Naseeb

The birthname ’Naseeb’ was a common name given to firstborn girls in Pakistan and means ill-fate or destiny. When Naseem, as a precocious young child in Rawalpindi, discovers the meaning of her name, she determines then and there to find the path of destiny rather than be pulled down by fate. But as a teenager, this destiny takes her from the fragrant gardens and the warmth of extended family in northern Pakistan to the dreary terraces of northern England and an abusive marriage. Far from the England she had imagined of happy family days out on sunny beaches, Naseem finds herself locked in a room for hours at a time by her new husband, and abused when he returns. This moving memoir follows one woman’s account through her ’naseeb’ - through domestic violence, hopelessness, tragedy and despair. But it is also testament to the strength of love, extended family, and the human spirit to endure through pain and find fulfilment and peace.