The Urdu short story, or "afsaana" is one of the most significant literary subgenres in Urdu literature even though it is a relatively recent literary form. It is a product of the modern industrial and mechanized era, influenced not just by western influences but also by a number of literary groups and trends. It has accommodated changing subjects and literary devices as well as the emergence of new concepts about what it means to live across time. A collection of short stories from recent Urdu fiction is included in the book "Nau Rang Afsane: part-1".