Bakhtawar, a young woman, disguises herself as a man named Bakhtu to protect her honor and find a job in a patriarchal society. She faces challenges in finding employment, as most jobs are geared towards men, and she struggles to maintain her disguise. Meanwhile, her uncle is searching for her and her mother, and her landlord is becoming suspicious of their true identities. Bakhtu eventually finds a job at a café, where she meets a friendly regular customer, Mr. Malik, and a coworker, Fareed. As she navigates her new life, Bakhtu struggles with the moral implications of her disguise and the societal expectations placed upon her as a woman.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. A mother and daughter are living in a new house, and the daughter disguises herself as a boy named Bakhtu.
2. The mother is worried about their situation, but the daughter is determined to live a life as a boy.
3. Bakhtu applies for various jobs, but faces rejection because of her voice and mannerisms, which are perceived as feminine.
4. She eventually gets a job as a waiter at a café, where she meets a friendly customer named Sheeda.
5. The café owner, Mr. Malik, is a wealthy man who loves his country and its soil, but is also known for exposing secrets and looking for beautiful girls.
6. Bakhtu's mother is concerned about her daughter's dual personality and the difficulties she may face in the future.
7. A group of men are searching for the mother and daughter, and they are getting close to finding them.
8. Bakhtu's neighbor, Iqbal, is friendly and tries to get to know her, but she is hesitant to open up to him.
9. Bakhtu's employer, Mr. Malik, is impressed with her work and offers her a permanent job at the café.
10. The mother and daughter are from a conservative community, and they are trying to keep a low profile to avoid detection.
11. Bakhtu's disguise as a boy is not fooling everyone, and some people are starting to suspect that she is a girl.
12. The mother is worried about Bakhtu's safety and well-being, and is trying to convince her to give up her disguise and live a normal life as a girl.
13. Bakhtu is determined to continue living as a boy and is willing to take risks to achieve her goals.
14. The story takes place in a city, possibly in Pakistan, given the cultural references and language used.
15. The characters use Urdu phrases and expressions, which suggests that the story is set in a Pakistani or Indian context.