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Dear diary,                  01/14/2021

Last week, I started reading a very interesting book. The love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali is the story of a lesbian teenager who comes from a very religious Muslim family. She kept her sexual orientation in secret for a long time. However, one day her mother discovered her kissing her girlfriend. Because her family has very strong beliefs and traditions, her parents freaked out when they realized who she really is. One possible theme that I found in this book is that no one should force you to do anything, not even your parents. Rukhsana’s parents took her to Dhaka based on lies to try to marry her off. A similar situation happened to her grandma. Also, her parents' firmness to make her “the ideal bride” have made her doubt her relationship with Ariana.

As I dug deeper into the story I realized the horrendous and intolerable behavior of Rukhsana’s parents towards her. Rukhsana’s parents told her that her Nani was very sick to bring her to Dhaka and marry her off to some guy. They wanted to do this, so their “perfect” reputation wouldn’t be ruined by their daughter’s sexuality. When Ruksana realized the true reason behind their trip to Dhaka, she planned to run away from her family. This connects to the universal theme because it shows us why no one should obligate anybody to do something without their approval. Situations like this just make other people get away from you. Moreover, Ruksana felt that her family didn’t accept who she is and that they felt disgusted towards her. This means that when somebody tries to force you to do something just to change who you are that makes you feel terrible. This is because you feel like that person doesn’t understand you or accept you. This kind of event often happened decades before, but Ruhsana’s parents are disposed to marry her to someone just to maintain their prestige.

As I read Nani’s diary I found out something terrible about her past. Rukhsana’s grandma was forced to marry a man a lot older than her, so her family would have more money for her brother’s  education. Nani was so young. Plus, she didn’t even get her first menstrual cycle before her parents married her off. Unfortunately, after Nani was married, she suffered abuses from her husband and mother in law. Her husband raped her many times and her mother in law beat her up. This connects to the universal theme because this demonstrates why no one should make you do something that you don’t want to. When that happens, other people's lives can become very miserable. Besides, When she got pregnant with Rukhsana’s mom, they treated her even worse because they wanted a boy, not a girl. All these events show the mistreatment that Nani went through because her parents forced her to marry a man just to get money. This exemplifies why no one should force anyone to do things without their consent.

I remember that in chapter 28, Rukhsana broke up with her girlfriend. It happened because Rukhsana knew that their relationship wasn’t going to get any easier after she ran away from her parents. After all, she was going to see them again in one way or another. Furthermore, her parents’ determination to marry her off with a man-made her doubt her relationship. This connects to the theme because Rukhsana broke up with Ariana due to the insecurities that her parents provoked her. This means that when someone tries to force another person to do something without their approval, it can hurt that person and lead them to make hard decisions. Those decisions can ruin that person’s happiness just like it happened to Rukhsana. Overall, this event relates to the theme because when Ruksana's parents decided to obliger to get married, they destroyed her life.

This theme connects to my life because I have seen some people who have been forced to marry other people for money, to get a benefit out of it, or just to keep appearances. Not letting anybody force me to do anything without my agreement is very significant in my life because I have seen cases in which young girls in my home country got married due to pregnancy. Some of these girl’s lives have become horrible because they have to do whatever their husbands tell them. I would never let anyone force me to do something that I don’t want to do because no one has the right to make my life miserable.

So far I loved this because it is so exciting and eventful. In the Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali, a young girl named Rukhsana kept her sexuality secret from her parents because they are very religious and her sexual orientation goes against everything they believe. As soon as they discovered that their daughter was a lesbian, they made her go to Dhaka, so they could marry her to a man there. One theme that I found in this story was that none one should impose on you to do something without your consent. This is true because people’s lives have been ruined because of this including Nani’s. This kind of situation made other people to get away from you just as Ruhksana tried to do with her parents. It also leads people to make choices that can ruin their lives.

Sincerely,
Nixzaly Martinez

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Dear diary,    01/13/2021

Last week, I started reading a very interesting book. The love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali is the story of a lesbian teenager who comes from a very religious Muslim family. She kept her sexual orientation in secret for a long time. However, one day her mother discovered her kissing her girlfriend. Because her family has very strong beliefs and traditions, her parents freaked out when they realized who she really is. One possible theme that I found in this book is that no one should force you to do anything, not even your parents. Her parents took Rukhsana to Dhaka based on lies to try to marry her off. A similar situation happened to her grandma.

