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Get ready to enterThe Gauntlet.
Below, EW presents the first two chapters of Riazis book, which hits bookstores March 28.Preorder it here.
Monopoly, Trouble, Candy Land, even Memoryall were played with equal amounts of excitement.
This did not count as cheating, though to Farahs mind it clearly was.
It was a rule every elder brother and sister knew.
And you gave up every single game to him.
No ifs, ands, buts, or days off.
Even when she wanted to play with her friends, whom she hadnt seen in months.
Even if it was her twelfth birthday.
My turn, Farah apu!
Ahmad shouted with seven-year-old enthusiasm, startling strangers.
He sat beside her on the floor, a box of chenna murki placed in front of him.
he asked, offering her a piece.
Farah wrinkled her nose at the treat.
She didnt do sweets, not even the Bangladeshi kind that the rest of her family devoured.
She liked to think of herself as a bit of a rebel, at least in this small way.
Dont you want to try some of the snacks Ma made?
Or do you want to talk to Essie and Alex?
She was always in con-
Dont you want to try some of the snacks Ma made?
Or do you want to talk to Essie and Alex?
She was always in convincing mode when it came to Ahmad.
We havent seen them in a while.
While Alex had never been a big talker, this indifference was new.
Today was the first time Farah had seen either Essie or Alex in months.
It felt as though their friendship had been .
not dented, not shattered, nothing so terrible and threatening and nearly beyond repair.
Just a little loosened out of its socket.
You and me, Ahmad said.
you might have the good marbles this time.
Farah smiled at him.
Ahmad was only seven, she had to remind herself when she got frustrated.
Friends for Ahmad were harder to come by, given his issues.
Okay, one more game, she said, drawing a chalk circle on the floor.
He arranged the marbles in a plus sign.
He pressed his knuckle to the floor and shot a finger forward.
His favorite cats-eye marble struck the others, expertly scattering them.
Three flew out of the circle, and one hit a nearby shoe.
Ahmad shouted, leaping for the box.
Aunt Zohras thin lips formed what passed for a smile.
On anyone else it might be a grimace.
She was scarecrow thin and fence-post tall.
She handed Ahmad the box, and he greedily scooped up more sweets.
Why dont you join your guests, Farah?
I would, but .
Im winning, Zohra Masi, Ahmad explained.
We must not keep her guests waiting.
And even when she visited the family, she didnt talk much.
Her mind always seemed to be elsewhere.
Mostly aunties, and kids from my new school.
Id rather stay here.
Farah thought that Aunt Zohra might understand.
After all, she wasnt much for socializing either.
Aunt Zohra flashed Farah another smile.
Well, it is your birthday.
You should have some fun.
My gift for you is waiting upstairs.
We can open it after the party.
I think youll find a good use for it though.
Better than I ever did.
Is the present in your room, Zohra Masi?
Can I get it?
Can I open it?
Ahmad aimed a kick at Farahs shin, which, from years of practice, she dodged.
Todays tantrum was nothing new.
He balled up his fists and bellowed, c’mon!
Let me open it, Farah apu.
When he reached this point of excitement, you couldnt even see his eyes anymore.
Still, it was Farah and Ahmad, Ahmad and Farah.
She didnt know what life would be without him.
Its a present for me.
You got your present earlier.
Those shiny new marbles, Farah said.
She knew that Ahmads ADHD meant he couldnt always control himself.
He did not have to deal with Ahmad or his mazelike mind right this second.
Ahmad, I have something to show you, Aunt Zohra said, flashing her Turkish puzzle rings.
They glimmered in the light, delicate on Aunt Zohras long, lanky fingers.
His eyes grew big.
Aunt Zohra winked at Farah over his head.
Ahmad skittered away like one of his precious marbles, darting under a nearby couch to retrieve them.
Aunt Zohra trailed after him.
Farah felt a guilty, giddy rush of relief.
Aunt Zohra coaxed Ahmad out and toward the kitchen, where Ma was no doubt keeping busy.
They waved and said nice, polite, meaningless things.
Farah knew she should go greet her guests.
It was the right thing for a good Bangladeshi girl to do.
But most of these kids were still strangers to her, and she was a stranger to them.
On her birthday, she wanted to avoid having the kind of small talk that happens between not-really-friends.
She especially didnt want to discuss her scarf.
It was a question that Farah had never heard at her old school.
She hadnt been the only hijaabi in her class in Queens.
Now she went to a school in downtown Manhattan, where she was the only hijaabi in her class.
Last year Farah would have had no problem breaking the silence and suggesting a fun thing to do.
Now she felt unsure.
Should she suggest they play Monopoly?
They had spent hours playing board games last year.
But today the suggestion felt little-kiddish.
What if her friends didnt enjoy board games anymore?
Should she ask about school?
Or would that only bring attention to the fact that she wasnt there?
And anyway, no kid wanted to talk about school.
Farahs thoughts were interrupted by Essie.
Im bored, she said.
Me too, said Farah.
She immediately felt awful.
This was her party, and her friends were already bored.
Can we open some of your presents?
offered Alex, looking up from his book.
Maybe you got something cool.
My mom probably wont want me opening any gifts until after the party.
It would look rude taking them off the table around all the guests.
What about the gift your aunt got you?
Didnt she say it was upstairs?
Its nothing exciting, Id guess, she said.
But we might as well check it out.
Farah ran in and took it out of his hands.
How did you escape Aunt Zohra?
Not that Farah needed an answer.
Ahmad was really good at wandering off without detection.
It was one of the reasons Farah kept such a close eye on him whenever they went out.
Ahmad stood up on the bed and started jumping.
Farah didnt know what was inside.
It piqued her curiosity.
She peeled back the paper, pushing away Ahmads greedy hands as she worked.
Soon a polished wooden corner emerged.
Finally, the entire thing slid out of the paper into Farahs hands.
She held it up to the light as Alex craned his head over her shoulder.
It was a game.
A board game, most likely.
It had the same square shape of a regular game box, but it was sturdier, antique-looking.
Essies eyes widened as she leaned forward to look, her mouth a small O of delight and excitement.
Wow, Alex breathed.
Ahmad jumped up and down with excitement.
I want it, Farah apu, he said.
Farahs hand paused over the wooden cover.
dont know what this is.
Before she even finished the sentence, the game started to vibrate.
