Speaking doctors

Welcome to the weekend post! This is Zarka and here is what I have been upto. In order to continuously learn and evolve, I am trying to read 10 pages from a book everyday- sometimes I read less, at times more. Say hi to this tiny book that am reading.  I loved this quote by Mother Teresa, "We cannot do great things on this earth. We can only do small things with great love". So let me walk you around the small things I did with great love. In order to eat healthier, I am trying to follow the 'Ikigai' books Japanese ideology of eating a rainbow meal. Eating fresh means chopping a lot of stuff. I place this time and effort into my 'exercise time' slot. Not easy this buying, washing, chopping business! Life is replacing chai with coffee. And this card makes me look forward to a free coffee. We call it 'mufta' in Pakistan. No matter what, cant get the mufta out of me. Dont have the perfect translation for mufta. Perhaps one of my readers can help me find a...

 The day starts with a train ride. It's quite empty as I walk towards the station. My brain recalls all those movie scenes where you encounter criminals in an empty train station. I have to remind my brain to stop thinking in such dramatic fashion.  There are two passengers waiting on the train. One a tall lean guy- kind of present there but mentally in another world. Does not move much as well. . Was breathing though.  I had to turn around to see someone singing in a a language not known to me but yet so beautiful.  A song of pure joy. I smile to myself . Its going to be a good day today 😌.     Packed lunch is always a good idea, and if its halal  even better

 Lets get back to old school blogging. Lets come back to have a chat.  I spent around 2 hours both ways (total 4 hours) via public transport to give an interview. It was cold and it was raining. I reached one hour early. Yes am that type of person. The chai latte comforted me. The travel both ways added to the calm even further.  As I age, interview replies are getting more and more philosophical. Almost abstract. As I answer, what seems like a well crafted story in my head, I amuse myself with the thought that the panel does seem interested.  The black cat sits next to me. All comfortable. Last night when it came to me and leaned, in her I could feel the daughter I never had. That moment felt so peaceful. So complete.  Being 42 has made me fall in love with cats. They are so loving and at the same time have such clear boundaries. After a while of patting, they want their own space. I love their royalty. Its amazing how emotionally aware they are. In my moments ...

Ramadan Kareem nostalgias  Days are approaching Ramadan. Month of fasting, sharing and  spirituality. I remember my first fast, aged 6 or 7. I forgot that I was fasting when I saw the kulfi cart. I ate the whole kulfi and then was reminded that am fasting. I took this fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) problem to my Quran teacher. She said   "You are so tiny, you cant be fasting!" I was the eldest of five siblings and always felt mature and responsible. "Show me your tongue", she went on. Am till date not sure what she was looking for. My mouth was moist with kulfi. I guess I eventually figured that eating accidentally does not break the fast.  My earliest Ramadans were in summers. I remember our lips turning purple with thirst by maghrib. We used to spend a lot of time at my Nanas (maternal grandfather) and iftars  there were with rooh afza syrup drink and mangoes and at times some pakoras. This was immediately followed by goat curry and fresh chapatis with raw ...

  There is a charm to the second cup of tea. It signifies time, another chance, chance to just sit there and chat, chat to yourself, be slow. Super slow. 

 This year has been interesting, thats for sure. Have I evolved as a person? I don't know. Do I have more gray hair now? Yes.  Here is what I had been up to this year: Sindhi love Yes, I am Sindhi and I love my mangoes and I love my fish. I continued to experiment with food. Made a million chaats. Tried my hand at baking. Am so tempted to bake cakes but the crazy amount of sugar holds me back. And yes, Dilmah tea bag, evaporated milk and a cardamom is my favourite kinda tea.   Sway with me I learned that in this life, there are plenty of thorns but then there are roses. Your times comes, and when it does, remember to bloom and sway in the breeze. If there is no one to dance along with, dance on your own. My own travel partner I took a solo trip to Newcastle. The food was fish and chips. The beach was set up for it. It was that time of the year, when Covid was not crazy and real smiles were not masked.   There were coffee shops which looked like this. The co...

  There is something about a slow cup of chai.  Sip by sip. Thought into thoughts. As birds chirp away and sun continues to shine, just slow down. Breath.      All that, with that slow cup of chai.