As I dug deeper into the story I realized the horrendous and intolerable behavior of Rukhsana’s parents towards her. Rukhsana’s parents told her that her Nani was very sick to bring her to Dhaka and marry her off to some guy. They wanted to do this, so their “perfect” reputation wouldn’t be ruined by their daughter’s lesbianism. When Ruksana realized the true reason behind their trip to Dhaka she was planning to run away from her family. This connects to the universal theme because it shows us why no one should obligate anybody to do something without their approval. Situations like this just make other people get away from you. Moreover, Ruksana felt that their family didn’t accept who she is and that they felt disgusted towards her. This means that when somebody tries to force you to do something just to change who you are that makes you feel terrible. This is because you feel like that person doesn’t understand you or accept you. This kind of event often happened decades before, but Ruhsana’s parents are disposed to marry her to someone just to maintain their prestige.

As I read Nani’s diary I found out something terrible about her past. Rukhsana’s grandma was forced to marry a man a lot older than her, so her family would have more money for the education of her brother. Nani was so young. Plus, she didn’t even get her first menstrual cycle before her parents married her off. Unfortunately, after Nani was married, she suffered abuses from her husband and mother in law. Her husband raped her many times and her mother in law beat her up. This connects to the universal theme because this demonstrates why none should make you do something that you don’t want to. When that happens, other people's lives can become very miserable. Besides, When she got pregnant with Rukhsana’s mom, they treated her even worse because they wanted a boy, not a girl. All these events show the mistreatment that Nani went through because her parents forced her to marry a man just to get money. This exemplifies why no one should force anyone to do things without their consent.

This theme connects to my life because I have seen some people who have been forced to marry other people for money, to get a benefit out of it, or just to keep appearances. Not letting anybody force me to do anything without my agreement is very significant in my life because I have seen cases in which young girls in my home country got married due to pregnancy. Some of these girl’s lives become horrible because they have to do whatever their husbands tell them. I would never let anyone force me to do something that I don’t want to because I won’t let anyone make my life miserable.

So far I loved this because it is so exciting and eventful. In the Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali, a young girl named Rukhsana kept her lesbianism secret from her parents because they are very religious and her sexual orientation goes against everything they believe. As soon as they discover that their daughter is a lesbian, they made her go to Dhaka, so they could marry her to a man there. One theme that I found in this story was that none one should impose on you to do something without your consent. This is true because people’s lives have been ruined because of this including Nani’s. This kind of situation made other people to get away from you just as Ruhksana tried to do with her parents.

Sincerely,
Nixzaly Martinez

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Character vs Self (Internal)
Rukhsana feels a little bit insecure about leaving Dhaka because she might not be able to see her nani and Shaila again due to her actions and sexual orientation. She wants to go, so her parents can’t engage her with some guy, but she is scared of living because she thinks that her aunty will not let her see Shaila because she will be a “bad influence”. She also thinks that her parents might kick her out of the house and don’t let her see Aamir. 




Character vs Character(External)

Rukhsana’s parents are forcing Ruksana to meet guys who are supposed to become her future husband. Rukhsana doesn’t agree with this idea because she is not into boys. She just wants to go back to Seattle to be with her girlfriend, brother and friends. However, her parents are disposed to engage her as soon as possible because they don’t want their reputation to be damaged because of their daughter’s sexual orientation.
Character vs Self (Internal)

Rukhsana was not sure to tell her grandma that she was gay. Rukhsana didn’t want to lie to her Nani, but she was afraid of giving her a heart attack. She thinks that her grandma would be disappointed and ashamed of her because of her leabianisn. She also thinks that her grandma will see her differently as her parents do now that they know who she really is.  








Character vs Society (External)
The Muslim community expects Rukhsana to married a Bengali exceptional man. But Rukhsana refuses to marry a boy since she is a lesbian. She doesn’t believe in arranged marriage, but if she doesn’t marry a boy who is approved by her parents, then everyone would talk about them. 

