ASSIGNMENT

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION-2
LOVE ACROSS THE SALT DESERT

Q1. Is the title justified? Discuss with reference to the story.

Ans: The story “Love Across the Salt Desert” by Keki N Daruwalla depicts a love affair of
two true and sincere lovers namely Najab and Fatimah. There are many characters in the story
but Najab has got a pivotal position.This specific story I am discussing is set in an Indian town at
the outskirts of India and Pakistan in the Salty Deserts of the Rann of the Kutch (somewhere in
Gujarat or Rajasthan).The village is completely parched and dry and it has not rained there for
three successive years.Many villagers earn their livelihood by smuggling goods across the border
braving the BSF(Border Security Force) , Pakistan Army and bringing back goods from Pakistan
as exchange. Najab and his father Aftab too smuggle stuff into Pakistan and bring back spices
from a Pakistan Village. In the early part of story, Najab is a very shy, introvert and reserved
boy. He was known to have blushed at the mere mention of a girl. He had dreamy eyes. None of
his friends had ranked him among the braves. Even his father Aftab feared the boy would waste
away all what he had and his ancestors had acquired. He considered him too shy to be able to
charge money what would he sell.
But all these predictions proved wrong in the later part of the story. Najab turned to be
courageous, brave and determined son after his first meet with Fatimah who ignited a spark of
love in him. On one visit. to Pakistan, The Hero meets the Spice Seller’s daughter. “Eyes Meet,
Love at First Sight” – The Eyes do all the talking and it is understood that the Hero will come,
“aur Dulhania Le Jayega”. The Hero returns home with his father then informs his mother of his
love and that he will be going to bring home his bride. As do standard Indian Movie mothers she
wants her son to be happy, but his concerned of his safety and finally she courageously sends off
her son with some food and jewels. He undertook a dangerous journey, crossed the border and
met his love. He did not care for bullets and difficulties. He faced all the hardships, he met
during trip with a smiling face. He was true, sincere and faithful in his love. He had understood
what love really means. He felt his love and saw the image of Fatimah in every object he
touched, imagined and articulated. Najab braves the border forces in style . The Spice Seller is
hesitant but he sees the love in their eyes and does not stand in between their love.
Q2 Give a character sketch of Najab Hussain.60-70 words
Ans:Najab Hussain was a shy boy of 20 years of age. He was a romantic boy and fell in love
with Fatima, who was a Pakistani girl. He was quite reserved and would not go out the
way to do something. Najab was also involved in smuggling. However, when he fell in
love with Fatima, he bravely crossed the boundary of India and Pakistan, for the sake of
his true love for Fatima.

Q3. Summary of the story

Ans: In the beginning when the Ran had been described, there was drought for two years.
There was no hope for life. In the mean time a girl named Fatimah came She proved fortunate
for the village. The day she arrived, it rained and the drought ended. She was daughter of spice
seller and she was so beautiful. Her father name was kaley Shah. The chief character of the story,
Najab Once he visited across the salt desert with his father Aftab and he fell in love with Fatimah
at first sight.
Whenever Najab and his father crossed ran earlier each time they taken tendu leaf with them and
purched spices from there. When they met each other’s, Fatimah also got attracted towards him.
But she was engaged to someone in the village.
When Najab saw her, he started to love her. That 'why Najab decided to cross the border in
daylight by the help of Allaharakha which was camel while none dared do so. It was very hot.
While crossing the border, he knew the track, he had to take. Najab crossed the international
boundary pillar number 1066. By crossing the two posts of the Indus rangers.
But he strayed/walked slightly and from their watch tower, the rangers saw through their
binoculars this sleek camel, they could not stand for an Indian slipping into their territory/area
with tendu leaf right under their noses without paying any bride They chased him firing a mile-
long distance, The spent bullets were flopped in the sand behind him. It caused dust to rise.
document.write
This dust rose between him and the rangers. But he could escape successfully, He faced many
problems, he was injured but finally he reached in front of Fatima house. He stayed the night in
the cattle shed. Early in the morning, he showed the gold bracelet to Kaley Shah and told him
about purchasing claves Fatimah said him about Mahfuz Ali, her mother relatives and her
parents wanted to marry her with him .
He was stammers, At night Najab eloped/ran away with his beloved Fatimah and crossed the
international border. In crossing the border his camel, Allaharakha helped him. Although she was
leaving her village she was happy because she was with her love and she didn't want to marry
with Mahfuz Ali Najab’s father was too much worried for Najab. On hearing the knock at the
door he opened the door, three times but it was due to wind. And finally they reached their
village after a long and dangerous journey. And rain stormed down and swept away three years
of drought.
Submitted by:
Ravinder Gupta(19BCOM34)