Soda / سودا by Sumaira Hameed

“Soda” by Sumaira Hameed is a dark, thought-provoking Urdu novel about greed, morality, and the price of human desire. It follows Noori and Javed, a poor couple who move to Lahore seeking a better life. As their financial situation improves, their greed grows, leading them to make a shocking deal — selling their unborn child to a wealthy man, Rasheed Chand, for money. This “soda” (deal) destroys their peace and humanity. The story exposes how material ambition can corrupt love, values, and conscience, leaving the characters haunted by guilt and regret. A powerful reflection on moral decay in modern society.