In 1980, Faesal earns a living by teaching Hindi literature to college students. As his true interest was in Urdu poetry, he jumps at the chance to meet the great Urdu poet, Abdullah . Under the active of his friend Murat , an editor of a periodical devoted to Urdu literature, Faesal procures a second hand tape recorder so that he can help transcribe Urdu's early poetry, as well as conduct an interview or even write the memoirs of Abdullah . However ,things do not

happen as he expects them to.

Faesal's old friend Murat visits Faesal unexpectedly with an offer for him to interview a great a Urdu poet Abdullah Yusuf Ali who lives in Rawalpindi, Islamabad for his magazines. Faesal is fond of Urdu poetry. He accepts the offer. At first, he thinks that he is getting a chance to sit before a great Urdu poet but after reaching his house he notices the unbearable condition of Abdullah's house.

When he meets Abdullah, he refuses to give an interview by saying that Urdu is now at its last stage and soon this beautiful language will not exist. But he shows some trust in Faesal. But Faesal gets annoyed by the condition of Abdullah's house and drops the idea of interviewing Abdullah. Murat again convinces him to interview Abdullah with the help of tape recorder so that it can be further used for audio learning by Urdu scholars. Faesal ,who is a poor lecturer ,asks for money from the college for a tape recorder .He goes to a shop to buy, where the shopkeeper, Khan ,offers him a second hand tape recorder. At first Faesal refuses to purchase it but later Khan convinces him that it is a machine with good quality and his own nephew Irfan will help them to operate it while recording the interview . Unwillingly, Faesal agrees to purchase it. Abdullah's first wife promises Faesal that she can arrange a room for Faesal if he gave her some money. Faesal arranged the money for the payment to her by the college authority with the help of his colleague-***-friend Shoaib . He then goes to Islamabad with Irfan for recording, but he fails to record the interview. Now, he not only has no recording but also has to bear the expenses like payment demanded by poet, his wife, nephews of Khan , et cetera.

Shah Faesal- a hindi professor in Lahore (in Govt. Islamia Degree College, Allama Iqbal Town, Lahore),who is tired of his mundane life. He loves Urdu and is a hero-workshiper to Abdullah, a famous Urdu poet. He also gets the opportunity to meet Abdullah . He is very naive and seems to live in a world of his own, full of innocence and childhood dreams which gets him in a vulnerable zone. Too simple thus usually manipulated.

Abdullah Yusuf Al- a famous Urdu poet who laments the loss of a beautiful language (Urdu), and thereby a culture. He is a man of age and experience. He lives in misery and confusion as both his wives are constantly involved in a rivalry.

Murut- a cold and calculating friend of Faesal who owns a publishing house in Islamabad(editor of Nawaiwaqt). He exploits Faesal and deceives him throughout the story . He is a bully and is very selfish but a rich kid (of sorts) which gives him an upper hand against Faesal, the son of an impoverished widow.

Shoaib- Faesal's fellow lecturer of urdu, is a figure of the language and culture for which he stands.

Shaziya- Abdullah's second wife . she is a jealous and calculating women who is trying to steal the limelight off Abdullah . She is hungry for fame and wealth. Also a representative of feminism.

Ramesha- Faesal's wife, she seems to be controlling Faesal. She has some ( smallish) dreams of refrigerators and household help thereby her martial life is not a happy one.