What do you think?
Rate this book
The Marriage Bureau for Rich People #4
Mrs Ali's Road to Happiness
Mrs Ali's much loved home is suddenly under threat - a road widening scheme threatens to destroy both it and the family business, the Marriage Bureau for Rich People. Meanwhile, Mrs Ali's niece, Pari, a young Muslim widow, adopts a destitute Hindu boy, and this unorthodox arrangement offends both Muslim and Hindu in the sleepy eastern Indian town of Vizag. The Ali family are plunged into crisis, threated by police action, social boycott and excommunication.
There is one plan that might just keep Pari and her son together, and the home Mr and Mrs Ali have shared for many years intact, but it's a desperate gamble. Do they risk everything for a small chance of success? But can they afford not to?
There is one plan that might just keep Pari and her son together, and the home Mr and Mrs Ali have shared for many years intact, but it's a desperate gamble. Do they risk everything for a small chance of success? But can they afford not to?
315 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2012
5 people are currently reading
332 people want to read
About the author
Farahad Zama
8 books118 followersFarahad Zama was born in Vizag on the Eastern coast of India in 1966. After obtaining a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Engineering at Kharagpur, near Kolkata, he moved to Mumbai to work for an investment bank. An arranged marriage to a Vizag girl soon followed. His career took him to New York, Zurich and Luxembourg and finally brought him to London for six months. Sixteen years later, Farahad is still in South London with his Vizag girl and two Croydon-born boys.
Farahad works in the City and writes on his commute and at weekends. The Marriage Bureau for Rich People is his first novel. He is delighted with its success – it was a Richard & Judy and Daily Mail book of the month, short listed for Best New Writer of the Year at the British Book Awards, Best Published Fiction at the Muslim Writers Awards and Melissa Nathan Awards for Comedy and Romance. The book is being translated into eight languages.
Zama's second and third novels, The Many Conditions of Love,and The Wedding Wallah, continues the story of Mr. Ali's "Marriage Bureau."
Farahad works in the City and writes on his commute and at weekends. The Marriage Bureau for Rich People is his first novel. He is delighted with its success – it was a Richard & Judy and Daily Mail book of the month, short listed for Best New Writer of the Year at the British Book Awards, Best Published Fiction at the Muslim Writers Awards and Melissa Nathan Awards for Comedy and Romance. The book is being translated into eight languages.
Zama's second and third novels, The Many Conditions of Love,and The Wedding Wallah, continues the story of Mr. Ali's "Marriage Bureau."
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
August 1, 2012
I really enjoyed this novel by Farahad Zama. (I was a little disapointed with the third in the series.)
This novel considers how religion can affect a community, bringing people together by promoting harmony, or pulling them apart through dogmatic focus on our differences. Focused on a widow's charitable act of adopting an orphan, the story explores the reaction of different people to the fact that they are of different religions.
Being the fourth in a series, it also unfolds the lives of Mr and Mrs Ali, and those around them. Some of the characters feel like old friends and it is good to get news of them. I look forward to the next installment.
This novel considers how religion can affect a community, bringing people together by promoting harmony, or pulling them apart through dogmatic focus on our differences. Focused on a widow's charitable act of adopting an orphan, the story explores the reaction of different people to the fact that they are of different religions.
Being the fourth in a series, it also unfolds the lives of Mr and Mrs Ali, and those around them. Some of the characters feel like old friends and it is good to get news of them. I look forward to the next installment.
January 25, 2026
I found the title to be misleading. Mrs Ali doesn't get a lot of limelight as one would expect, and the book isn't about the (a) road to happiness either, but I get (and appreciate) the sneaky foreshadowing in the title.
The book is breezy and filled with familiar, comforting writing but hardly manages to keep the tension high, because though the stakes are high theoretically, you know that things are eventually going to work out in the end.
The book is breezy and filled with familiar, comforting writing but hardly manages to keep the tension high, because though the stakes are high theoretically, you know that things are eventually going to work out in the end.
October 16, 2019
2019 bk 230. The fourth book in the series. A few strings were tied together, but there is still room for more novels in the series. The road is both a metaphor and a reality as the local government schemes to widen the road on which the Ali's and Pari live. The widening would remove their front gardens, the veranda and make life very uncomfortable. At the same time, the priest at the Hindu temple and the new iman at the mosque both want to remove Vasu from Pari's care because they each want the child raised in their religion and doubt that a single woman is capable of knowing what is best for a young boy. Well written - and I am eagerly awaiting a fifth book in the series.
