed like a man and she remained like that to teach them the game. Rukhsana became Babur .The team was named "The Taliban Cricket Club".

The Love and the Escape :

Love Poem by Dari Rabi'a Balkhi

I am caught in Love;s web so deceitful

None of my endeavours turn fruitful.

I knew not when I rode the high-blooded steed

The harder I pulled its reins the less it would heed.

Love is an ocean with such a vast space

No wise man can swim it in any place.

A true lover should be faithful till the end

And face life's reprobated trend.

When you see things hideous, fancy them neat,

Eat poison, but taste sugar sweet.

Rukhsana thought of the above poem when she woke up thinking about her marriage with Wahidi. I love that poem. They escape was cinematic. Nevertheless, as i was reading i wanted all of them to escape. So i was happy about the end. I expected author will take an adventurous route for escape like van drive along the border.Never mind.Shaheen who was Rukhsana's  'unofficial' fiancee betrayed her. Rukshana for the sake of her family honor agreed to marry him , though she was in love with Veer, an Indian wildlife photographer.

"Conscience controls our impulses to do harm. Our religions are meant to instruct us in what is right and what is wrong, but they can be misinterpreted, words twisted in their meanings, by those who wish to justify their killings in the name of their religion and in the name of God. Conscience does and must exist among us , as otherwise the whole world would go up in flames."

The author beautifully brings the life of women under Taliban rule. So many women characters popup each with her own horror story. Each of them respects their family honor and at the same time they want to have their freedom back. Most of the male characters are dominant and staunch supporters of family traditions which always collides with women's freedom.

"Cricket is drama, it is theater, it is the conflict between one man and eleven others, and that one has to defeat the enemy surrounding him on the field. It is about the two warriors battling it out between themselves"

This is a strange and amazing story with wonderful characters. Read and go for a emotional roller coaster ride.

Author's official site