Why do a lot of things have to end in heartache? Why wont they end with confetti or laughter or happy endings that make me envious over the fact that this fictional narrative is making me crumple in want?

This is such a good book. It is very well written, so well written that I am scolding myself for taking such a long time to finish it. It is made up of several short stories that bear the same motif: Indian families who travel to a different country, USA, to make better of the lives that they so struggle to live in their own. I must praise Lahiri for her ability to write with such precision that I myself was able to connect with although I am neither Indian nor am I in the USA. The point in discussion is that this book tells us about struggles and sacrifices that Indians have to go through in their journey to create something valuable in their lives.

As you may already have realised, I love books about India or the Indian people and their customs. I don't necessarily have a valid reason why but to me they are the very definition of struggle and independence. We see Indians everywhere around the world, we learn to hate them, we learn to love them, we learn to envy them and we learn to question their existence. How can they be in so many parts of the world? How can a dark-skinned person who shakes his head for both Yes and No, learn to speak Japanese fluently. How can this person be so successful when they look so unquestionably gullible?

Be it as it may, Indians can get on your nerves but when you read many books about them as I have done, you will realise how special this race of people are. Words can't even begin to describe but all I say is put your judgments aside and study these people. They are like ants. And if you know ants, you'll get what I mean.

So yes, look for this book and read it. You'll discover many emotions that you have denied feeling towards these people.

1st of August marks the first day of fasting month for those in Melbourne, UK and other places who recognize this day as the start of the blessed month of Ramadhan. We will start tomorrow in Brunei. Nevertheless, it does not make us complacent about the benefits of fasting and following the Dos and Don'ts of the month that has been long awaited.

I feel so honoured and lucky to be given another breath of life by the Creator, that I have been given another chance to see this Ramadhan, that I will be able to show my love for Him.

Last Ramadhan was when I decided to wear the hijab full-time. Alhamdulillah, this Ramadhan around, that devotion to Allah, that promise to slowly become a better Muslimah, has not faltered and I have fulfilled this one promise that was once so hard to do. Alhamdulillah, this is one of the signs that shows that Allah has not forgotten me and that he has led me to the straight path.

I can only hope that this Ramadhan brings me a lot more of Allah's hidayah and I hope that I will learn more about Islam and how blessed I am to be a muslim. InsyAllah.

I have a lot of stories to share with everyone but first, I'll need to decide whether I'd like to change venues or stay here. This URL has been around for far too long. I think it's time to start anew, no?