I’ve just finished reading A Passage to India by E.M. Forster. It’s a well-known novel in the history of fiction, regarding orientalism, imperialism, and colonisation. You may have read or heard about it. As for me, I honestly came across it while reading another book.
The book reminded me of Edward Said— have you ever come across this author? I hope you have. I read two or three of Said’s books while studying for my postgraduate degree in Religious Studies. You might wonder how I went from my undergraduate degree in English Language to Religious Studies, but that’s a story for another day.
Now, back to A Passage to India. I am not going to review the story— there are already enough, in case you’re interested. I’d just like to share a thought that struck me while reading it.
True friendship can never exist where pride and prejudice surround it. Such an atmosphere cannot creat and nourish a healthy relationship. Mottos become empty words when superiority and inferiority are hidden behind the nice, smooth facade of so-called communication.
We are created different—in colours, shapes, tongues, and even beliefs. So why does one side decide to change God’s plan, or worse, play God in this temporary life?
So, for example, how can a man travelling by aeroplane be considered more civilized than another by horse? Why is a scientist seen as more civilized than a Bedouin? And why is a millionaire thought to be more civilized than someone earning a modest wage? And, as if that were not enough, this so-called the “civilized” often seek to dominate and humiliate those they call the “less fortunate.”
This is simply what A Passage to India is all about. Friendship that seems possible at first, but cannot last because it grows in a world full of pride and prejudice. That world doesn’t see differences as diversity—but opposition.
Ironically, the author himself tends to present things more as opposites than as differences—framing them as superior and inferior, or, to put it more nicely, as the fortunate and the less fortunate.
I think Forster merged this duality unintenionally because he belonged to that generation. Even if he struggled with some internal conflict on this issue, he couldn’t overcome it—just like Fielding in the story. Besides, both were atheists, and their views seemed to slip away from the concepts of divine mercy and justice, which might have offered them a different perspective for building a true friendship.
“Imagine the silence if people only said things they knew.”
I have just come across this quote.
But isn’t it beautiful?
Not everything reaching our ears is worth telling, right?
Oh, and … perhaps you can also imagine, beside the silence, the respect and peace that would prevail if people not only said but also did the things they knew to be proper and fair.
I’ve just checked the dictionary to know more about the various meanings of ‘Re’ when it is a prefix attached to the word with no hyphen—just like retire.
So, one of the options is that Re can mean back and away or after.
And, of course, tire is about exhaustion and your need for recharging, right?
However, with the combination of both syllables, ‘retire’ can mean it’s time to step away and start afresh, anew after years of hard work, stress, workaholism, wins and losses, and possibly a permanent medical prescription.
Therefore, the word ‘retire’ itself is actually not as pessimistic as some people think—or worse, fear. If only you ponder its other positive possibilities, your retirement could turn out to be the best phase of your life.
I still remember how my father’s health and mood deteriorated after retirement. In fact, he was not even open to announcing the news outside our family’s circle. He didn’t tell me as I was the youngest not to upset me with his “sad” news. I did know, though— how could a teenager back then not figure it out? Three years after his retirement, my father passed away.
Retirement—the end of life— felt like a motto in the nineties, and, of course, before that. The sadness and isolation my father experienced were so common that almost everyone in their sixties withdrew into themselves.
Now, after sharing my thoughts and memories, it has just crossed my mind how full‐time mothers are blessed not to worry much about retirement. When children grow, mothers usually become more relieved—yet their position and influence remain strong. Don’t you agree?
But, of course, with my positive interpretation of retirement, I’m ready with a handful of chores for my husband’s retirement when it comes ( still years to go).
Today, it’s about curiosity, but why curiosity? Because last night, as I was reading my book, a sentence stuck in my head, and I couldn’t help but think and rethink and write about it.
But before I reveal this thought‐provoking sentence, I’m just wondering what you think about curiosity? Is it a useful gift or a bad trait?
By the way, the verb wondering is usually used when we are curious about something, right?
