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Just writing

Would You Take The Risk?

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If you had a choice to play the big gamble in your life, to stand still before a fully loaded gun save one of its chambers, listen to the click of its trigger, and wait for the bullet that might be fired and hit you dead, or for the one that would never come out. You might end up lying dead on the ground, or you might go home with a million pounds. What would you do?

That was one of the oddest and simplest questions I never expected to be asked during my converstation exam in my final year at university. To be honest, I was pleased to have this one, and I felt so blessed.

Do you want to know why?

Simply because my answer slipped off my tongue without giving it a second thought.Things wouldn’t have been the same if any of my friends’ questions had been mine. It wasn’t because theirs were harder, but because, sometimes, you just can’t talk genuinely about everything.

‘No, I wouldn’t risk my life.’

‘But, it’s a million pounds. There’s a chance you could get it.’

‘Even if they paid me the money in advance to enjoy and spend my life before making the gamble, I wouldn’t take the risk. My life is priceless, and my God didn’t bless me with a divine soul to gamble with it.’

That was my answer, and that year I got the best mark of my converstation exams over the four years of my university studies.

Money will come anyway, whether a little or in abundance, but you live once, and this once can be millions lives, both imaginary and real. Would you risk all that for just a million pound that might worth nothing in the next hour?

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

P.S. I think nowadays the million pounds prize should be, at least, a trillion.

Just writing

A friend to all

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… is not a friend at all.

Have you ever heard this saying? It makes sense, doesn’t it?

Isn’t it odd that one can be your friend and your rival’s, your opponent’s, even your enemy’s? You can, of course, be kind to all, but not a friend to all. I am not talking about social media friends, for in this case you can be a friend to millions. Online frienhip is exactly what it implies “online”. I am talking about real, close friends who you can trust, love, agree, or even disagree with. Perhaps that’s why true friendship is a rare gem, too hard to find and too precious to keep.

In fiction, and in real life, true friendhip could take you by surprise. An old man might be a young child’s best friend, a man of the world might be a saint’s, a prisoner might be his keeper’s, and an animal might be a man’s. In all cases, its the quality,  not quantity that makes unique friendships.

Wouldn’t it be better if this friend of all should be a passerby after all?

Perhaps you can change the saying and add whatever you like.

A friend to all …..

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

memories

The honest

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Honesty is a noble, human trait, and I believe that, along with  kindness, it will never die out. But, honesty is truely unique when it is genuine and touches your heart. I am not referring to the type of honesty that comes with formal interrogation or businesslike settings; I mean honesty that simply slipped off the tongue when you feel you compelled to be honest at that moment, regardless of any costs or requirements.

Last summar, just before moving, my eldest son, my daughter, and I went for a long walk by the seafront. It was a  clear, hot day, with overfed seagulls soaring and screaming all of the sky. They looked as much happy and busy as all the people walking along the parade.

What could be better than having a fish and chips meal on such a summary day? We headed towards a fish and chips takeaway restaurant which was so busy with long queues waiting to either make or collect orders. I always tell my family what I’d like to order and wait outside as far as possible becuase I can’t bear the smell of frying oil, especially on boiling days. However, on that particular day, my son insisted that I go inside with them. Perhaps that was becuase it was so busy outside.

I walked inside with them, and we were waiting for our turn to make the order. As we were talking, I noticed the chef glancing at me once or twice, as if he wanted to say something. When it was our turn, my son gave the order, but then the man looked from my son to me and said: ‘ I just want you to know that we fry pork, sausages, fish and chips, all with the same oil.’

The three of us stood still for a while. It was the first time someone had given us this piece of information without us asking. When we thanked him and declined the order, he said. ‘ I  know you have laws, and I respect that.’

We stepped out hungry, but so happy.

‘Oh, mama, that’s becuase of you,’ my son said.

‘And what have I done?’

‘Your hijab, mama. It’s the first time you came in,’ he laughed. ‘You know how many times we ordered fish and chips from there, and no one told us that before. Such an honest man!’

‘But mama what about the other fish and chips we ate before? My daughter seems more interested in whether we had been making a big mistake.

‘We are allowed to eat fish, so we make an order for fish and chips. God knows that we don’t know it’s been cooked with pork, and in that case we are pardoned. But, from from now on, as we know how things are, we’ll ask every time before having any takeaway.’

I will remember that day forever. This is not only becuase, since then, we know about the frying process, but because of the honest man you come across once in a blue moon.


With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Books

The promise

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Have you ever promised someone something?
Of course I have, we all do.

Have you been true to your promise?
Hmm … sometimes, most of the times.

Have you ever broken any?
Well… I can’t remember

Can you trust someone who breaks their promise, who couldn’t stand by their word?
Never … but unless it was inevitable.

Would your answers be any similar?

You might forgive once, but when things happen twice or more, nothing can heal the wound of mistrust. It’s better not to give a promise at all than to give one with any possibility of being unable to keep it. It’s not only unethical to break a promise, but also heartbreaking, disappointing, and deceiving.

However, what if the promise itself is impossible, dangerous, or unethical? Would you blindly, stubbornly fulfill it? Or would you listen to your heart and reason, and break it? 

That’s what the new book I am currently reading is all about. A girl, in her early twenties,  gives her bedridden mother a promise to move and live with her aunt after her death. From the very beginning, starting with the cold letter she receives from her aunt, to the long, miserable journey she makes, to people’s fear and shock about her destination, to the first sight of her aunt and her husband, everything seems to be shouting at her to break her promise and forget about it. If her mother were able to rise from her grave, she would do, so just to tell her daughter to forget about that mistaken promise and flee from her Aunt’s house. But, the girl, full of curiosity and stubbornness, stuck to the promise all the same.

