Kapil relates the passing down of trauma to water in a glass. I imagine this glass to be filled to the brim; it is something that is fragile and can easily be spilled. This is a powerful metaphor for trauma. Trauma is something that, when triggered, can lead to an overflow of negative emotions, much like the breaking of a glass and the spilling of its contents. Kapil mentions this idea, stating that if the glass breaks and the water spills, the person holding this glass will be “punished.” This is to say that the person will become overcome by said trauma and not be able to function as they did before. Also, I think it’s important to note Kapil’s use of repetition. There are four lines in which the first word in each line starts with the letter “Y.” This caught my attention added literary weight to Kapil’s description of being house ridden due to trauma.

Manto’s description of Sirajuddin’s daughter in this section of the story flips the tone of a seemingly happy ending on its head. As readers, we should be elated; the one problem Sirajuddin has been overcome with is finally resolved. Sakina has been found safe and well, at least, that’s how it appears. Upon first reading the ending, I was met with the same joy as Sirajuddin. However, after digesting the story I find that certain words and phrases Manto uses to describe the state of Sakina seem to bring a darker connotation to the ending of the story. “Painful slowness” is used to describe Sakina’s movements. It is not wrong to assume that something sinister happened to Sakina when she was “rescued” by the men who found her on the side of the road. Through the description of her encounter, it is clear that she was uncomfortable. Sakina is immediately described as “pretty” and, once she joins the men, she attempts to cover herself. “Nervous” and “ill-at-ease” are also used in this section, clear indicators of discomfort. Due to context clues and Sakina’s obvious physical collapse since her rescue, it is clear that she was abused or sexually assaulted in some way. It’s interesting to see how the elation Sirajuddin feels once he sees his daughter creates a mask of oblivion that shields his judgment. Sirajuddin is not able to see how Sakina is both emotionally and physically affected by her encounter with the men who found her. Even the doctor appears concerned. Manto states, “the doctor broke into a cold sweat,” perhaps revealing some sort of physical injury when Sakina parts her legs. Overall, it makes sense that Sirajuddin is happy to see Sakina alive, but the emotional baggage that Sakina must work through as a result of her assault forces a sense of despair upon the reader when the pieces are put together.