February 25, 2018
Set in Vizag, India; this story picks up from where the third book left off: Not All Marriages Are Made in Heaven
This book, predominantly deals with the Ali’s niece, Pari (an orphaned and widowed Muslim lady) and her adopted son Vasu, who is a Hindu.
This is the fourth book in the Marriage Bureau for Rich People series, and it starts off with many uncomfortable changes, which stands to affect the lives of Mr and Mrs Ali and people around them.
For starters, a new Imam is appointed in the local mosque. He comes across as a fanatic and influences young men to become more devout.
To add to Mr Ali’s woes, a cunning and devious electricity meter inspector lands up to their place and overhears about their Marriage Bureau. Scheming as he is, he ensures that the electricity supply to their house is cut-off, citing that a commercial business cannot run with a domestic meter.
He also brings with him news of a road-widening scheme that will encroach on the Ali’s residence, and effectively destroy their garden.
On the other hand, with the upcoming elections, there is a stirring up of religious arguments in the otherwise tolerant town of Vizag. Both extremist Hindus and Muslims (including the Ali’s relatives and friends) get agitated about Pari bringing up Vasu. The Hindus want him to remain a Hindu and not be brought up by a Muslim woman; whereas the Muslims want him to be converted to Islam. Both want the boy removed and “protected” and the situation becomes very dark and threatening for both of them. Pari, however, insists that Vasu should keep his roots intact and maintain his connection with his own religion.
As the Ali’s and Pari, deal with multiple threats, they must keep themselves safe and maintain their sanity.
With help from friends, neighbours and relatives, they manage to thwart off one threat after another. But for how long can they hold forte?
Will Pari and Vasu eventually have to relocate, just to ensure that they can remain together?
Quoting one of my favourite authors of all times, Agatha Christie, “A mother’s love for her child is like nothing else in this world. It knows no law, no pity, it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path”.
This book depicts the anguish of a mother very well, and her resolve to do only the best for her son.
I really enjoyed this series and recommend it to everyone.
This book, predominantly deals with the Ali’s niece, Pari (an orphaned and widowed Muslim lady) and her adopted son Vasu, who is a Hindu.
This is the fourth book in the Marriage Bureau for Rich People series, and it starts off with many uncomfortable changes, which stands to affect the lives of Mr and Mrs Ali and people around them.
For starters, a new Imam is appointed in the local mosque. He comes across as a fanatic and influences young men to become more devout.
To add to Mr Ali’s woes, a cunning and devious electricity meter inspector lands up to their place and overhears about their Marriage Bureau. Scheming as he is, he ensures that the electricity supply to their house is cut-off, citing that a commercial business cannot run with a domestic meter.
He also brings with him news of a road-widening scheme that will encroach on the Ali’s residence, and effectively destroy their garden.
On the other hand, with the upcoming elections, there is a stirring up of religious arguments in the otherwise tolerant town of Vizag. Both extremist Hindus and Muslims (including the Ali’s relatives and friends) get agitated about Pari bringing up Vasu. The Hindus want him to remain a Hindu and not be brought up by a Muslim woman; whereas the Muslims want him to be converted to Islam. Both want the boy removed and “protected” and the situation becomes very dark and threatening for both of them. Pari, however, insists that Vasu should keep his roots intact and maintain his connection with his own religion.
As the Ali’s and Pari, deal with multiple threats, they must keep themselves safe and maintain their sanity.
With help from friends, neighbours and relatives, they manage to thwart off one threat after another. But for how long can they hold forte?
Will Pari and Vasu eventually have to relocate, just to ensure that they can remain together?
Quoting one of my favourite authors of all times, Agatha Christie, “A mother’s love for her child is like nothing else in this world. It knows no law, no pity, it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path”.
This book depicts the anguish of a mother very well, and her resolve to do only the best for her son.
I really enjoyed this series and recommend it to everyone.
