(1947) published in the year of transfer of power dubbed as the freedom, depicts the prime concern of the country at that time i.e. the question of poverty and hunger. Rice is the main meal of about one third of the population of this country. Abbas never minces his words to draw a realistic picture of the plight of the people. The world wars and the economic depression had brought in the Ration Control System and the people had to stand in que for hours waiting for their turn in front of Fair Price Shop. Abbas describes the plight of the people in a very convincing style:

Twisting like a serpent, creeping at a snail’s pace, buzzing like a swarm of bees, two

Long ques- one of men and theof stories called Cages of Freedom and Other Stories (1952) also the same question of poverty and starvation finds expression. The story ‘Flag’ narrates the story of a poor labourer Ramoo rendered jobless for quite some time. He doesn’t have anything to eat or to feed his daughter and wife. It is the day of freedom. He comes to know that some generous patriot is distributing Puris and Laddoos. He goes there and gets his share. He then asks for the share of his daughter and wife. But he is rebuked and insulted. The distributors ask him why his wife and daughter themselves come and take their share. Ramoo is too shy and humble to say that they have only one cloth to cover their bodies and when