Honeslty, until this very moment, I’m wondering— if useful gift and bad trait were measured on a scale, which one would weigh heavier? Surely, the heaviest would be the winning characteristic of curiosity.
Now, bear with me as I investigate the case of Mr. Curiosity—the one who killed Ms. Cat.
‘What an awful, tragic ending!’ A witness, shedding earnest tears, reported the incident to the police officer.
‘I was at the bus stop, waiting for the bus that seemed to never come. Delays, delays, delays— I read while checking the time on the screen. I was exasperated. I had shopping to do, food to cook, and a football game to watch … but hey, Officer, who do you think is going to win the cup—Spain or Portugal?
‘I don’t care—just tell me about the cat?
‘Oh, poor Ms. Cat. She was wandering around before hiding behind that tree.’ The witness pointed to one of the trees.
The officer huffed and puffed, couldn’t wait to jump into his air‐conditioned car, and flew back home.
‘Then, all of a sudden, she ran across the road and joined me at the bus stop—at this exact spot where you’re standing, Officer?
The officer looked down and wiped his face, his patience almost worn out.
‘She did not meow or purr like normal cats. No— she moved quietly and stealthily, sniffing the hard ground and the grass around. I thought she was poorly or hungry and whispered,”I wish I had some some food to give you.”
‘ “you’re so kind, but I’m not hungr,” she replied, Officer. I almost fainted from shock. Cats don’t talk…do they Officer?’
The officer pressed his lips together, wanting so much to slap the man’s face, to wake him from what seemed like a long nightmare.
‘They can, Officer. That poor Ms. Cat told me so, and that’s why I call her Ms. Cat. But then she told me that Mr. Curiosity had sent her on a certain mission. Do you know Mr. Curiosity, Officer?
The officer shook his head.
“Neither do I. But I asked her who he was, and she said he was her best friend. Then, I asked her about the mission— in case it was a conspiracy or something dangerous. Wasn’t it right to ask her, Officer?
The officer gave a slight nod, holding his tongue— didn’t wish to explode.
‘She told me that, weeks ago, a stray dog had been sneaking around her beautiful house. Oh, the poor thing— she lived in a beautiful house with a massive garden and a swimming pool, which she hated so much. But she loved the garden, where she chased birds, squirrels, and butterflies. Do you have a house with a big or small garden, Officer?
The officer inhaled deeply, then exhaled, shaking his head.
‘I wish I had one. Ms. Cat would have invited me to her house if she had lived longer.’ He burst into tears.
The officer’s face was buring, but he turned and paced a few steps back and forth.
‘But then, that beastly dog came in—uninvited— and settled in the garden while her human family was on holiday. He jumped into the pool, made a big mess in her beautiful outdoor wooden house, devoured her food and snackes, and licked up all her milk. They had a big row, but she won, and he ran away. Wasn’t she so brave, Officer? Officer? …Officer? …Officer?
The officer blinked— he couldn’t believe he had dozed off. He nodded, wishing with all his heart that the report was finally done.
‘I asked her why she was looking for that beastly dog after all that had happened. She said her friends had heard that a family had adopted him and that he was living in luxury. She couldn’t believe them, so Mr. Curiosity advised her to investigate. She asked me if I had seen a dog with a golden chain around his neck. I said no. Have you seen any, Officer?
The Officier bit the inside of his lip until he tasted blood, then shook his head.
‘Then, all of a sudden, I saw her eyes widen. Looking so attentive, her body tense and ready, she told me the dog was near and coming closer. I looked around, Officer, but there were no dogs. The only thing I could see was my bus rolling down the road as slow as a slug. But then, I glanced up and saw a car racing madly from far away. As it overtook the bus, I saw a dog inside with a golden chain around his neck. I turned to tell Ms. Cat, but she had already run into the road. I saw her flying through the air before landing with a heavy thud on the hard gravel.’ He burst out wailing.
The officer let out a long sigh— finally, it was all over, and he could go home.
