I write to save lives…or perhaps just mine. — I don’t remember when exactly I realized that I had a writer in me. But I remember that I knew how to tell stories — funny, colourful, and unheard stories. When I was six, my younger sister, who was two at that time, was victim to most of my make-believe…

A complete, self-tested guide to habit change for smart snacking — When the pandemic hit last year and the sudden changes in the kind of life we started living, most people’s mental health was affected. Like everybody else, I was affected too. However, I found my solace in snacks. Tired? I snacked. Happy? I snacked. Sad? I snacked. Bored? I snacked…

The Pygmalion effect and how it affects our mindset — “The visions we offer our children shape the future. It matters what those visions are. Often they become self-fulfilling prophecies. Dreams are maps.” — Carl Sagan, American scientist and writer I always loved listening to stories — big or small, happy or sad, realistic or fairytales — as long as…

Because Urdu is more than just a language — “Listen: my father speaks Urdu language of dancing peacocks rosewater fountains even its curses are beautiful.” — (Shailja Patel, Migritude) No image could justify the emotion I wanted to convey while describing my mother tongue. Maybe it’s the woman on the left that reminded me of all those days I…

They were pretty badass: Our ancestors lived near some of the biggest volcanoes — This story is behind Medium’s membership paywall. To become a Medium member, click here. Your membership fee will directly support me and other writers you read. You’ll also get full access to every story on Medium. Once upon a time, a long time ago, the Earth was inhabited by nine…

The SS Ourang Medan — Before social media came into our lives, there weren't many ways to help you gain fame. However, if there was any way to help you become famous for sure, it was to die under mysterious circumstances on an eerie ship in the middle of the ocean. This is how people…

Meet Aristides de Sousa Mendes — In 1940, Aristides de Sousa Mendes, a Portuguese diplomat stationed in Bordeaux, France, faced a difficult decision amidst the escalating war. …

The rise and fall of some of the greatest empires in the historical world — Throughout history, the world has seen uncountable empires and kingdoms rise and fall. Some mighty power survived the tide of time, while many fell immediately. Though the reasons behind their falls variea, their power and influence over the people captivated the world in a somewhat similar fashion. …

They were surely more than ‘just virgins’ — The ancient Romans were superpowers of the world once. There are many reasons behind their dominance — they fought well, provided well, and ruled well. Despite that, they held beliefs and practices that wouldn’t make much sense now. One of the many such insane beliefs was that in Vestal Virgins. …