Story Overview:

“Coma” unfolds in the shadowy liminal space between life and death, consciousness and unconsciousness. The narrative centres around an unnamed protagonist who visits a hospital where a man—possibly a close friend or relative—lies in a coma, suspended between existence and oblivion. The story weaves through the protagonist’s internal monologue, memories, and existential reflections as he grapples with the meaning of life, death, and the burdens of the past.

The hospital, with its stark corridors and the ever-present tension between hope and despair, becomes a metaphorical landscape. The protagonist is haunted by memories of happier times, conversations with a woman (possibly the comatose man’s wife), and the warmth of human connection that now feels distant and irretrievable. He recalls moments of laughter, love, and the mundane joys of life, all now overshadowed by the impending finality of death.

As he navigates the hospital and his own thoughts, the protagonist is repeatedly confronted with the idea of masks and veils—literal and figurative. He observes that others around him wear veils, hiding their true selves, while he alone is unmasked, exposed to the agony of existence. The story culminates in a sense of collective burden: everyone carries the weight of their deeds, their regrets, and their unspoken sorrows, as they walk the metaphorical “Pulsirat”—the bridge between life and the hereafter in Islamic eschatology.

Theme

The central theme of “Coma” is existential alienation—the profound sense of loneliness and disconnection that arises in the face of mortality. The story explores:

• The thin line between life and death: The hospital, the comatose patient, and the references to the “Pulsirat” all underscore the fragility of existence.

• The burden of memory and regret: The protagonist is weighed down not only by his own actions but by the memories and lives of others, blurring the boundaries between self and other.

• The masks we wear: The recurring motif of masks and veils symbolises how people hide their true selves, even from themselves, as a defence against pain and existential dread.

• The search for meaning: Amidst grief and confusion, the protagonist seeks answers to unanswerable questions, ultimately suggesting that some questions are more important than their answers.

Symbolism

• Coma: Represents not just a medical state but a metaphorical suspension—an inability to engage with life, to communicate, or to resolve unfinished business. It is a state of liminality, both for the patient and those around him.

• Night and Morning: The night symbolises comfort in darkness and ignorance, while the morning brings harsh reality and exposure.

• Locked House and Lost Keys: Symbolise the inaccessibility of the past, the loss of connection, and the irreversible passage of time.

• Masks/Veils: Stand for the emotional and psychological barriers people erect to protect themselves from pain, shame, or the gaze of others.

• Pulsirat: The bridge between life and death in Islamic tradition, which becomes a metaphor for the existential journey, the trials of conscience, and the reckoning with one’s deeds.

Conclusion

“Coma” is a poignant meditation on mortality, memory, and the human condition. Through its evocative imagery and introspective narrative, it invites readers to reflect on the veils we wear, the burdens we carry, and the fragile boundaries between presence and absence, life and death. The story’s power lies in its ability to universalise personal grief, making it a mirror for the reader’s own existential anxieties and hopes.

Back to the Urdu story.