November 7, 2014
This 4th installment of the "Marriage Bureau for Rich People" series is more about the ongoing central characters than the Marriage Bureau clients, and that's just fine with me. The plot revolves around two religious figures who take exception to Pari (Muslim) raising orphaned Vasu (Hindu), and Mr. and Mrs. Ali lamenting both this development, and that people these days lack respect for family and are less tolerant of religious diversity. It was also interesting that one of the figures was trying to use Pari and Vasu's story for political gain, rather than for simple religious reasons.
I felt happy to slip back into the daily events at the Ali house, and glad that both Mrs. Ali and Pari were developed more as characters this time around. Finally, it was great that before everything ended with perfect felicity.
The conclusion didn't seem to tie everything up completely, so I'm hopeful that there will be more in this series. However, the books seemed to be published on a yearly basis, and it has now been two years since this latest book came out. Either way, I'm glad that I read this sweet series about old vs. new in contemporary India.
I felt happy to slip back into the daily events at the Ali house, and glad that both Mrs. Ali and Pari were developed more as characters this time around. Finally, it was great that before everything ended with perfect felicity.
The conclusion didn't seem to tie everything up completely, so I'm hopeful that there will be more in this series. However, the books seemed to be published on a yearly basis, and it has now been two years since this latest book came out. Either way, I'm glad that I read this sweet series about old vs. new in contemporary India.
July 3, 2013
I had no idea that 'Mrs Ali's Road to Happiness' was part of a series till I noticed it mentioned on the reviews on Goodreads.
The book for me was supposed to be just another stop-gap read as I took a break after some heavy mythological books.
I was pleasantly surprised by the interesting story-line and well-fleshed out characters.
Having never read Farahad Zama before, I also didn't know that he was a guy.
Judging from the sensitive portrayal of the female characters and their reactions to the situations that life puts them in, I assumed that he was a woman. Kudos to him for his perceptive story-telling. Rarely do you come across a male author who has such a grasp of the female point of view.
All in all, a light summery read that has a clearly defined story line, that will make you wonder about what happens next to the characters, long after you finish reading the book.
I will definitely be picking up the rest of the book in the series.
The book for me was supposed to be just another stop-gap read as I took a break after some heavy mythological books.
I was pleasantly surprised by the interesting story-line and well-fleshed out characters.
Having never read Farahad Zama before, I also didn't know that he was a guy.
Judging from the sensitive portrayal of the female characters and their reactions to the situations that life puts them in, I assumed that he was a woman. Kudos to him for his perceptive story-telling. Rarely do you come across a male author who has such a grasp of the female point of view.
All in all, a light summery read that has a clearly defined story line, that will make you wonder about what happens next to the characters, long after you finish reading the book.
I will definitely be picking up the rest of the book in the series.
June 10, 2014
Deals wells with one of the biggest problems of our society - strident and power politics brand of religiosity that has too sadly become the norm of displaying your faith. Features all other tropes - scheming utility workers, clueless municipal representatives, and the like before all come to a satisfactory end, partly orchestrated by Mrs Ali - who has a bigger and more satisfying role here than any of the other books. This one is as charming and utterly readable as the previous one in the Zama canon and ending it does on a cliff-hanger on two plot strands, portends another wonderful installment soon
January 1, 2016
This is the 4th instalment in this series and I loved it ! I love all the characters in this series and I love the setting. I've learnt quite a lot about India and the political scene through reading these books. I would say you have to read them all in order though as the story and characters follow on.
April 18, 2015
The characters feel like old friends! Farahad Zama is such a wonderful writer. I hang on to his every word. I am hoping for another book in this series. Such a great series. I enjoyed every minute, every line, every expression, and details of Mrs Ali’s Road to Happiness!
December 6, 2012
Great story. By this time the characters are old friends. This book centered around religion and politics. I am so disappointed that there isn't a fifth book yet to continue the story. I can't wait.
February 1, 2013
Love this series.
November 26, 2013
One of the best books of the series. Highly recommend
April 2, 2014
are there going to be anymore ??
April 8, 2015
Love it:)
January 1, 2023
A slightly more serious plot that Zama's earlier work about the Marriage Bureau. This one had some shades of "A Suitable Boy" (which I still have not finished, even though I'm halfway done, that's not saying much). A plot line involving Hindu-Muslim tension, government bureaucracy and corruption, and how power can go to people's heads. I like all the clever women in the story, and there were some definite laugh out loud moments. I'm curious to know if Zama will write any further adventures of our Mr. Ali.
