Why Me?: Events and Realities Out of a Multi-Universe of Possibilities

Defined as the sensitive dependence on initial conditions, where a small change at one place in a deterministic nonlinear system can result in large differences to a later state, Chalabi applies and humanises this idea known to physicists as the butterfly effect in his new novel Why Me.
Through his alter ego, Ramiz Alkhishin, he demonstrates through ten short plays that the consequence of any unexpected incident is determined, not by the incident itself, but by how one reacts to it.
Ramiz Alkhishin is a grocer who has a passion for a life that is as independent as possible from its surroundings. In his job he comes to notice that when any of his grocery shop customers face a fluke incident in life, a question that they never seem to fail to ask is "Why me?" But to him, the answer is simple: "It is never you in particular. It is just that an event occurs in your presence. How you and others react to this event creates realities out of a multi-universe of possibilities."                 .

Journalist: What is your new book Why Me? about?
Author: It is a series of ten short plays. The dialogue between the participants in each play highlights the random nature of life and the frustrations that 'logic' suffers as a result.
Journalist: Do you not think that life has a purpose?
Author: We set targets to ourselves for the journey, at least some do. Whether that qualifies for the grandeur title of 'a purpose', I do not know.
Journalist: Many people who have strong beliefs would disagree with you and consider what you say is some sort of nihilism.
Author: I have every respect for all beliefs that exist or yet to do so.
Journalist: But you just said that life is too random to comprehend.
Author: Beliefs allow it's believers to 'jump' from a cliff of the 'known' to the cliff of the 'unknown' without needing the bridge of comprehension. I have every admiration for those who can.