I’m not able to be a “good Muslim wife”. In fact, I’m not able to be in a conventional marriage at all. I’m asexual, aromantic, and sex-averse. Asexuality is a sexual orientation characterized by experiencing little or no sexual attraction to any person1. Aromanticism means that I do not experience…
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I had an extremely large bag of cabbage laying around in my fridge so I came up with this delicious, healthy dish that I hope you’ll enjoy. What I really love about this dish is that it’s super simple, quick and easy. If you have shredded cabbage, everything else takes…
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That was me, over and over again as I obsessed with friends and strangers alike about my upcoming trip to Pakistan. Even as I said the words, they felt strange. I am an American-born and bred Pakistani, but I visited Pakistan nearly every year of my childhood. As an idealistic…
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Tiny Love Story “And what do you do?” so many have asked. “I tell stories,” the girl said. One by one they’ve walked away, not understanding the language she speaks. Until one day… “I tell stories,” said she. “Then you are brave,” said he, “and you should keep telling them….
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As my son grows up, he and I are becoming increasingly aware of one big difference between us: I have white skin and he has brown skin. We sometimes play a game in which I pretend that his arms are made of chocolate and I try to eat them, much…
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Hello everyone! Rehana from Rehana Du Jour again! We’re back at the chicken game but it won’t be for any plain Jane chicken recipe it’s for a jazzed up one – Za’atar Crusted Lemon Chicken! This wonderfully quick, zesty, and crisp dish will become a weeknight staple in your home….
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Dear Salma, Ever since we got married four years ago, my husband and I have had a rocky relationship. We have two toddlers and I work full-time, while he is a stay-at-home dad. Two years ago, he began playing a certain video game in his downtime and since then,…
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The first creative writing piece I workshopped in undergrad told the story of a Pakistani engineering student who rebuilds her father’s mystical gulab jamun machine and saves Manhattan from a gang of neo-Nazis and their patrons on Wall Street. It was narrated by her friend, an insecure Muslim Iranian Dominican…
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Moving is never easy. Moving away from your home country is, well… at first, the thought of a brand new place, unknown people and fresh experiences feels thrilling and even dangerous. You approach your new home wearing rose-colored glasses and a surprising determination to discover everything. But then, after the…
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[This question was truncated to protect anonymity] My niece, Chandni, has been through a lot of challenges since her early childhood– family breakup, abandonment, addiction problems, fear of connecting with people. I want to help her but I don’t know how. What should I do? What should I say…
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