Zainab's Writings

Okay, so I remember I promised I would complete the story in three parts, but somehow I couldn't just get enough time to work on this, so I'm having to post this in four pieces, plus this excerpt is a short one (only 446 words!) I'm sorry for this, but again, I'll try to return with the last part for this as soon as I can! I've tried to end this with a cliffhanger, do let me know if it actually seems like one Click here to read Part 1. Click here to read Part 2. ------ For awhile I just stood there, looking remorsefully at my blemished shirt, wondering what I was going to do with it. Then I had an idea. I fished out a wet tissue packet out of my trouser pocket. It was just something I had slipped absentmindedly into my pocket, otherwise I rarely carry a wet tissue or even a normal tissue with me. I tore open the packaging and started rubbing it vigorously on the stain in a desperate attempt to do away with it. A minute later, the tissue had been reduced t...

Hey there! I'm back with Part 2 of the story excerpt I posted last week! ( Click here  to read Part 1 if you haven't already.) This one is longer, with a word count of 820 words.  Have a good time reading this...I'll be looking forward to your comments! :D P.S: I changed my blog design again!  I do hope you guys like it - I am finally satisfied with this template + wallpaper so I intend to stick to it for atleast a couple of months. :) ---- Breakfast was a hasty affair, and because the nauseous instinct was still there, I decided it was best to have one slice of toast instead of two. Gulping down half a cup of tea, I bid farewell to Ammi and left the house. I carefully mounted my bike, ensuring that my posture did not create odd creases on my beautifully ironed suit. I backed out of our narrow street, and, taking the shortest route, headed straight for Frizex Expressway. I got off the Expressway at Clifton. DHA - where the Prestige Bank’s Central b...

Hi everyone! I'm finally back here - apologies for not being able to post in most of October and throughout November! (I really resent this; I promise I'll try to post more often than once in two months) Anyhow, here's an excerpt from a story I have been working on for a while... I had intended to post the entire story in one post but because a major part of it needs to be written, typed, and edited, I decided to post it here in parts. Unfortunately this isn't too long :/ - only 493 words - but I'll try my best to post the sequel excerpt to this one in a week or so. Enjoy reading! -------------------------- Trring, humm, bzz… trring, humm, bzz.. My alarm went off and I sat up in bed almost immediately. Stifling a yawn, I stretched out my arm to turn it off; surprised how it successfully woke me up today. I was the deepest sleeper in my family, and when asleep, even the fiercest of thunderstorms failed to stir me, let alone the soft, monotonous alarm tone of m...

What do schools teach kids? A typical answer would be; science, math, languages, history, etc… I don’t quite agree. With my limited experience of schooling, here’s what I think schools teach kids :       1.       How to be mean to themselves When a child enters the school building for the first time, he has a strong sense of self worth – he respects himself and demands to be respected by others as well. But by the time he reaches primary school, he no longer has any self-respect left in him.  He listens to people humiliating him, reprimanding him, blaming him for things he never did, scolding him for being too intelligent, that he stops standing up for himself. In fact, now he’s part of the gang who is insulting him and telling him he’s worthless. He curses himself all the time; for speaking up in class, for being too cheeky, for being himself.          2.       How to be mean ...

Okay, so here's the story excerpt I promised! I started writing this story back in 2016, I think. Back then I typed only a couple of initial paragraphs and then got stuck. Then after several months I opened the word document and read what I had written. I realized that it was quite good and added more to it. So here's an excerpt:(even though this is all I have written yet, I am calling this an excerpt because this I intend to add more to it). ___________________________________________________________________ THE ART LESSON The tap-tap sound of the teacher’s heels announced that she was approaching. Hira’s hands trembled as she sharpened her pencil. The classroom door swung open, and the tap-tap sound grew louder. A sudden gust of wind bought the smell of strong feminine perfume to Hira’s nostrils. The tap-tap sound finally stopped by the teacher’s desk in the front. “Class! Today we will be drawing a basket of apples,” the teacher’s shrill voice sounded as she p...

So here's more poetry  I wrote over the past few days - I hope you guys aren't sick of my poems( I promise my next post will be a story excerpt, not more poetry!) Some of these poems use techniques/ are based on prompts from this really great course I'm attending at  coursera.org . This poem I wrote in early August, I think: Priority I am tired my eyelids are drooping with sleep and my brain refuses to cooperate with me, any longer every ounce of me demands bedtime Yet still, there are so many things to think about, so many poems to write, so many paintings to paint, and so many stories to tell That going to bed no longer seems a priority, anymore! * The ice of time Time, an ice block; melting away - getting smaller and smaller each passing second; ruthlessly, unceasingly, unstoppingly, Gone. * Dreams Shining, glistening, lighting up the dark. Inspiring yet distant, as far away as  the stars Constellations that...

