Zahra speaks

In the past few days, our country has encountered a bizarre situation. The arrest of Imran Khan outside the court resulted in widespread chaos in the country, with people taking to the streets to protest against the perceived lack of law and order. While there was ample evidence suggesting that the arrest was unjust, there were also instances where the protests escalated into violence, resulting in the loss of approximately 40 lives. It is a tragic situation for the country, and I condemn all forms of violence. However, there was one particular incident that struck a personal chord with me. I was deeply affected when I saw the video footage of Punjab Police dragging a girl in a wheelchair out of her wheelchair and forcibly taking her to a police van. This act of brutality was unacceptable, and it highlighted the need for greater sensitivity towards marginalized communities, such as those with disabilities. I find it utterly incomprehensible that a person with a disability, who bravely ...

Twelve years ago, my life changed completely. It was a fine day of spring when I went into surgery. I remember feeling a crisp breeze. Not too hot or cold. It was pleasant. The night before the surgery, I kept searching about my condition on a small-screen phone. It was difficult to sleep. The next day, I woke up with an unknown strength of facing the unknown. I don't know why I wasn't scared anymore. Perhaps with divine intervention, the 16-year-old Zahra had prepared herself for the big battle. Right before entering the operation theatre, I remember my late uncle cheering me up. Trying to make me forget what was going to happen. But, I was okay. My life has not been the same since I got out of that operation theatre on the 4th of April 2011. I never thought it was going to be something long-term, but I owe a lot to this day. I call it the day of my rebirth in the same lifetime. It is a day that transformed me, made me strong, and maybe a little wise. This day marked the begin...

There has been a huge outrage about the movie Joyland and its storyline. Ever since this movie made its way to Cannes 2022, numerous controversies and conspiracy theories have surrounded it. To add fuel to the fire, Joyland also bagged Queer Palm prize for best LGBTQ, queer, or feminist theme movie at Cannes. As the year progressed, this movie kept making its mark in different international film festivals worldwide for its bold content and controversial storyline. The local media had a mixed response to the movie, but the hype was obviously built through constant reporting and coverage. It got me intrigued and curious about the movie. Therefore, I watched Joyland. The verdict In the first fifteen minutes of the movie, I was hooked on the storyline and characters. They seemed authentic and relatable. As the story progressed, it completely lost the original relatability factor. The story is packed with so many elements that you somehow lose track of the main plot. It is difficult to focu...

Once I was listening to a motivational speech by an influential person, and she said when a person does not cry while narrating their ordeal, and struggles, they have truly overcome it. While listening to the speech, something did not sit right with me. I don't agree with the idea of labeling crying as a sign of weakness. On the contrary, I feel expressing pain is very important to maintain a healthy emotional process. One cannot completely stop feeling pain so there is no point in deliberately refraining from it just to pose "strong" in front of the world. The motivational speaker missed an important point; crying is the ventilation of the soul. I just want to ask one question, how can someone stop crying about a pain that once ached their entire existence? With time, the nature of expression might change, but the pain exists. "Remember? The first thing we did after opening our eyes to this world was to cry!" I once read a book where the author associated tears...

Last week, I went to the mall and had to stop at a children's shop. The first thing that caught my attention was this barbie box. Without any hesitation, I stopped and watched this amazing manifestation of inclusion. It is so incredible to integrate persons with disabilities into the toys because these are the first instruments of socialization for children. When a child looks at a Barbie in a wheelchair, they would normalize it when they grow up. The imprint of toys on a child's mind is unmatchable, and the promotion of inclusion through toys makes me so happy.  It is very important for the children to know that people use wheelchairs because of different reasons. I came across many children who thought my wheelchair was a car, or an object of amusement, and what disturbed me was the fact that the parents were unable to explain the normalcy of people in wheelchairs. They could not explain why I was in a wheelchair, and just skipped the topic with an apology. I did not need an ...

