About the Book: From being labeled “so American” in India for daring to read the paper, think deeply, or talk back to elders, Zarna’s youth was never conventional. At fourteen, when her father arranged her marriage, she fled—first to Mumbai’s unforgiving streets and finally to Akron, Ohio, where she truly became “American.” She tried on many lives: dog‑bite attorney, hyper‑organized stay‑at‑home mom, impromptu matchmaker, and celebrated screenwriter. But it was a dare to do stand‑up comedy that revealed her true calling. Her loud, unapologetic voice that once got her trouble now became her ticket to freedom