Non-review Rant

The heist of finding short reads on Amazon continues. So far, barring the misuse of categories, I’ve been amazed by the short story section. This one being selected for Feb 2026.

Review

Urwa attends her friend Fariya’s wedding and is absolutely annoyed by the guests and their intrusive questions — the kind that feel unavoidable at desi weddings. Between the constant chatter, casual judgement, and unsolicited curiosity about her own life, the evening feels overwhelming. Yet, by the time she leaves, she carries with her a quiet hint of a promise of her own marriage.

This was more of a one-shot than a short story, but it was deeply evocative. The author captures the sensory overload of a wedding beautifully — the noise, the overlapping conversations, the food, and the general nuisance of a crowded wedding venue. It feels familiar in the best way, especially if you’ve ever attended a wedding while wanting to disappear into a corner.

I particularly liked the camaraderie between Jamal and Kamran, which added warmth and balance to the story without taking focus away from Urwa. The humour was subtle and tasteful, never forced, and Urwa’s internal monologue was both funny and highly relatable, making her feel real and grounded.

Notes

8%

Normal people blend in. Normal people talk. They don’t stand in corners and complain inside their own head.
Shabana Mukhtar: #relatable

9%
Maybe you’re just too particular… too guarded… too hard to please.

19%
Am I detecting a sense of pride? Because he’s from groom’s side? Of course he’s from groom’s side. That explains the confidence. A tiny badge of superiority stitched into his voice. As if proximity to the groom automatically makes him… important. Will the patriarchy ever concede, even for one evening?

30%

She inhaled slowly, and then exhaled even slower.

64%
Divine! Saari khudai ek taraf, shaadi ki biryani ek taraf.

The Final Verdict

Must read if short and sweet desi romance is your thing.

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