Dear students about to receive your grades,

I know that each day, as you get closer to the the results, you are a little more afraid. I can feel your heart in your mouth. You’ve worked so hard for this. You bought all the books and religiously did all the question papers. You skipped hanging out with friends for 2 hours of Physics. You missed a cousin’s wedding because you had to get maths into your head....

Continue Reading 21 May 2017

Dear Papa and Mamma,

Tell me, which day was it that you assigned my future for me? What about me made you feel that I can be a good doctor? Was it written on my forehead when I came out of your womb, ma?

Continue Reading 20 May 2017

Ramadan

Ramadan is around the corner again! Naturally, Muslims around the globe are excited about this month and eager to welcome it. Some of my non Muslim friends might be confused as to why we are so excited about a month where we basically keep off food and water for a good chunk of the day. I have been asked this question a few times before so I thought I’d write...

Continue Reading 19 May 2017

I will not

Today I will not hold back

Continue Reading 15 May 2017

Wordlessness.

For someone who aspires to be a writer, the worst thing that can happen is to run out of words. To have unruly thoughts bounce off the walls of your mind, unable to find a single word that can articulate it and let it out. It’s even more distressing when you want to articulate oppression, be it your own or someone else’s, and you find yourself short of words. What...

Continue Reading 09 May 2017

'OLIO PICCANTO'

My father worked in Italy for five years. He loved the quiet little town of Brindisi. He would go on long walks along the Adriatic coastline in the evenings, my mother reluctantly walking beside him since he’s donned a ridiculous cow boy hat that she absolutely detests. On weekends they’d go on road trips to different parts of Southern Italy, a cowboy hat wearing brown man and his hijabi wife,...

Continue Reading 08 May 2017