The Writer's Platform

    We left at dawn and reached at 9 am, as a light shower greeted us. My head, the entire ride, was partially occupied by a murder-mystery called Purple Hyacinth which I had started reading the day before. The plot was immaculate, there was no fantasy to it which is why it felt even more realistic and the characters are very engaging. Also, there was this one passenger on the train with us who was grinning to himself, eyes glazed over. When he was casually scoping his surroundings he still had that goofy grin on and his eyes were unfocused. All the while, I was hoping I would see a sign that he has air-pods or earphones on because he was looking like a straight-up criminal (no offense, by the way because I look like one too whenever I am spaced out. Heck, I look possessed) he was wearing them so weirdly I couldn’t even tell but at least I won’t think badly about him.   The first day was only for sleeping because a certain member of my beloved family spent the entire ...

      There’s nothing more relaxing than sitting in the car, rocking pleasantly with the car, feeling the fresh breeze from the open windows as trees zip back into a green blur and the sun peeking from behind those giant tree tops. I adore the peace and quiet of the ride, choosing to listen to the swishing winds than songs that matched the vibe. The rhythmic rocking, the pleasant winds and the noise of the car fills me with peace.  I am the type of passenger to silently gaze at the passing by trees, cars, windmills and road signs. I like the sight of the soft blue sky, tinged with yellows and oranges. Road trips are calming and a chance for us to unwind and exit the monotony of our everyday lives. I had been on multiple trips to Hyderabad and I always fall victim to the beauty of those outstretched fields of green. It is a relief to see such varying shades of green after staring at our screens. We always start our trips before the break of dawn so it is alway...

  I love food. I believe that it is an extremely underrated blessing. Sometimes, even the most seemingly simple dish will overwhelm you with its delicious simplicity. For example, my mother had once made dal and mutton keema and let me tell you: I almost had tears in my eyes. It was peak deliciousness and I had never been so satisfied. My parents (most importantly, my esteemed father) used to always emphasize the importance of food and how blessed we are to get three, wholesome meals every day. If ever any of us kids were faced with a dish we weren’t impressed with…we still ate it anyway. I am not especially fond of organ meats yet every year it is cooked with the most appetizing way on every Eid. And if you think I snoop around the kitchen for a second option whenever it is cooked, you are absolutely wrong.  Under my father’s gaze, I eat it without a complaint. Funnily enough, all three of us (that is, me and my two sisters) do not agree with eating coconuts. It is different ...