QuiLL And QuirK 🪶

As a little girl, I was captivated by ceramic plates and cups, often daydreaming of sipping tea or coffee from elegant mugs. Visits to my grandmothers' and aunts’ homes left a lasting impression, where these delicate items were reserved for special occasions. But growing up in a lower-middle-class family, those dreams felt out of reach. I still vividly remember the first ceramic coffee cup my mother bought during my college years. It was a simple white cup with green dots, yet it felt almost magical, as if it carried a piece of a long-held dream. That memory has stayed with me, a quiet symbol of hope and progress. As life improved, ceramics and glassware gradually became a part of our daily lives, no longer reserved for rare moments. Today, my home is adorned with beautiful ceramic plates, coffee mugs, and teacups. Yet, every morning, I find myself drawn to my grandmother’s old stainless steel cup for my coffee. Isn’t it peculiar how life works? The things we yearn for often remain...

        School bags felt like sacks of bricks on our shoulders, but our hearts were light and bubbling with laughter. Back then, only pencils and pens were sharp—not the words we exchanged. Those wooden benches were as packed as a can of sardines, yet somehow, they had plenty of space for whispers, doodles, and giggles. Lunches weren’t about exotic cuisines or fancy platters. A humble tupperware filled with homemade rice, chapathis, and the occasional canteen samosa was the real deal. We’d swap bites, steal a little from a friend’s box, and argue over whose mom made the best pickle—all while pretending not to notice the teacher giving us the look. The midday sun was our playground, and sunscreen was just a mythical creature parents spoke of. We ran wild, playing kho-kho, handball, tennikoit, and good old run-and-tag until our faces glowed redder than the evening sky. Sun tans? Who cared! Dirt-streaked faces and sweaty smiles were the medals of our childhood victories...

  Ah, the eternal battle of body vs. mind, fought on the battlefield of my kitchen counter. Society waves its Terms and Conditions in one hand and a salad bowl in the other, while my mind screams, “Please, just one crispy egg bonda!” Somewhere in between, the voice of some unsolicited advisor loops incessantly in my head, offering advice I may or may not have asked for. I find myself struggling daily between two worlds: the chia-seed-snackers and the deep-fried-food-lovers. On one hand, there’s yoghurt dotted with chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds—basically, a botanical garden in a bowl masquerading as a “snack.” I call it bird food. For a girl like me, who grew up in a home where seeds were never even purchased—not even for gardening—this concept feels more foreign than eating sushi with a fork. And then there’s the real food. Ambur star biryani, burgers dripping with sauce, vatha kuzhambu simmering with the perfect tang, kalaki, buttery parotas with salna, ghee rice with...

"In life, as in cricket, the view is perfect from behind the stumps, but the swing is often someone else’s." We’ve all had those moments where life hands us a front-row seat to the action but no bat to swing and have to play against the moment. You see the perfect opportunity, have the right perspective, and think, “If only I could step in and knock this one out of the park.” But instead, you're stuck in the shoes of a wicketkeeper hands ready, feet on edge, but waiting. Always waiting. Wicketkeepers are the unsung heroes in cricket, quietly observing every ball, every movement, with the keen eye of a detective. They see things a batsman can’t a wide ball, a misstep, a momentary lapse in concentration. Yet, they’re not there to hit sixes. They’re there to catch the ones that slip through. Life’s a lot like that, isn’t it? You have the perfect perspective, a clear vision of what should happen next, but you can’t always make it happen yourself. Now, this isn’t to say wicket...

Am I a good mother?  No, I am not.  For I chose to stay at home, devoting myself to my children, and creating a sanctuary filled with love, peace, and serenity. I cooked meals from scratch, nurtured my little ones, and grew alongside them as a mother. Yet, in doing so, I buried my own dreams, abandoning the career and ambitions that once defined me. I sacrificed every inch of my aspirations for the love of my children, yet still, I wonder if I am enough.  So, no, I am not a good mother. Am I a good mother?. No, I am not. For I placed my tiny, fragile heart in the care of a stranger, a nanny whose face is unfamiliar, leaving my year-old baby at home. I watched from afar, through the cold lens of a camera, peering from my office cubicle,a space where I excelled in presentations, balanced spreadsheets with precision, and led my team with confidence.Yet with every accomplishment, I felt the mother in me withering, suffocating beneath the weight of corporate success. My heart ...

Life is Good! So good, it’s almost unbearable, This endless stream of contentment, Where every day feels like a rehearsed scene, And when I sought to challenge life itself, To stir the waters of my calm existence, I realized, with a quiet sigh, That destiny is not a script we write, But a journey with a mind of its own. Eventually, it will land, Wherever it chooses, Beyond our designs and desires. Life is Bad! So bad, it wears me down, A relentless tide of disappointment, Where every day feels like a battle lost, And when I wanted to rewrite life itself, To escape the weight of this burden, I realized, with a heavy heart, That destiny is a path we walk, Not one we carve from the rock of will. Eventually, it will land, Wherever it pleases, Despite our struggles and strife. Life is Chaos! Sometimes beautiful, A dance of light and shadow, Sometimes ugly, A storm that leaves us trembling. Two sides of a coin, Spinning in the air, A still water that mirrors the sky, Yet harbors deep current...

Stay calm, Stay composed, Life can be a stormy test, As you climb the hill's crest, No matter what, Stay calm, Stay composed, Victory is just a step away, Keep striving, Keep advancing! Stay focused, Stay precise, Life can be a tangled maze, For you to navigate and phase, No matter what, Stay focused, Stay precise, Success is within your grasp, Keep unlocking, Keep revealing! Stay steady, Stay strong, Life can be a rolling wave, As you ride along the brave, No matter what, Stay steady, Stay strong, Victory knocks at your door, Keep rising, Keep moving forward! Stay true, Stay on course, Life can be a scattered map, As you hunt for your trap, No matter what, Stay true, Stay on course, Fortune isn't far away, Keep chasing, Keep pursuing your way! Au Revoir' Irfa🪶

Hand in hand, with you, I want to explore the untrodden roads, To craft memories that lasts for generations, To have never-ending conversations! Hand in hand, with you, I want to experience pure joy, To be close to you until the every atom in the universe dissolves, To see our future through your eyes! Hand in hand, with you, I crave to fight just to savor those patch up moments, To laugh,live and love as if there is no tomorrow, To feel those butterflies in my stomach every time our eyes meet! Hand in hand with you, I  want to chase sunsets and watch the stars come alive, T o build dreams that blend with our reality, To hold your hand as we get through the unknown! Hand in hand ,with you, I want to dance in the rain without a care, To whisper secrets that only the night will keep, To cherish every fleeting moment, making them for eternity!! Au Revoir' Irfa 🪶

Shrewdness, Naughtiness, Boldness, Shyness, Clumsiness, Neatness, Madness, Roughness, You’re a beautiful mess! A spark of swagger, And I’ll be the one To sing your praises forever! Oh my dear, the world’s a mess, But never fear to play your own game of chess! Oh my pretty girl, you’re my partner in crime, My brightest star, shining through time! Oh my lovely, your heart is a wise sage, I’ll be your guardian, every step, every age! Oh my angel, spread your wings and fly, When you're tired, my shoulders are nigh where you can sigh! Oh my baby, your smile is the sun, Guiding me through life, no matter how tough the run! Oh my darling, don’t grow up too fast, This mamma’s heart will beat, Always for you, Until my last breath has passed! Au Revoir' Irfa💟