Faces in Clay A Six-Chapter Short Story by Amna Waseem

In the village of Chak Daulat, Punjab, pottery is tradition—passed down through generations like prayer beads. But Sunbal, the youngest in a long line of pot makers, doesn't just shape clay into bowls and urns. She sculpts faces—women's faces. Wrinkled, smiling, grieving, defiant. Each one tells a story no one else dared to speak aloud.

When she secretly submits her work to Clay & Co., a prestigious arts collective, a traveling blogger stumbles upon her studio and shares a photo online. Overnight, Sunbal becomes a local sensation. But fame isn't her goal. She opens her courtyard to the village's young girls, teaching them how to mold clay—and courage—with their own hands.

Across six intimate chapters, Faces in Clay traces Sunbal's journey from quiet craftswoman to cultural storyteller. It's a tale of artistic defiance, generational healing, and the power of hands that shape more than just clay—they shape futures.