Miseries, Illusions and Hope

By Almas Akhtar

My second bookMiseries, Illusions and Hopeis a collection of few short stories I wrote in the last few years. Most of them appeared on my blogs on Facebook and Blogger.

These stories are about everyday people who are working hard for themselves and their loved ones. I call these people everyday heroes. They may be illiterate or poor, but they are sincere and trustworthy. They touch the lives of others around them.

Life is highly unpredictable and very complicated. It silently teaches us so much about love, intrigue, conflict, and persistence.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jul 15, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524617578

Almas Akhtar

Almas Akhtar is a freelance writer and blogger. She completed her graduation from St. Joseph’s College, Karachi, before moving to the United States of America. She enjoys writing about social issues and ordinary people, those who, in some way, are not so ordinary but are unsung heroes who are trying to make a difference in society. She started her blog, Tuesday Talk, five and a half years back on Facebook. She writes blogs on Blogger and Tumbler under the name Almas"s Dynamic Diaries. She has also written blogs and articles for many local and international newspapers. Last year, she wrote her first book, A Very Resilient Amreeki Dream, which she has dedicated to all the women who are victims of domestic abuse. She is writing her second book these days. She lives in the state of Michigan with her husband and three kids.

Book preview

© 2016 Almas Akhtar . All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 07/15/2016

ISBN: 978-1-5246-1758-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5246-1757-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016911152

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

Dedication

Chapter 1 Cruel Ironies of Life

Chapter 2 Because She Is a Product of a Broken Family; Because She Is a Product of a Bitter Divorce

Chapter 3 The Absent Fathers

Chapter 4 The Motherly Type Fathers

Chapter 5 The Farangi Bahu

Chapter 6 The Invisible Victim of Domestic Abuse … A Man

Chapter 7 My Children, Your Children, Our Children

Chapter 8 Why Ask? Why Hurt?

Chapter 9 Those Steps Toward College

Chapter 10 I Am a Man Without a Home and Without an Identity

About the Author

DEDICATION

I dedicate this book to my four grandparents who emigrated to a new country in 1947. Many years later, in 1993, I emigrated to another country.

This is for all those who are doers and not just talkers.

CHAPTER 1

Cruel Ironies of Life

Feroz, please pay this electric bill, Salima said as she handed the bill to her husband at breakfast.

Taking a sip of his tea, he asked, How much is it?

Rs 25,000, she replied.

How many times have I told you to be more careful? Feroz sounded angry. This is a lot.

Not at all concerned about the bill, she stated, My children cannot stay without the AC in this scorching heat.

Salamat Ali, Feroz said to his driver, here is Rs 50,000. Take 25,000 Rs for the electric bill and 25,000 for this month’s salary. Please pay the bill today.

"Jee Sahab," replied Salamat Ali.

********

Salamat Ali returned home close to midnight after a long day’s