I n the yesteryears, Pakistani films have been iconic, and vivid. The likes of Waheed Murad, Sultan Rahi, and Madam Noor Jahan have vastly contributed to the integrity of the industry. However, things changed and we lost our essence. For many years, there was a vacuum of good films. Luckily, the scourge broke up and we got great films like Bol that made a mark globally. The state of filmmaking in Pakistan depends on the youth. Like every other field, the youth is responsible to revive the glory of the cinema. Recently, I met a young, talented filmmaker from Lahore, Mehroz Amin. We collaborated on a project and I explored so much of the undiscovered talent of the country. Apparently, we feel there is no hope and nothing good is happening, but it turns out we are wrong. Many people are tirelessly working to develop quality content and they are also making a mark. Mehroz directed a film called Tumhari Pam Pam. When I met him and discovered his incredible work, I was astonished. Especially...

What is the perfect formula to live a happy life? This question has been moving around from generation to generation, and yet there is no real answer. Everyone has a definition of happiness. Some people find material success as a source of bliss, and others may only settle on a plate full of a good meal. There is no correct answer to this question. Pause for a moment and think about the things that make you happy. For you, what is the definition of happiness? The roots of happiness are deeply ingrained in who you are as a person. Some people have professional goals and whenever they step up the ladder, they feel contentment, but is it true happiness? I don't think so. This blog is not pessimistic. I am not trying to imply that no one can ever be happy. The point is to discuss a very crucial subject that has affected many lives, especially in the past few years. The pandemic really got us thinking, and the after-effects are still clear in our behavior.  There is a very popular story...

Some days are incredibly special in your life. They change the way you look at everything and for me, it was 4th April 2011. It was the day when I got into a major spinal surgery aiming to decompress my spine from a giant cell tumor on the C7-T1 level. I remember vividly lying down in my hospital bed the night before my surgery. Touch screen phones with not very common and we had one of those phones where you navigate the screen through the keypad. I searched about my surgery, the procedure, the side effects, and basically, what can go wrong. It was numbing and after a point, I was terrified. That night, I couldn't sleep. The uncertainty had captured my existence. Nothing seemed to help, therefore, I started praying. The only thought in my mind was, what if I die tomorrow? I started seeking forgiveness and looking back at my journey. Who I was and what had happened? It was overwhelming and sleep was nowhere to be found.  One of the most interesting things that happened the night be...

  “Fiction is the truth inside the lie. - Stephen King” What if I tell you that there is nothing like absolute fiction? Every story and character that you adore is not just a fraction of somebody's imagination, but an introspection of reality. Many brilliant authors have spoken about the integrity of fiction and when I started writing, I experienced it. With every story, the writer illustrates a bit of their life that was hidden from everyone. Fiction modifies reality into an entertaining, intriguing,  experience for the audience, and at the same time, brings out the true colors of the world. Every writer seeks inspiration from real life. The experiences, people we meet, our friends, our surroundings become a source of inspiration for different parts of our stories. Sometimes the inspiration is scattered throughout the story, not necessarily deriving the entire story from reality. In my case, I have also used bits of my life in my stories. It is a very cathartic experience. Ev...

Graduation is a great deal for everyone, and for me, it is even bigger. Recently, after a lot of effort and anxious nights, I graduated. I like saying this out loud I am a graduate now. At one point, it seemed to be a far-fetched dream and I was not sure whether I would be able to achieve it or not. Honestly, I never thought it would occur. It took courage, determination, patience, and faith to make this dream a reality, but now I can proudly say it was all worth it. In 2010, after my surgery, I was bedridden for almost a year. My body was badly affected by the after-effects of spinal compression, and some of those symptoms continue to affect me. However, I lost the grip of my right hand. There was no nervous control whatsoever and I could not hold a pen in my hand. It affected my perseverance to continue my education. Whenever I would make up my mind to restart my studies, the biggest roadblock was not being able to hold a pen. I did not know any other way to distill my learning excep...

Change is inevitable. We have grown up listening to the philosophy of change being the only permanence, but nobody told us that it is the most difficult thing to cope with. Despite the brilliance of change and how it transforms our life, the transition phase is strenuous. My life has seen many changes, from physical to spiritual, however, recently, I went through an emotional change. In November of 2021, my sister got married. I consider her marriage to be one of the most important events of my life. It was huge. Everything we used to talk about as children were turning into a reality. There is no doubt that my sister made the most beautiful bride, and I was so happy to catch a glimpse of her forever bliss. However, I had no idea that her marriage would set loose an emotional turmoil for me. Do you know how sisters are? They fight and make up all the time. But, they are always there for each other. Through every thick and thin, my sisters have been a concrete wall that never allowed an...