‘Are you going to arrest the dog?’ asked the witness, and the officier nodded.
‘Where are you going to bury Ms. Cat?’
‘But you forgot something— Ms. Cat has six more lives to enjoy. So perhaps you’ll see her again.’
The officer smiled and took the drunk man back to his house.
So, curiosity killed the cat— and the witness’s curiosity stretched the story to what felt like forever for the officer. But thanks to the officer’s lack of curiosity, the story ended just in time.
So, now, it seems that too much curiosity makes you nosy, prying, and meddlesome. None at all, and you become indifferent, apathetic, and ordinary. But a bit of curiosity is acceptable— just like salt in life. Right?
Now, here’s the quote:
“Curiosity is one of the lowest of the human faculties. You will have noticed in daily life that when people are inquisitive, they nearly always have bad memories and are usually stupid at bottom.”
We repeat this sentence quite often. Most of us are even willing to volunteer advice, recommend ideas, and suggest plans to help others be productive and overcome laziness. Right?
But have you ever consifered that people are different? What you see as a waste of time might be the greatest success someone else can achieve in their life.
Fame, money and power are not the ultimate proof that we are making the best use of our time. In fact, these glimmering idols are some of the most dangerous thieves of time. They glow with sparkling lights on the horizon, and you follow them—day after day, month after month, and year after year.
Through your journey, you achieve things—perhaps great things—yet you still chase the dazzling lights. You keep walking, oblivious to how time has slipped through your fingers, like soft sands. Suddenly, exhausted and drained, you blink and look back. Stupified, you gaze near and far, wondering about the many things, moments, and people you’ve missed, ignored, or—worse —belittled while chasing a mirage that never ends.
Do you agree with whoever said, “Lost time ticks in hell”? Isn’t it actually so right? I believe it is, and I’m also convinced that it applies both to those who chase the distant, dazzling mirage and to those who do nothing but watch, dreaming of following the same path. In the end, both cry over spilled milk—though they could have simply enjoyed it while they had the chance.
Our lives are not the same. You have certain chores, commitments, and deams to fullfil and I have mine— which might not seem so different. We waste time when we either achieve too much or nothing at all. Time is life, and life is not about gaining more or less. It is about what, how, and why you gain.
Only then will you know that you are not wasting your time.
Two weeks ago, or three, during the weekend, we found an unopened board game, a forgotten gift my daughter had received two years ago. So, we decided to play and have some fun without technology.
After dinner, we gathered around the dining table, and started reading the instructions. The rules were a bit complicated with unnecessary details. Rather than wasting time squinting at the tiny print in the catalogue, that needs a magnifier, we decided to make our own rules, instead.
Basically, it’s a word game where players have to describe a certain word aloud—without using any of its most familiar describitive terms.
So, if school, for example, is the word on your card, it will come with a list of some restircted terms—like primary, secondary, education, and teachers. Then, you give a brief description of the word. Other players can ask questions and you answer, avoiding any from the restricted list. The quickest to correctly guess the word, wins the round and gets the card. In the end, the player with the most cards is the winer.
Now, pretend I’m picking a card, reading the word, and having a quick glance at its not-allowed-to use list .
Would you like to play?
Here’s my description;
It’s a divine concept that humans believe and seek, yet most of the time, struggle to apply and fulfill.
List three books that have had an impact on you. Why?
I love fiction, and I love it more when its prose is poetic, rich with colourful imagery, and infused with moral significance. That’s why I never hesitate to read classic novels from the early or late 19th century, every now and then, whenever they cross my path.
I read non-fiction as well; religious, philosophical, scientific, biographies, and others. However, with non- fiction, my enjoyment depends on the author’s writing style to conclude my reading with yes I like it or not
But science fiction and comics are not for me. I might watch some movies in these genres, though.
Many of the books I have read were recommendations—directly or indirectly. Some I discovered while reading other books, some while scrolling online, some through references, some by other readers, and some during my studies.
