She was a gambler

For Yasmeen, life was a gamble. Her father was always away on business but never had any money. Her mother was always praying, but never had her prayers answered. Yasmeen was left on her own, a small girl whom the servants treated as an inconvenience. She was raised with the goal of marrying her off as soon as possible. Gambling, like refusing to eat, was how she took control. With gambling, Yasmeen could work out the odds; with her life, she was at the mercy of forces greater than she could handle.