The opening story of Zakiya Mashhadi’s latest publication Diya Baati ki Bela, a collection of short Urdu stories, is a must-read to comprehend and diagnose the current problems of Hindu-Muslim fratricide and the divisiveness that is largely politically manufactured and exacerbated. The almost 50-page long short story might help in finding workable solutions to the problems faced by the two communities in present times. My wife insisted that I read the story, leaving aside any other important assignments that I might be preoccupied with. Having read it, I realised that a Nagri rendition of the story is urgently needed.