I’ll let you know more when I finish it.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

P.S. The promise is not the title of the book

Just writing

A different aim

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If you could have something named after you, what would it be?

Something named after me? The first thought was a mosque. But I soon changed my mind.

But why should mosques bear the people’s names? I asked myself. As a Muslim I believe that we should not boast our good deeds. Your left hand should never see what’s your right one is giving. Therefore, how can one justify writing their names on a mosque? It’s none of your property. Our money is mainly a means to construct the place of  worship. Besides, the Almighty knows your name, your intention, and your offering. So why name a mosque after me.

I searched my mind and urged each of its cell to find something. I thought and thought until the answer came to me.

It’s a title of a chapter in a book about the lives of Muslim women in a foreign country. Why just a chapter and not the entire book? Because it’s neither an autobiography nor a memoire which would  typically be named after a specific person. Besides, that wouldn’t be my aim. A chapter bearing my name would preserve both my experience and my existence within a colourful  picture and a broader narrative.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Unexpected moments!

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What makes you laugh?

Unexpected situations can make you feel either happy or miserable. Have you ever, when got embarrassed because of something, found yourself burst into a laughter instead of crying. Unexpected things can indeed make you wish the ground will open and swallow you up though later, if not at the same moment, you will laugh from the bottom of your heart.

An old friend told me once about her first visit to Madame Tussaud Museum in London. The place was so packed and after seeing so many make-real human statues, she stopped before one of them. She was so fascinated by the design of the necklace around the lady statue’s neck. My friend stretched her arm and fingered that beautiful piece of jewellery. But, all of a sudden, the statue moved its head and its eyes fixed on my friend. Oh, my … you aren’t a statue; my friend gasped and apologised to the lady who smiled in understanding. After her shock and embarrassment, my friend kept laughing until her tears washed all over her face.

Whenever I go to London or hear about Madame Tussaud Museum, I can’t help laughing as I remember this unique memory of my friend.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

A double-edged sword

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How has technology changed your job?

Truly, technology has made our life much easier, simpler and it’s saved much of our time. At work,  home,  shopping, communicating, travelling, reading,  writing,  the list of its benefits is indeed extensive. And, that’s the positive edge of the sword; the one that can heal and help.

On the other hand, technology has caused serious psychological and sociological issues; separation, lack of privacy, wasted time, immobility, lethargy, forgetfulness, triviality, conflicts, and more. The list of its disadvantages can go for ever. And, that’s the negative edge of the sword, the one that can be a poision and a killer.

Whatever your job is, and even if you are a student, this double-edged sword will always be your companion from now on. Yet, it is one of your possesssions. You park your car in the driveway, yet you have also two legs to walk. You have an assignment due within a couple of weeks and, with one click, AI could finish the job. But, you have also your brain, your own style, your own thoughts and feelings that can produce a genuinely unique piece of work.

We have been created to make use of things, not to be used by them. 

With all the best wishes,

Nahla 

daily prompt

Why rush?

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How often do you say “no” to things that would interfere with your goals?

Does this “no” truly depend on your goals? Or, does it merely depend on satifying your inner desire to refuse whatsoever interrupt your plans. In other words, making yourself a priority before anyone or anything else. I believe, in most cases it’s the latter.

How often do we say or receive “no” without considering saying “yes” instead.

In Arabic culture, there’s a common saying that suggests; the word Yes is soothing. Does saying “yes” imply you are weak, submissive, or aimless. Of course not, as long as you keep on track to fulfil your plans or goals.

To make my point clear: imagine you’re going on holiday with your friends. The trip was planned but money has not been paid, yet. Then your mother came into your room. You told her about your plans, but then she asked you to make a slight change of dates.

Before even asking for the reason. ‘No,’ you say. ‘I’ve already made my plans,’ you add. ‘But you haven’t even asked why?’ Your mother say. ‘I am not going to change my plans, but okay why? You ask, reluctantly, and then your mother explains her reasons.

Would the world had fallen apart if your “Yes” came before your “No”? If you put aside your priorities and think for a minute or so until you know the reason. Would things be better if you say; ‘Yes, mum, I haven’t paid for it yet. I will see what my friends think, but if we couldn’t make changes, I promise to do that before or after the trip.

The scenario could be different with the  mother playing the son. But, the underlying point remains the same. Why rush to say “No”, if it can say “Yes” first. 

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

A hidden talent!

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What’s a secret skill or ability you have or wish you had?

I believe every one of us has some hidden talents. Sometimes, the discovery of your hidden talents struck you all of a sudden. Oh, really, how I haven’t realised that I was talented in so and so; you said and regret the time you’ve wasted without developing it. But, sometimes, you also just keep doing special things unaware of how much you’ve been blessed with such a talent. The good news is that in any case, you are having at least one hidden talent which others will recognise about you even if you can’t admit that yourself.

Writing was my favorite hobby since I started going to school. I used to help my mother writing letters to her family as it would have taken her so long to write any and her handwriting was not good. My older splings were not interested, but I was. Year after year, my writing compositions scored the highest marks of the class for my school grades. Over all my school years, writing was such a hobby, one  of  things I like and am good at. 

Then, one day on my second year at university, our Arabic tutor assigned us a task to write a piece of our own choice. Arabic was one of the compulsory modules. He gave us one week to finish the assignment with the promise that the best fives would be published in that year’s Arabic textbook. Our essays shouldn’t be more than one page.

My father had passed away on the same year, just a month before I received this writing task. Wthout thinking twice; I chose a title and poured my feelings during these days into the one page piece. Two weeks later, I received my friends’ congratulations as my piece was published in our Arabic textbook. “The Fate We Can’t Escape!” My eyes fixed on my work title, couldn’t believe I had made it.

Writing has been my hidden talent which I’ve come to love and work on year after year.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla