Story Overview: “Feerni” (“Pudding”) by Awaz Sayeed

“Feerni” is a modernist, existential short story that explores themes of alienation, hunger—both physical and spiritual—and the absurdity of urban life. Set against the backdrop of a bustling city in Hyderabad, the narrative follows an unnamed protagonist as he wanders through the city, encountering a series of characters and situations that highlight his disconnection from society and his own desires.

The Banyan Tree and the Old Man

The story opens with a vivid description of an old man lying peacefully under a grand banyan tree, indifferent to the world’s chaos. He is a figure of mystery and reverence; passersby touch his feet as a sign of respect, and rumours abound that he neither eats nor speaks, existing in a state beyond worldly needs. This old man becomes a symbol of detachment and perhaps enlightenment—someone who has transcended the basic human cravings that torment others.

The Protagonist’s Wandering

The protagonist, in contrast, is restless and troubled. He moves through the city, haunted by his own hunger and desires. His encounters with a broker offering women, an old friend who boasts of sensual pleasures, and the lively, indifferent crowds underscore his sense of isolation. He is unable to find satisfaction, whether in food, drink, or human connection. Even a simple pleasure like eating “feerni” (a sweet pudding) becomes a distant, unattainable longing.

Urban Alienation and Desire

Throughout his journey, the protagonist is confronted by the superficiality and transactional nature of urban life. Relationships are reduced to exchanges, and desires are commodified. The story uses recurring motifs—licking the soles of girls, the scent of bodies, the taste of feerni—to blur the lines between physical hunger and deeper existential cravings.

The Ending: Sleep and Surrender

The story ends with the protagonist returning to his lonely room, overwhelmed by exhaustion and a sense of defeat. As he falls onto his bed, he imagines himself surrounded by falling banyan leaves and is visited by dreamlike sensations—ants crawling on his feet, a hippie girl licking him with love. This surreal conclusion suggests a surrender to his subconscious, where desires and reality intermingle, and where, perhaps, he finds a fleeting escape from the emptiness of his waking life.

Themes and Interpretation

• Alienation: The protagonist’s inability to connect meaningfully with others or satisfy his desires reflects a deep existential alienation.

• Desire and Hunger: The story uses hunger—literal and metaphorical—as a central motif, exploring the insatiable nature of human longing.

• Modern Urban Life: The city is depicted as a place of noise, speed, and disconnection, where people chase after fleeting pleasures but remain fundamentally alone.

• Transcendence vs. Indulgence: The old man under the banyan tree represents the possibility of transcending worldly desires, while the protagonist remains trapped in them.

“Feerni” is a poignant, symbolic meditation on the human condition, rendered in Awaz Sayeed’s characteristically vivid and ironic style. It leaves readers with a sense of melancholy and reflection on the nature of desire, fulfilment, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world.

Back to the Urdu story.