Zahra speaks

Have you ever been to a village wedding? I hadn't but the experience of attending a village wedding, after all, was extraordinary. Every every region has distinct matrimonial customs and I was attending a wedding in Kasur that can be named as the heart of Punjab. Therefore, there were some interesting traditions that I would like to share with my readers. The caterers who are usually called 'Nayi' have a lot to do more than cooking at the wedding. There was an interesting  rasam  called 'Warri Dikhai'. Warri is a set of commodities prepared by the groom's side of the family for the bride. Interestingly, I was aware of this custom but the unusual thing was that they literally showcased every item to the attendees of the wedding. Some people gathered around a trunk which was replenished with the Warri items. Ladies from the groom's family showcased every item one by one and as a matter of fact, every item was showcased by a different lady. Another funny addit...

When I wrote my first book, I never imagined that it would reach so many people, and I would be able to get it printed within a year of getting it self-published. It is a huge achievement, and I owe everything to the Almighty. He grabbed my hand while I was stumbling in life. When everything apparently seemed dark, He showed me the light of faith which never fades. Whatever other people perceived about me was proven wrong by His mercy and I cannot put my gratitude in words. Many people thought that my disability was a curse upon my parents and family, some even said that to our faces but when He paves the way, nothing can stop you. My disability became my force. I wanted to do something to prove them wrong, they could not just 'tch tch' and move away. They passed awkward stares and looked let me in a belittling way but God proved them wrong. I am not nothing, I am not useless, I have a voice and the power of the pen that has the potential to move hearts and that's my victor...

Podcast has been in my pipeline for a very long time. I am very opinionated, I love to talk and that is the perfect combination to embark on this journey. Audio entertainment has lately lost its value and former glory to YouTube and audio-visual entertainment. 10 to 12 years ago, I remember listening to FM at night and I had a favorite RJ as well, I think his name was Hadi but with time, audio entertainment became regressive. However, I always wanted to be an RJ and talk about things that I like but things don't always go the way you want. Recently, I noticed that globally audio entertainment started gaining popularity again through podcasts. Some of my favorite influencers, who I actually consider to be compelling personalities, started conducting podcasts. It is very difficult to create video content and I feel it should be left to the ones who truly hold the talent and skill. Moreover, I am a writer (with a very opinionated mind) and I don't think I should be bound to come o...