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Dear Journal,           01/11/21

Today I caused my father a panic attack. We had to take him to the hospital. As a result of this I feel angry at myself and my parents for not understanding and accepting my sexual orientation. I feel guilty about my father’s situation, but they also are responsible for all of this. I can’t believe they would have gotten this far.

They brought me to Dhaka based on lies. They told me that my Nani was very sick, so we needed to come to visit. Okay, Fine! My grandma is not at her best right now, but she isn’t agonizing as they made me believe. But anyway, the truth was that they made me come here to find my “perfect husband”. I can’t believe this. Don’t they remember that I am lesbian? It’s like they don’t want to accept it.

Besides, I thought that we were leaving soon, but they made me stay here for another whole week. Don’t they understand that I miss my friends! And of course, my girlfriend Ariana! I can’t be far away from her anymore. All this waiting for nothing because I won’t get married to a guy that I don’t even know just to please them. Not to mention all the schoolwork that I have to do when I get back.

Aamir was right after all. They just wanted me to come here to forget about my lesbianism. What they think, that I would just forget about it and marry anyone that they want. I just want to go to Seattle and see Ariana. She is not feeling good after I told her what my parents did. I hope she knows that I would never replace her with anyone. She is the queen of my heart.

Perhaps I shouldn't have screamed to my parents how I did. But, all of this hit me so hard. It kills me that my parents want to change who I am. When we were in the hospital with my father, my mother told me to leave. She thinks that I don’t care about what happens to my dad. But, I do. It’s just that they betrayed my trust and hurt me. How else could I have acted after knowing the true reason behind this trip? I hope that one day they will understand me ,and love me for who I am ,and don’t feel disgusted for my sexual orientation.

Until Next Time,
Ruhksana

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Dear Diary,            01/08/20

Today I went to my girlfriend’s house, and I got slapped by her mother. She didn’t know that her daughter was lesbian until today. She discovered us kissing each other, which impacted her deeply because of her Muslim beliefs and traditions. There is a lot more that I have to take out of me.

As Zubaida rushed into the room giving us a look full of disappointment and disgust, she raised her hand, and her palm met with cheek. Oh, God! It hurt pretty bad. My cheek was very red. After Zubaida slapped me and told me to leave, I ran as fast as I could to get to my house with thousands of tears coming out of my eyes. I heard Ruhksana’s voice calling me as I left her house, but I just wanted to get out of there.

When I got home, I kept crying like a baby. Well, my cheek hurt a little. Hours later, Ruhksana texted me, and I told her to come to my place since my parents were out. When she got to my house, I noticed that her cheek was red too. I asked her what happened and she told me that her father slapped her. Jeez! Her parents really panicked. I didn’t expect them to slapp us both. But anyway, at least our relationship was brought to light. We don’t have to hide anymore, hopefully.

It is true what people say, “after the storm, comes the calm” because after Ruhksana came to my place, I felt a lot better. We had a beautiful evening together. She even slept in my room. She went home at about “6:17 A.M.” Before Ruhksana left, she tried to kiss me on my shoulder, but she was so beautiful that I couldn’t resist kissing her on her lips. I felt so lucky to have her.

I hope that she fixed things with her parents. Perhaps after some time, they would accept who she is and love her unconditionally. I know that they were raised with strong Muslim beliefs, but they have to accept that things change over time. I know one day Ruhksana's relationship with her parents will be better. Also, they will understand the love that we have for each other.

Till with meet again,
Ariana

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Supporting Character: Pick another character that you like or dislike and identify traits/emotions and then give evidence from the text. (Paraphrased)

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Supporting Character: Pick another character that you like or dislike and identify traits/emotions and then give evidence from the text. (Paraphrased)

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Main Character: Ruhksana Ali. In the comments write a character trait or emotional event with evidence from the text. (Paraphrased)

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Main Character: Ruhksana Ali. In the comments write a character trait or emotional event with evidence from the text. (Paraphrased)

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Vocabulary: Add three words from the reading and define it in your own words in the comment section. Remember to sign in with your ELHS gmail for credit. 

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Vocabulary: Add three words from the reading and define it in your own words in the comment section. Remember to sign in with your ELHS gmail for credit. 