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Word-hu(o)b
(The Daily Prompt from Daily Post today is : If you could wake up tomorrow and be fluent in any language you don’t currently speak, which would it be? Why? What’s the first thing you do with your new linguistic skills?) For me, without a doubt, the answer to the above question is ARABIC. A beautiful Semitic language of poets and writers, Arabic literature is vast and rich in information related to culture and history dating to almost 16 centuries. Closely related to Hebrew, Aramaic and Phoenician, Arabic also has influenced many languages of the world including English. It has been a major vehicle of language to Europe, especially in…
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Phase of life
For nearly two years, there has been a constant theme in my life – Uncertainty. Personally and professionally, everything I desired and worked for ended up in failure. I ask myself, where did I go wrong? Did I not work hard enough? Weren’t my prayers sincere? How and when will I figure things out? I find myself mulling over the same decisions. Insecure, confused, unhappy and anxious. I am a shadow of my former bubbly self. I stopped believing in friendships. Solitude is my greatest companion now. Quarter-life crisis, they call it. Everyone goes through it, they say. Is it? ( Write Tribe’s 100 Words on Saturday –…
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Neighbourhood.
It has nearly been 6 months since I and my mom have been staying alone, back in our hometown, after a gap of nearly 20 years! Used to the idyllic slow paced life of Doha, safe and secure with Dad and brothers around, staying in Kerala was as adventurous as it was hard on both of us. We are not aware of the Doctors, Plumbers or the Painters around. We do not know about the local Electricity board, neither do we know the local grocers and shopkeepers. Heck, we dont even know the brand name of the milk powder packets used here commonly! (In Doha, it is either Nido or…
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Prized Books
Over the years, I have learnt from… ▪Uncle Quentin’s love of science ▪Hermione Granger inquisitiveness and hardwork ▪Julian Kirrin’s sense of responsibility ▪Patricia and Isabel’s (O Sullivan) companionship ▪Nancy Drew’s eye for details ▪Frank and Joe Hardy’s sense of adventure ▪Howard Roark’s passion for his profession ▪Liesel Meminger aka Book thief’s love for words ▪Dr. Bentley aka Memory Keeper’s chivalrous nature to protect his wife from sadness (though it led to a terrible decision) ▪Pi Patel’s extra human courage in dealing with a grown tiger ▪Amal Hassan Abulheja’s love for her motherland ▪Morrie’s wisdom filled lessons for life ▪Robert Langdon’s knowledge of symbols, art and architecture ▪Tehmina Durrani’s strength in…
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Weekly Photo Challenge : Object
A broken heart Nearly 13 years ago, my middle school friend gifted to me this key-chain after she came back from a trip. Though broken at the side, battered and bruised by rough use, this travels with me wherever I go. We live in two countries now, still our laughter and gossip hasn’t changed one bit since those school days. There are some friendships I am grateful for. This is one of them. (Prompt titled Object from Daily Post) Linking it to NaBloPoMo
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Oral Cancer
There is a definition which all medical students memorize by their second year, which is an oft-asked question, especially in viva, commonly known as Willis definition of tumour. It states : A neoplasm is an abnormal mass of tissue, the growth of which exceeds and is uncoordinated with that of the normal tissues, and persists in the same excessive manner after cessation of the stimulus which evoked the change. I feel everyone needs to be aware of this definition. In simple layman terms, any extra lump that grows excessively and rapidly should be checked out by a medical professional as early as possible. Most of them might be a simple…
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Through their eyes – Perspective
Situations when it is easy to see from another person’s perspective : ●While feeling loved/loving ●Happy moments/situations ●While feeling Calm and composed ●If we have gone through the same situation before/read about it ●Knowing someone personally who has gone through the same situation Situations where it is really difficult to see from another person’s perspective : ●In the heat of rage/mad anger ●Feeling sad, tensed, anxious ●Being unaware of the situation/depth of emotions related ●Not listening/comprehending the other person’s point of view ●(I have to say this) At times when we are just too stuck-up/arrogant/proud Incidentally, it is the second set of situations where there is…
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Perspective of a parent
After visiting an elderly relative of mine yesterday, I was quite disturbed on seeing him, sitting all alone in the front porch. His three children stay abroad. Wife was at the hospital. He has a male servant who helps him out. Otherwise, it is him, the big house and silence. In the eastern countries, filial responsibility is entrenched in the minds of people. We rarely send our parents to old age homes or put them under the care of someone who is not family. When we come across such a situation, the first thought is ‘The children donot care for their parents. How selfish of them!’ Maybe, we are wrong…
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Think global, act local
The issue of racism abounds in our society. Though we Indians come in all shades “Fair is superior/beautiful, dark is inferior/ugly” mantra has been sung and wrongly believed since ages. I have never encountered racism until the time came for me, to search for a spouse. Then I tasted it’s most vile form. In the concept of arranged marriage/proposals set up by families, one of the initial questions asked is ‘What is her complexion?’ The minute it is known I am dusky/wheatish/dark/tanned (You see, Indians have a colourful vocabulary!), it negates all my achievements, educational qualifications, qualities and goodness of heart (if any!). How much more shallow can we be?…
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Message in a bottle.
While rewinding myself at the beach, after the big fat battle against exams, I was caught up in my daily dose of day dreaming when a glistening glass caught my eye. My Nancy-Drew-honed curious mind went over to investigate only to find a glass bottle with a note inside. Excitement crept over me. I seek adventures or adventures seek me – I cannot fathom which is more appropriate. Opening the tight shut wooden cork, I came across a beautiful message : Laugh at life’s absurdities. Learn from daily oddities. Strengthen inborn abilities. Polish innate capabilities. Engage in useful activities. Nurture selfless qualities. Open to new possibilities. Fulfill family responsibilities. Reminder…