International Day of Persons with Disabilities is a day to acknowledge the role of a small yet significant chunk of society. Disabilities do not define an individual, they are a small part of it. It is an excellent opportunity to reflect upon the issues that the PWDs of Pakistan face, and how can you contribute to improving the quality of their lives. Inclusion   Inclusion is the prime subject of concern. Society needs to acknowledge PWD's and allow them an equal chance to grow. It is only possible once you start doing it. Start from the roots. If you have a PWD in your surrounding, try to make them feel that they are not aliens. Let go of the awkward stares. Just because a person is in a wheelchair, it doesn't mean you can constantly look at them, and try to make sense of their existence. Let them be. Acceptance is normalizing PWDs among the crowd. It seems small, but trust me, it's a meaningful juncture.  Representation It is crucial to understand that the needs of a PWD ...

 'Squid game' is gaining popularity among the masses swiftly. The Korean show has succeeded to amass viewers' attention after its release on Netflix on 17th September 2021. I binged the show after coming across tons of memes, posts, and articles online. The buzz was at its peak, and I succumbed to it. Well, here's my say. It is a depressing, violent, and gut-wrenching show that makes you sick. I feel it shouldn't be on Netflix. Here's why: The plot of the show is based on a game that involves more than two hundred people. They are meticulously selected due to their financial instability, or overdue debts. There is a whole mystery behind who runs the game and why they do so. All the participants are carried to an island, away from the city, to play a bloody game for whopping prize money. It's not as simple as that. To make it even more twisted, they summon the participants to play children's games with fatal twists. The progression in the games is based o...

 Reading is a fruitful habit that helps you in many pursuits of life. It is the most preferable and productive activity which helped me a lot in many ways. I could have never realized my passion for stories if it wasn't for The Wizard of Oz; The first book that I ever read. It was a long journey but somehow that book remains special. I read it when I was around eleven years old. It was my routine to write a diary before going to sleep so, I would write the important events of the day and then, immerse myself in the fictional world of the book. Honestly, I don't even remember the story clearly, but I do remember enjoying it thoroughly. It changed my perspective and instilled the passion to write. The truth is I haven't read many books, but when I turned fourteen, one of my cousins gifted me 'The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho'. When I read that book, I felt something incredible. The books were not just the pages anymore, I sensed life in them. There was an immensely spect...

My elder uncle (mamoo), Syed Asad Abbas Shamsi, returned to his Maker on 28th July 2021. It was an untimely demise that shook me to the core and taught me a lot of bitter life lessons. The past few days were both emotionally exhausting and painful. I felt my heart and hope shattering. It was a difficult time for the entire family, but most importantly, each minute was painful for him. My only solace is that he is now free of the pain that he was enduring for so long, and his travail has finally concluded. Yet, his passing has left a deeply engraved scar on my heart, and I can never forget the pain he endured in the last few days of his life.  If it were not for him, my parents would not have gotten married. He was my father's friend, and through that association, my parents got married. He was cheerful, funny, passionate, and knowledgeable. I can still picture his smile. The way he beamed when we would all sit and listen to his jokes. Most of the time, he would tell us imaginative ...

Creativity is a gift and once you embrace it in your life, everything seems simpler. I have explored different sides of my personality ever since I started writing my stories. Before that, the stories were there in my mind, but I never executed my creativity to put them down on paper. Writing has always been more than just a hobby for me, it's the driving force in my life. I cannot imagine my life without my stories. As a writer, my stories provide me with an opportunity to explore the world beyond my physical limitations. I can be anyone and anything in my stories which is not the case with reality. Physical limitations, cultural boundaries, religious obligations, and social expectations are all part of the real world, however, when I am writing a story, I have the liberty to set everything as I like. I am grateful to Allah that I could turn my passion into my profession somehow. There is a creative instinct in everyone, but their method of execution is different. An engineer with...