It’s a book in simple English, well narrated by the author through a young- Muslim-girl. Yes, these are the three words the author wanted us to focus upon.
He starts with the day to day stories of Hasina Mansoor at the airport and her vending machine which follows her order and fills a cup with tea when red button is pushed. And it ends up with diary entries by her.
Unlike other girls, Hasina Mansoor, the vending machine operator at the international airport departure lounge was determined, ambitious, confident and self dependent. A girl generally finds difficult to maintain even herself but Hasina also looks after her family. She even thinks of the whole Muslim community. She hates Juice and America because they hate muslim. She supports Saddam. So, before you start reading better know about Saddam, America and Israel and while you read decide you are from which side America or Hasina Mansoor. In Hasina’s words, “You know why the Americans showed the hanging on television? They were simply revenging; it was their yelling at all Muslims in the world: You watched the collapse of our nice little trading centre. Now you watch the death of your hero. Bloody Muslims. I hated America….”
She is not communal because she cried at Natasha’s death. This is what made me fall for Hasina.
All the characters Hasina is related to in the novel look like to be from your neighbour. Haji Osman, Eza, Subair uncle, Shamla!
And narration is so simple and lively that you may confuse author as female what actually I did. I thought Anees Salim was good name of Hasina. All the expressions described in the novel are keen and lively.
Besides, the novel is full of antics. At every point, you will find Hasina’s activities surreptitious. Even at the end, she acts in a surreptitious way to her family. Oh, I forgot to tell you her love story. She loves from heart and when I reached middle of the novel I found myself envious of Eza but soon I remembered neither I am Muslim nor anyway related to Natasha.
At the end, author compels you to think of all the characters, not only Hasina Mansoor. All of them leave impressions in your mind but Hasina in your heart. Really it’s a darkly humorous and touching story. Love you Hasina. But I am Hindu…..
(review as published in the bilingual magazine SAAF KOTHA( the STAIGHT VIEW), January 2014 edition. Visit www.saafkotha.in)
You can buy it at huge discount from: http://www.madbooks.com/english-14/tales-from-a-vending-machine-22363
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