a reality and is a reality in some parts of the country even today.

This concern for the common man and his suffering runs through all the collections of short stories published by Abbas. The characters change with the locale but the issues continue to haunt the imagination of the author. In a story called “Thicker Than Water” published in his anthology The Gun and Other Stories (1985) Abbas depicts the plight of urban poor who are unable to find any employment. In their misery they resort to selling of blood- a problem which appears quite contemporary even in twenty first century. Of course, the menace of selling human organs has also added to the gravity of the situation. From the first collection of the stories to the lastAbbas shows a consistent growth in his concern towards the poor downtrodden people. He depicts his characters with utmost sincerity and compassion. He is conscious of the socio-political causes of poverty and does not regard their poverty as a ‘fit punishment for their vices.’ The poor are portrayed with respect and conviction

The question of dignity of women in the society is discussed very passionately these days. The instances of violence against women at work place, in public transport and at home have created a furor in public space lately. More often than not the victims of gender violence are common women, especially those who are forced to work out of their economic necessities. The stories of Abbas depict this pathetic state adequately. The protagonist women in his stories