May 31, 2017
It's the first time I have read a book by this author. It was an enjoyable read. I found it interesting how it shows two religions getting along mostly okay, until religious extremes shows its ugly head; stirring up conflict that wasn't there before and needn't exist. It's when religions attempt to expand beyond its members that can cause conflict,often brutal.
February 10, 2019
I found these series by accident, the first book on a thrift book store, the price was cheap considering the book mishap condition, i read it on one seating, and finished cover to cover less than half day.
it might not bore heavy sentence but it discuss a critical matters in the language that so easy to understand, my favorite is this 4th book. i hope there will be more of it.
it might not bore heavy sentence but it discuss a critical matters in the language that so easy to understand, my favorite is this 4th book. i hope there will be more of it.
August 10, 2019
Well written book, felt like I was living amongst the residents of the village in India. A good insight into the dynamics between Muslim & Hindu living side by side.
Loved Mr & Mrs Ali, such wonderfully rich characters the pair of them with such warmth & compassion.
Great read. Look forward to more from Farahad Zama
Loved Mr & Mrs Ali, such wonderfully rich characters the pair of them with such warmth & compassion.
Great read. Look forward to more from Farahad Zama
April 26, 2020
I love this series. It is sweet, without being saccharine, and along with the larger story there are many little subplots, but the author is really good at keeping everything clear. I'm sorry that this is the last book.
November 30, 2019
I guess this is the end of the series????? Doesn't appear to be any more in the future. This one was copyright 2012. Too bad, I've always liked this series. It got better as time went on.
February 14, 2024
Another light hearted easy read. Sometimes just what one needs.
July 26, 2012
Ditiga buku pertama dari seri The Marriage Bureau For Rich People, Farahad Zama banyak menulis sudut pandang terhadap masalah dari sisi laki-laki seperti Mr. Ali, dan Rehman. Tapi dibuku ke empat ini, banyak pemikiran-pemikiran dari Mrs. Ali.
Seorang ibu rumah tangga, yang setiap hari kerjanya mengurus makan suami, sempat berpikiran bagaimana jadinya bila ia tiba-tiba meninggalkan suaminya pergi begitu saja tanpa ada kabar. Tapi itu hanya khayalannya. Ada hal-hal yang ga perlu coba-coba dalam pernikahan.
Banyak cerita yang bikin emosi campur aduk dalam buku ini.
Permasalahan agama diulas dengan menarik. Pari yang seorang Muslim dan mengadopsi Vasu anak beragama Hindu mendapat tantangan dari Masjid maupun Kuil setempat. Imam menyuruh Vasu dimasukkan Islam, sedangkan Pendeta beranggapan tidak suci orang Hindu diasuh oleh seorang Muslim.
Hal seperti penentuan bulan Ramadhan maupun Eid juga ada, dan disajikan dengan santai. Mengingat baru-baru ini banyak perdebatan di Indonesia. Ternyata di India lebih parah lagi.
Selalu menarik membaca tiap kata-kata dari Farahad Zama. Baik Mrs. Ali maupun Mr. Ali dua-duanya bijak dengan cara sendiri-sendiri.
Banyak juga sisi Mr. Ali yang terkuak dalam buku ini, tetep saja suka sama mr. Ali.
Rehman dan Pari masih tetap berpuitis ria saat bertemu. BIkin deg-degan. hehehe
Seorang ibu rumah tangga, yang setiap hari kerjanya mengurus makan suami, sempat berpikiran bagaimana jadinya bila ia tiba-tiba meninggalkan suaminya pergi begitu saja tanpa ada kabar. Tapi itu hanya khayalannya. Ada hal-hal yang ga perlu coba-coba dalam pernikahan.
Banyak cerita yang bikin emosi campur aduk dalam buku ini.
Permasalahan agama diulas dengan menarik. Pari yang seorang Muslim dan mengadopsi Vasu anak beragama Hindu mendapat tantangan dari Masjid maupun Kuil setempat. Imam menyuruh Vasu dimasukkan Islam, sedangkan Pendeta beranggapan tidak suci orang Hindu diasuh oleh seorang Muslim.
Hal seperti penentuan bulan Ramadhan maupun Eid juga ada, dan disajikan dengan santai. Mengingat baru-baru ini banyak perdebatan di Indonesia. Ternyata di India lebih parah lagi.
