In this story by Ismat Chughtai, a mother leaves her young daughter in the care of her adopted sister. The sister’s husband spends his time entertaining young, fair and slim-waisted boys, while she spends her day being “attended to” by a personal servant/masseuse who also shares her bed. The girl, who sleeps in the same room, is frightened by what seemingly goes on under her aunt’s quilt. Disturbingly, when her aunt’s servant is away for a few days, she tries to groom the girl for the role. Themes include patriarchy, sexuality, female desire and fulfilment, child grooming and sexual abuse.
Published in 1942 in pre-independence India, it is not surprising that the story attracted obscenity charges from the colonial authorities alongside Saadat Manto’s story “Bu”. What is surprising, given the era and trial location (Lahore), is that both sets of charges were dismissed.
The Quilt Text / PDF (3,600 words)