In the hazy twilight of memory and imagination, where whispers of forgotten tales mingle with the scent of old books and lingering incense, there exists a mansion by the Durban coast—a mansion that breathes with the weight of history and the echo of lost souls. This is Akbar Manzil, the heart and soul of Shubnum Khan’s enchanting debut novel, The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years.
A Dance of Shadows and Light
From the very first page, Khan’s prose ensnares the senses like the scent of jasmine on a warm summer night, drawing readers into a world where the past and present converge in a delicate dance of shadows and light. The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years unfolds with a lyrical cadence, weaving together strands of love, loss, and redemption against the backdrop of a mansion that stands as both witness and participant in the unfolding drama of human existence.
Akbar Manzil – A Character in Itself
“She is going Home. It is not really home, but her father says it is because he believes it. He says Home can be many places, even places you haven’t been before.’
Akbar Manzil emerges as a character in its own right, its faded grandeur and crumbling facades concealing a labyrinth of secrets and sorrows. Once a palace of wonders, where Palladian windows framed sweeping vistas of the Indian Ocean and Romanesque towers reached towards a cerulean sky, Akbar Manzil now stands as a testament to the passage of time and the ghosts that linger within its walls.
Khan’s evocative descriptions breathe life into Akbar Manzil, painting vivid portraits of its dilapidated corridors and overgrown gardens, where tendrils of ivy embrace weathered stone and forgotten whispers echo through empty halls. The mansion becomes a metaphor for the human condition itself—fractured yet resilient, haunted by memories yet hopeful for redemption.
Sana – A Journey of Discovery
At the heart of this tale is Sana, a young girl whose world is cloaked in shadows following her mother’s death. Sana’s journey through Akbar Manzil becomes a metaphorical odyssey—an exploration of grief, identity, and the transformative power of storytelling. Through Sana’s eyes, readers are invited to navigate the labyrinthine corridors of Akbar Manzil and uncover its hidden truths.
“But the girl has something the others do not: a questionable amount of soul.
And a questionable amount of soul is a dangerous things. It makes people unpredictable, it can send them out in the darkness to seek things that others would never dare. It can keep the flame burning, long after it was supposed to go out.”
Sana’s introspective nature and keen observations lend a poignant depth to the narrative, as she grapples with the weight of her own sorrow while unraveling the mysteries that shroud Akbar Manzil in a veil of secrets. Khan portrays Sana with a delicate touch, capturing the nuances of adolescence with empathy and insight. As Sana delves deeper into the mansion’s history, she discovers echoes of her own grief mirrored in the lives of those who came before—a revelation that transforms her journey from one of personal loss to a quest for understanding and healing.
Jahanara and Akbar Ali Khan – A Tapestry of Love and Tragedy
Interwoven with Sana’s contemporary exploration are the lives of Jahanara and Akbar Ali Khan, whose ill-fated romance unfolds against the backdrop of 1930s South Africa. Khan paints their story with hues of passion and betrayal, capturing the tumultuous dance between tradition and modernity that defines their existence within Akbar Manzil’s gilded halls.
Jahanara, with her yearning for acceptance and her struggle to reconcile cultural identity with personal autonomy, emerges as a figure of poignant grace amidst a world fraught with expectations. Her evolution—from a naive bride swept into a world of opulence to a woman grappling with the consequences of her husband’s ambitions—resonates with a timeless relevance that transcends the confines of historical fiction.
Akbar Ali Khan, in contrast, embodies the complexities of ambition and desire, his relentless pursuit of wealth and status serving as both a catalyst for success and a harbinger of tragedy. Khan’s portrayal of Akbar Ali Khan is imbued with a profound sense of inevitability—a reminder that the choices we make in pursuit of our dreams can have far-reaching consequences that echo across generations.
The Djinn – Guardian of Memories and Sorrows
Central to Akbar Manzil’s mystique is the djinn—a spectral guardian tethered to the mansion’s fractured history, whose presence is a testament to the unresolved traumas that linger within its walls. Khan imbues the djinn with an ethereal quality, its whispered lamentations echo through the corridors of time like a haunting melody.
“It walked to many places in the world and swam through many seas. It moved among men and watched how they lived and how they fought. Men were the same everywhere—power-hungry creatures always engaged in wars. They smelled bad and were selfish and told lies, especially to themselves.”
Through the djinn’s perspective, readers gain a deeper understanding of Akbar Manzil’s spectral inhabitants—their joys, their sorrows, and the lingering echoes of a past that refuses to be forgotten. The djinn serves not merely as a spectral entity, but as a custodian of memories and sorrows—a silent witness to the human condition and the enduring power of collective memory.
Themes of Love, Loss, and Redemption
The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years is a narrative tapestry woven with threads of love, loss, and the redemptive power of storytelling. Khan’s prose is infused with a poetic sensibility, evoking emotions that resonate with a haunting beauty akin to the strains of a melancholy melody.
The novel’s exploration of familial bonds and generational legacies is rendered with a lyrical grace that invites readers to contemplate the ways in which our past shapes our present and future. Khan’s narrative craftsmanship is evident in her ability to craft narratives that transcend cultural and temporal boundaries, inviting readers to navigate the labyrinthine corridors of Akbar Manzil alongside its spectral inhabitants.
Narrative Technique and Reflections
Khan’s narrative technique blends first-person intimacy with third-person omniscience, creating a tapestry of perspectives that enriches the novel’s thematic depth.
As I reflect on my reading journey, I am struck by its ability to evoke a range of emotions—from sorrow and longing to hope and redemption. Khan’s narrative unfolds with a lyrical grace, inviting readers to delve into the labyrinthine corridors of Akbar Manzil and uncover its hidden truths. Through Sana’s introspective lens, I discovered a profound connection to the novel’s characters—a testament to Khan’s ability to craft narratives that resonate on a deeply personal level.
A Tapestry of Enchantment and Empathy
For anyone captivated by stories of resilience and redemption, The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years is a literary gem not to be missed. Khan’s lyrical exploration of love, loss, and the spectral echoes of history invites readers on a journey through time and emotion—a journey that resonates with a haunting beauty that lingers far beyond the final chapter.
As I bid farewell to Akbar Manzil and its spectral inhabitants, I carry with me the enduring lesson that the past, with all its sorrows and joys, has the power to shape our present and illuminate the path toward healing and redemption.
K's Train of Thoughts 