Zahra speaks

Ageing is astounding, from childhood to adolescence to adulthood and many more stages that we cover throughout our lifetime. Nevertheless, the most precious and best face of our life is childhood. Marching into adulthood is always fascinating but experiencing being an adult is completely different from our expectations. We all have been there, done that. Every individual faces this phase where he/she looks back at the childhood and desires to be a child again. Childhood is the time when we don't worry about things, our future and it's planning. It's the time when we only worry about being happy and doing what we want to do. In the process of becoming a mature adult, we forget these two important portions of our life: Gathering happiness out of the smallest things and doing what we want. As adults, we keep our happiness on the back foot while following the norms of society and doing what others want us to do. We become busy in setting our goals, following deadlines and...

After a prolonged winter season, we are finally moving into summers, this transitional period is known as the spring season. It is one of the most celebrated time of the year because the flowers have blossomed in this era. We see beautiful colours and magnificent fragrances everywhere. The weather is also reasonable because along with the blistering sun, the winds are also prevailing. This season does not continue for a very long time, especially in Pakistan but we love this season and try to celebrate it to the fullest. Basant is a festival that was widely celebrated in this season but because of certain aspects it is not celebrated anymore but there are a lot of flower displays and Basant Melas throughout the country. This season also comes with a lot of mental health issues. It is scientifically proven that changing weather can affect your mental health. Many of us face a lot of mood swings during this season and we don't understand why we feel anxious, angry or depressed. ...

Life is very short to please others and if you keep trying to please others, it will fall out of your hands sooner. It is a very common dilemma when you have to choose between your own happiness and satisfying others. The sad part is that most of the times we sacrifice our own happiness for the sake of pleasing others. Let me break something to you, you simply cannot satisfy anyone. If you give them 2, they would want 4 and if you give them 4, they will demand 6. The most accurate solution to this problem is to stop trying. Sometimes it is very painful but the reality is pinching and we have to learn to live with it. I have seen many people striving to satisfy others and they sacrifice their peace of heart in the process. My only question is, is it worth it? No, because they will always want more from you. Many people spend all their lives to please others and in the end there only left with regret. They give up on their dreams and follow a path that is not made for them. The for...

The main characters of my novella “the stranger” are Sara, 21 and Roy, 34. It is a story of Sara's struggle to adapt with a whole new life and the disloyalty of a person who she once loved with all her heart. She is a very emotional girl and values relationships more than anything. The immense courage and natural instinct to protect her family are discovered when she faces a life-changing incident. She is curious and takes any challenge hands on. She lives with her parents and sister but due to circumstances, moves to London for further studies where she meets Roy. Roy is a middle-aged man with an enigmatic persona. He is very elegant and smart. His life is packed with secrets and mysteries. He is soulful and caring. The life was not very easy for him either as the story progresses, he reveals his inmost secrets to only one person, Sara. Despite all the distress and ongoing matters, he has the most positive attitude, a very hopeful approach towards life. Unlike other protagon...

Writing has always been my passion and I had a lot of stories to tell. Last year, I attempted to write a short story called coincidental love . I received some extraordinary responses on that story and I can absolutely admit, it motivated me to write more of the short stories that I did later on! However, I had the urge to experiment with my skill and in December 2018, I found some motivation in the form of a story. It was like a moment when I decided to write a story and the very same day, I started writing it down. I owe a lot of credit to my readers and I am very happy to introduce the name and cover of my first book that is releasing on the 14th of March, 2019. It is also up and available for pre-order. My first book is named “The Stranger” and here is the cover, The story is very close to my heart and as they say, a writer is always inspired by some true events if not all. When I started the story, I observed a huge difference in my attitude, I started seeking inspiration f...

The rivalry between Pakistan and India is not dissimilar but the latest turn of events has established a very intense situation between the two countries. 72 years have passed and it is certainly sure that both the countries never really got along and the rivalry has maintained for many years. In my own opinion, I really think that Pakistan and India can never be friends. It is a huge profession but the extreme opposition has reached a point that it is highly improbable for both the countries to ever be on friendly terms. However, I believe in the philosophy of never say never. “I'm fed up to the ears with old men dreaming up wars for young men to die in.” George Mcgovern Kashmir is the main point of conflict between the two countries and recently, the Pulwama attack claimed the lives of 41 Indian soldiers. This event occurred on 14th February and ever since the situation between the two countries has been deteriorating with every passing day. There were air strikes, payl...

PICTURE COURTESY: SAMAA.TV Pakistan Super League has started off very grandly and with Islamabad United winning the opening match, a very firm ground has been set for some outstanding performances. The quality of performances, organisation and production are getting better every year. Subsequently, many more foreign players are opting to play for PSL. It is very predictable that the quality of games will also be phenomenal this year but there is something that is not getting better rather it's getting worst, the useless bantering. Competitiveness is very important for any sport whether it be football, cricket or any other sport and the fans play a huge part in backing the team. It is absolutely true that the support from fans is very essential for the success of any team but some delusional fans out there think that's supporting their team means ridiculing the other teams. This is absolutely wrong and distasteful. Supporting your team means promoting and highlighting th...