Last year, I started my quotes and book reviews blog. Honestly, this wasn’t about recommending books, but … you could say I was developing another skill related to reading and writing.
Strange, I have rarely thought about recommending books. If anyone asks me for a recommendation, I feel like my entire reading list is lost in the labyrinth of my mind’s many chambers, making it impossible to pick just one book. So, I pause and ask what they read instead. Sometimes, they give a name or two— books that, to my relief, I’ve read as well. ‘Oh, yes, I’ve read this one, and others by the same author,’ I would say. Perhaps that, in itself, could be considered a recommendation?
I can’t really think of a specific book that has had a major impact on my life. This is simply because every book I read adds something to my reading journey—even those where I skipped some sections. It’s something like I remain the same me, but with more reading, more knowledge, more lives, and, of course a better writing craft. And all of that makes a great impact on my life.
“You can tell a lady, because nobody knows she’s there.”
How would you interpret this quote?
Negative or postive?
Please don’t fight over it. An arabic adage says: if you offer a person a hundred brains to pick one, they pick their own.
According to the context in which this quote was mentioned, a lady doesn’t show off, doesn’t flirt, and, of course, doesn’t forget she’s a woman. And, this was believed to be a positive and respectful image of a lady.
Over the time, things changed, and the positive became negative, and the negative became positive.
And then, things changed again, introducing new criteria: no positive, no negative— all possible, all the same.
Now, can you just move your eyes, perhaps your glasse, to the first line and re-read the quote—carefully this time.
Did you notice anything beyond positive or negative?
What if ‘lady’ is not used as a title or compliment, but as a presence? Did you notice that the ‘Nobody knows’ might also mean ‘they know,’ but with their third eye? And finally, could ‘She’s there’ be anyone and everywhere—yet unlike anyone and not available everywhere.
Have you ever chosen to remain silent instead of speaking?
I do—most of the time.
Should I begin with critical moments or casual ones? Hmm, I think it would be better to start with the annoying moments then climb step by step toward the pleasant—or perhaps even funny—ones.
It happens when someone asks you for a favour or makes a request, but you have your reasons for not getting involoved. You explain things once, yet they hear nothing but their own voice. Not to mention the blame they put on you, as if you were part of their problem.
Just tell me—what’s the point of arguing with someone who will never be convinced, never change their mind? By the way this isn’t about stubbornness but egotism—the I’m always right mindset. Isn’t silence better than arguing back in such cases? But, of course, you can enclose some genuine prayers, hoping things will be fine soon.
Are you still climbing the long staircase?
Sure, by now, you must feel heavy and exhaused. I imagine you’ve already climbed most of the steps—apparently we experience lots of these critical situations in our lives— each one adding to a heavy load of annoying momories.
Now it’s time to switch to some pleasant moments. I guess there’re only a few steps before you reach the top step.
Sometimes, as you’re hurrying down the road, someone looks, smiles, and waves at you with a bundle of flyers and brochures in their hands. They step into your path and ask for a a few spare moments of your time. Silence becomes your escape, and a nod with a smile— along with a quick gesture to your watch—is your way of communicating apologies, if you, like me, are not interested.
And sometimes, as part of socialising, you find youself among people talking about things you’ve never read about or even heard of—like dog food and breeds. Doesn’t it make sense to remain silent? To listen, but not really listen while thinking of cute cats.
And then there’s silence—a warm gesture of respect for elders. How many times did the younger you remain silent while your grandparents or parents talk about things you could neither understand nor follow? But, they always knew you were not listening. And that’s when your sudden, genuine laughter broke the silence.
Last but not least, there’s is silence and shyness— not only do they rhyme but they are also born together. Yet, that’s not as bad as you might think, because it’s neither a birthmark nor a curse. Can we simply call it a special personal trait?
Some talk loudly and nonstop, and some listen, whisper, and weave stories in their minds.
I think by now you’ve arrived safe and sound , and hopefully happy at the top step.
Pure and Simple 