Story Overview:

“Andha Kunwan” (“Dry Well”) is a haunting psychological narrative that delves into the inner world of an old man abandoned by his children and isolated from society. The story opens with the protagonist feeling engulfed by creeping shadows in his home, despite all the lights being on. The house itself is likened to a “dry well”—once brimming with life and now empty, echoing with loneliness.

The protagonist’s sense of alienation is profound. He has no friends, no sympathisers, and even his own children have left him in pursuit of their own futures, leaving him emotionally and physically alone. The recurring imagery of ravens—one found dead in his courtyard, others shrieking on the walls—serves as a disturbing backdrop to his solitude. The crows’ noise is overwhelming, symbolising the relentless, inescapable presence of despair and death.

As the story progresses, the protagonist experiences a series of surreal, dreamlike encounters. He imagines someone at his door, hears voices calling him, and converses with a mysterious presence—perhaps a projection of his own fractured psyche. These dialogues probe the meaning of existence, denial, and truth, blurring the lines between reality and delusion.

The narrative is cyclical and claustrophobic: the protagonist is trapped in his house, in his memories, and in his own mind. The story ends with the cacophony of ravens, as if the fragments of his existence are being carried away, leaving only emptiness behind.

Theme:

1. Isolation and Abandonment

The central theme is the devastating impact of loneliness and abandonment. The “dry well” is both a literal and metaphorical space: once a source of life (water, family, warmth), it is now empty, echoing the protagonist’s emotional barrenness. The story critiques the selfishness of modern life, where even familial bonds are severed in the pursuit of individual gain.

2. Existential Despair

The protagonist’s internal monologue is riddled with existential questions—about the meaning of life, the nature of truth, and the inevitability of death. The dialogue with the mysterious presence explores the futility of seeking answers in a world devoid of connection and support.

3. Search for Meaning

Despite his despair, the protagonist yearns for some form of connection, some “link” or “destination” that gives meaning to his suffering. The story suggests that wandering, questioning, and even suffering are part of the search for self-realisation, though the answers remain elusive.

Symbolism:

1. The Dry Well

The dry well is the central symbol of the story. Traditionally, a well is a source of water—life, sustenance, and hope. Here, its dryness represents the protagonist’s spiritual and emotional desolation. The house, once vibrant, is now a tomb, a place of suffocation and decay.

2. Ravens and Crows

The recurring presence of dead and shrieking ravens/crows symbolises death, doom, and the protagonist’s inescapable despair. In many cultures, ravens are omens of death or messengers from the other world. Their carrying away of the dead raven, and finally the “pieces” of the protagonist’s existence, suggest the dissolution of self and the finality of isolation.

3. Curtains and Veils

The imagery of “tattered, wounded curtains” and “veils” alludes to the barriers between the protagonist and the world, as well as the layers of denial and truth within himself. The story repeatedly questions what lies behind these veils—reality, or just more illusion?

Conclusion:

“Andha Kunwan” (“Dry Well”) is a powerful meditation on loneliness, existential anxiety, and the search for meaning in a world that has turned its back on the individual. Through evocative symbolism and a stream-of-consciousness narrative, the story immerses the reader in the protagonist’s psychological torment, making the “dry well” a universal metaphor for spiritual emptiness and the human condition.

In summary:

The story uses the dry well, ravens, and veils as rich symbols to explore themes of abandonment, existential despair, and the elusive quest for meaning, leaving a lasting impression of the tragic consequences of isolation and the universal need for connection.

Back to the Urdu story.