Throughout our lives, we hope to find our stable ground on substantial relationships which ultimately wither away. What do you do when you are now on a ground that is disappearing faster than you imagined?

‘Baadal ko chhune ki chaahat to thii, udne ka armaan nahi thha magar. De diya mujhko ek ajnabi aasmaan, mere pairon se meri zameen chheen li.’

Khalid Hoseinni’s third outing is very different from the first two masterpieces. The first one portrayed a painful guilt-ridden relationship between father and son. Second portrayed a heart warming fearless tale of two strong women overarached with protective motherly affection. The third one is not only about a brother sister duo separated for 58 years. 

Guilt is a common theme in all three books. 
ATME has most wonderfully portrayed the sensitive and often critical mother-child relationship. It answers lot many complex questions one might have about their mother; the soothing conclusion being - she loves you in her own idiosyncratic way. 

Nabi-Suleiman’s story was gripping. 
I cried when I read what Roshi wrote on the autographed copy of her book for Idris. A cruel kindness, one that Idris was worthy of.

Each character’s POV creates a comforting tale showing human relationships through a spectrum of various emotions.
The writing style flows perfectly between flashback and current time creating a beautiful effect that is unique, charmingly confusing and effective. 

‘…people mostly have it backward. They think they live by what they want. But really what guides them is what they’re afraid of.”

Review originally shared here, http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/625506144

I will get over you. Even though there was no closure, I will. I will let my heart prepare for excruciating pain that will last for months. But this pain will be less painful than the pain I get daily from not hearing from you, not looking into your eyes, not telling you silly things, not letting you go.

I will be fine. I guess. I am hopeful.

The mere thought of stretching this comatose relationship while putting it on odd messages’ ventilator support is inhuman. It needs to be set free; to be euthanised - into an indefinite dead stage, where you and I could breathe finally.

We have been choking on each others’ monumental expectations, on each others’ time windows. I beg, you yearn - this needs to be stopped. We need to be brave. We need to mingle in our own social circles to help us fill the vacuum we have left in each others’ laughter. I will be slightly tipsy while dressed looking all sorts of gorgeusness. Not thinking even once about clicking a pic for you. Not thinking even once if you could be there in the mix of crowd as my comforting face telling me shhhhhh I know you way more than these morons.

I will be fine. You will be fine too. The feelings will remain forever because ‘we are each others’ that single person we will always have feelings for no matter what’.
Just that we won’t be talking. We won’t be expecting anything anymore. We will find another person who will help us fill in the large vacuum.