Okay, so I'm back with more poetry! XD This is some poetry by Rumi - the famous Sufi mystic poet - from a book called ' The Rumi Collection ' which I got from a local library. It was the first time I read Rumi's poems and I really enjoyed reading them- they are so deep and symbolic! Here are the ones I especially liked: WITH US Even if you're not a seeker, still, follow us, keep searching with us. Even if you don't know how  to play and sing, you'll become like us; with us you'll start singing and dancing. Even if you are Qarun, the richest of kings, when you fall in love, you'll become a beggar. Though you are a sultan, like us you'll become a slave. One candle of this gathering is worth a thousand candles; its light is as great. Either you are alive or dead. You'll come back to life with us. Unbind your feet. Show the rose garden- start laughing with your whole body, like a rose, like us. ...

Hey guys, I'm back with another list poem! This one is called 'I draw'. Read on! I draw I draw because I want to show the world what I see I draw because I want to tell them a story I draw because I want to influence people, make a difference I draw because it helps me see things I never saw before I draw because it helps me travel into the depths of my own imagination I draw because I'm just listening to the world talking to me I draw because it gives me an awkward sense of relief I draw because it helps me understand who I am I draw because I'm fighting a battle and my pen is my sword I draw because it makes me realize that no matter who I think I am compared to the world, I'm as small as a bee I draw because it helps me make sense of things most bizarre I draw because I'm struck by a brainwave I draw because I'm sure that this idea will be a masterpiece (perhaps even my magnum opus) I draw because that's ho...

I can't believe how easy writing list poems is- you can have so much fun with them. I made this one up less than a week ago when I was furious about being underestimated by everyone just because I'm young . Then I came up with this. The words were rushing into my brain so fast that I didn't even bother to take out a notebook and just scribbled what was coming into my mind onto the writing board. Just because we're young Just because we're young we're underestimated and called little pests Just because we're young we can't be trusted Just because we're young we're called immature Just because we're young we can't drive Just because we're young we get yelled at and scolded for no reason at all Just because we're young we can't vote Just because we're young our opinion doesn't matter Just because we're young we aren't taken seriously Just because we're young we don't count Ju...

Hi guys! I'm so sorry I couldn't post here for so long- let me see... I'm posting after more than seventy days!!!  That's quite a lot. I was really busy with stuff like business and things and then there was Ramadan and well- I sort of got writer's block after that, but now its over so I'm here with one of my first catalogue/list poems. I was attending this five-day workshop at the British Council library called 'Spoken word and Language Skills' (with Spoken Stage )and there they taught us how to write a catalogue or list poem. The idea is very simple-you just have to write a list, without worrying about beats and rhythm and syllables and everything. This is the second list poem I wrote-and read aloud- at the workshop. So, here goes: Sadness Sadness is friends not turning up at twelve (even though they said they would) Sadness is not being able to post on my blog for too long Sadness is the ice cream cone that fell from my hands even before I too...

We visited Quetta a couple of weeks ago. Quetta is a very cultural city, and one of the most unique places I have ever visited.Here is an essay that I wrote about Quetta. Before visiting Quetta, I used to wonder, ‘What is Quetta like?’ When I visited Quetta, I realised that Quetta is not like any other city of Pakistan. It is a unique city, and to appreciate its beauty you must not compare it with any other place. Quetta is the capital of the Balochistan province, and is located in North-west Pakistan. Quetta is a growing city, with a population of 1.172 million. Quetta is not very green, unlike the lush green northern areas of Pakistan. However, wildlife does exist in Quetta,-or used to, at least-but is vanishing due to the increase in urbanisation. The Chakor - a pale fawn coloured, red beaked bird species-and the Markhor ; an endangered mountain goat species, are animals home to Quetta. There are basically two types of landscapes you get to see in Quetta; mountains-of ev...

Hello readers, and welcome back! This post is to announce that this blog is three years old today! In these three wonderful years on blogger, I've made it to: 110 posts, 9,170 page views, and 411 comments(including my own replies) Thanks everyone for reading my posts and commenting on them! I will be looking forward to another happy year with you all!

Hi Readers, and Welcome back! I’m really sorry for not being able to post for the past two months (I do aim to post more often and regularly in the future, though.) Anyways, spring is just around the corner and so I decided to share with you guys what I’m reading this spring!             1.  How to Make Money using Etsy :        A guide to the online Marketplace for Crafts and Handmade Products Author: Timothy Adams Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Length: 222 pages ISBN: 978-0-470-94456-1 I found this book at a local library. Ever since we’ve started our own  small business, Clayholds ( www.clayholds.blogspot.com/ ), I’m often finding books on business and making money whenever we visit the library. However, unlike some of the books I’ve found on business, How to Make Money using Etsy is quite an interesting read and gives you practical tips on how you can set up your shop on Etsy. The book isn’t at...