Supriya's Banter
Eye on the Prize
Author: Safinah Danish Elahi
Publisher: Liberty Publishing; 1st edition (10 March 2021)
Language: English
Paperback: 157 pages
The book is set in the elite circles of Karachi, with the story unfolding amid manicured homes and top-tier private schools.
Most of the action revolves around Karachi International School—a battleground for the city’s upper-crust kids. Their world orbits around Track Day, a prestigious sports event that could launch them into national fame.
The countdown to the sports day soon turns into a high-stakes drama. Parents, especially three mothers—Shezray, Minahil, and Hina— are pushed into the spotlight as their children compete for to places.
It’s less about children’s growth and more about the mothers’ battles for status. As the big day nears, cracks appear in the family: hidden marriages, leaked secrets, and emotional fallout. The story peels back the glitz to reveal how ambition and pride yoke people.
Shezray, an influential businesswoman, runs a textile empire and a strict household. On the surface, she’s in control—inside, she’s unravelling. And that becomes even more apparent as her marriage crumbles. Minahil is pretty, clever, and well-settled. However, a secret from the past threatens to dismantle everything she cherishes. Hina is first projected as a social climber. However, other aspects of her personality are revealed as the plot unfolds.
Their kids—Natalia-Sophia, Amaan, and Zara—are portrayed as living life under constant scrutiny yet emotional starvation. Their pressure-cooked lives expose the emotional toll beneath. Elahi captures the moments when kids just want to breathe, versus perform.
Elahi takes heavy themes like toxic parenting, social class, and identity, but delivers them through tight scenes, realistic dialogue, and emotional insight.
But the book is not without its flaws.
The ending is rushed, and most of the characters don’t receive closure. Many loose threads are left hanging, which fail to bring satisfaction as you turn the final page. At times, the social commentary overshadows the narrative momentum, as too many themes compete for attention.
Eyes on the Prize is an insightful exploration of high-pressure parenting, elite ambitions, and the emotional costs borne by both children and their parents. It’s a vibrant snapshot of Karachi’s upper-tier culture—observed with clarity and critical empathy. While it stumbles in pacing and depth of resolution, it’s a strong debut.
Recommended for readers who like character-driven social dramas. Or if you want to steal a peek into real-life elite circles.