Selalu menarik membaca tiap kata-kata dari Farahad Zama. Baik Mrs. Ali maupun Mr. Ali dua-duanya bijak dengan cara sendiri-sendiri.
Banyak juga sisi Mr. Ali yang terkuak dalam buku ini, tetep saja suka sama mr. Ali.
Rehman dan Pari masih tetap berpuitis ria saat bertemu. BIkin deg-degan. hehehe
April 23, 2013
Mrs Ali’s Road to Happiness is the fourth book in the Series by Farahad Zama. I chanced upon this book while browsing through more books by the author.
Mr Ali is still upset with his son not doing a proper job and Mrs Ali is the protective mother. This book also reflects on the stronger side of the timid Mrs Ali, the way she holds a firm stand against the electric meter reader; supports her husband against her brother and protects Pari from the fundamentalists is commendable. Mr Ali’s plans to save Vasu and Pari and to help Mr Reddy, his client show his sensibility and maturity.
Pari’s views about bringing up her adopted son, Vasu, are modern and very positive. Her firm belief that the child should follow his birth parents religion makes the new Imam boycott the family. With the support of the Alis and her friends, she stays firm and strong even during the religious tension.
Many parts of this book are very realistic like the electric meter reader trying to make a fast buck, Faiz trying to show off in front of her inlaws, a typical Indian marriage, a traditional joint family, a project to widen the road, neighbours interfering in people’s lives, fundamentalists trying to force their religion on Vasu and elections.
Mr Ali is still upset with his son not doing a proper job and Mrs Ali is the protective mother. This book also reflects on the stronger side of the timid Mrs Ali, the way she holds a firm stand against the electric meter reader; supports her husband against her brother and protects Pari from the fundamentalists is commendable. Mr Ali’s plans to save Vasu and Pari and to help Mr Reddy, his client show his sensibility and maturity.
Pari’s views about bringing up her adopted son, Vasu, are modern and very positive. Her firm belief that the child should follow his birth parents religion makes the new Imam boycott the family. With the support of the Alis and her friends, she stays firm and strong even during the religious tension.
Many parts of this book are very realistic like the electric meter reader trying to make a fast buck, Faiz trying to show off in front of her inlaws, a typical Indian marriage, a traditional joint family, a project to widen the road, neighbours interfering in people’s lives, fundamentalists trying to force their religion on Vasu and elections.
November 17, 2012
Presumably the last of the series, and we have more of the story from Mrs. Ali's perspective. Politics and religion play out more in this story where the Alis are excluded from their mosque and Pari is harassed by a Hindu guru and gang, all because she is raising a Hindu boy. The various challenges for each of the characters is resolved. Mr. Ali and his electricity and his business, Rehman and his love (though not a job), Mrs. Ali's home and family, Pari and Vasu. A pleasant resolution to the series.
December 17, 2012
I did enjoy this...it skipped along with some enjoyable characters and a lovely sense of 'place'. I found the political/religious background interesting. However, for some reason, I did not sufficiently care about the characters to be really drawn into the story. Enjoyable, but didn't quite hit the spot!
February 4, 2015
This book centered on serious disagreements on how to raise an orphan boy: as Hindu or Muslim. The violent confrontations between the two religions was eye-opening. Always sad to see the evil side of religion. I did learn a lot about the two faiths, though.
Wish the Pari/Rehman side of the story would move on.
Wish the Pari/Rehman side of the story would move on.
June 4, 2016
Compared to the other books in the series, this was a little hard to read, maybe because I've grown tired of Zama's consistent writing style. It was also more didactic than the rest, not really focusing on the Marriage Bureau itself but on religion and community. Regardless, it was a nice summer read.
April 28, 2013
I have loved this series and understand there are more volumes under construction. I know more (which wasn't hard to achieve!) than I used to know about Indian cultures and politics, and certainly much, much more about arranged marriages. There are some pluses to that practice, I think!
January 16, 2015
hoping for a next title in the series... And if only a TV series based on the books can be produced!
didn't expect to like it as much as I did... thats what happy endings and lovable characters do to one!
didn't expect to like it as much as I did... thats what happy endings and lovable characters do to one!
July 29, 2012
Loved it!Was as good as the First book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews