A Spoiled Man
By Daniyal Mueenuddin, first published in The New Yorker
A destitute Pakistani man asks to work for a wealthy family in modern-day Pakistan. When he loses something that he values most, the man finally learns the brutal reality of his position in society.
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Plot Summary
In modern-day Pakistan, Rezak is a poor man whose only possession is a portable hut. He was originally from a mountain village before Rezak's brother cheated him out of his money and property. Rezak asks to work for a wealthy family known as the Harouni family in the city. Sonya, an American woman who married the son of the Harouni family, gives him the job of tending the fields. The family, especially Sonya, are fascinated by Rezak and how he remains happy with the items in his hut. Rezak believes he has made it in life as he has a job, money and can live on the property for free. When a man from his former village visits him, Rezak boasts about his achievements, hoping the man will send the news to his family. Amazed by his accomplishments, the man offers Rezak his cousin's daughter for marriage. Rezak agrees to this union. At first, Rezak and the girl's relationship is difficult as the girl is skittish, and there is a considerable age difference. Eventually, the girl gets used to Rezak's presence. Rezak believes that he has finally made it in life until he returns to the hut and finds the girl missing one day. Believing that the girl was kidnapped, he tells the Harouni family what happened to his wife, and the Harouni family calls the police. However, the police accuse Rezak of pimping his wife to a brothel and send him to the police department to try to force a confession through torture. Rezak refuses to lie, and the police send him back to the Harouni household. The police tell Rezak that they will never find the girl and that he must not speak about what happened at the police department. This mistreatment causes Rezak to finally realize that he has no possessions in society and he falls into a deep depression. The Harouni family lets him live on their property, but Rezak's sadness does not disappear. He dies alone and is buried, per his wishes, in the same field where he worked for the Harouni family.