The book ‘Society Girl: A Tale of Sex, Lies, and Scandal’ is a true account of what happened to Mustafa Zaidi and Shahnaz Gul. In October 1970, phones began ringing all over Karachi. Mustafa Zaidi, a young poet and civil servant, was found dead in his bedroom. He wasn’t alone. Shahnaz Gul, a beautiful and married socialite with whom Zaidi was allegedly having an affair, was found lying next to her in a state of unconsciousness.
No one knew what really happened. Who was responsible for Zaidi’s death? Shahnaz Gul was arrested and considered a suspect. She was defamed and her reputation tarnished. Newspapers printed her explicit pictures, making her life miserable. As she was finally acquitted of the murder charges, she left with a high head, but the damage done to her character was irrevocable. Everywhere she would go, people would eye her with disgust and gossip behind her back.
Despite two autopsies, several investigations, and one trial later, no one could really tell what had happened in that room and how Zaidi ended up dead. Fifty-four years later, journalists Saba Imtiaz and Tooba Masood resurrect the case.
Society Girl is not just a compelling crime narrative, but a high-society opera that peeks inside the shallowness of elite society. The life of the elite is no secret! Men and women dance in nightclubs and drink alcohol. The nightlife of Karachi is mesmerising and sinful!
Society Girl is not just an enthralling account of a cold case, but it also sheds light on the truth about the media. Hot news sells. The sensation created by titillating gossip makes good headlines. The public is interested in spicy news, and the media capitalizes on it.
The thematic concern of the novel revolves around immorality and vice. Entwined with the narratives of Shahnaz Gul and Mustafa Zaiddi is the political upheaval Pakistan is currently experiencing. The 1971 debacle, when East Pakistan was separated from West Pakistan and the state of Bangladesh was created.
The book delves deep into the Pakistani society, patriarchy, and double standards. The power dynamics between men and women are at play. How a man would have had to indulge in an affair can be celebrated, whilst a woman bears the onus of responsibility. A woman’s sin becomes larger than life, while the man is not even punished, let alone held responsible for the crime he has committed.
The title is apt. Who is a society girl? A “society girl” is generally a woman who is part of high society, enjoying a wealthy social life at exclusive events, such as charity balls and galas. To sum up, “the story of Mustafa Zaidi’s death had everything that could sell newspapers: adultery, morality, sex, and suicide. It was salacious.”
Revealing the scandalous saga that readers cannot look away from, the novel grips the reader, who is embroiled in confusion over whether this is truly reality. The story seems unbelievable. Is this fiction or the harsh reality of society? Did Mustafa Zaidi commit suicide, or was it cold-blooded murder? The novel tries to unravel the mystery but reaches no definite conclusion. The book is something everyone wants to read. It interests the reader because of the juicy news it provides. Overall, the book is a worthwhile read. It revisits the past in an attempt to ensure justice. But does justice really take its course?
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