Amber Naeem

“We teach our children to study hard, to strive to succeed but do we teach them that it's okay to fail? That life is about accepting yourself? That there is no stigma in seeking help? Our Indian culture is based on worshipping our parents. We grow up listening to words like respect, obedience and tradition. Can we not add the words communication, unconditional love and support to this list?

I look at the WHO research. The highest rate of suicide in India is among the age group of 15 to 29. Do we even talk to our teens about this?

That evening, I am standing in the balcony, sipping some coffee and looking at the sunset. The children have taken the dogs and gone down to play on the beach. I spot my son. He is standing on the sand, right at the edge of the ocean and is flying a blue kite.

The kite goes high and then swings low till it almost seems to fall into the water and all I want to say to him is that soon he will see that life is just like flying a kite. Sometimes you have to leave it loose, sometimes you have to hold on tight, sometimes your kite will fly effortlessly, sometimes you will not be able to control it and even when you are struggling to keep it afloat and the string is cutting into your hand, don't let go.
The wind will change in your favour once again, my son. Just don't let go..”
― Twinkle Khanna, Mrs Funnybones

“ What is next to ecstasy?
Pain.
What is next to pain?
Nothingness.
What is next to nothingness?
Hell .”
― Umera Ahmed

“I wish we lived like children. Run till you are out of breath, flop on the grass, stare at clouds, jump up again, chase a squirrel around every tree in the park, walk on your hands because the world looks different upside down, climb little hills and roll down the other side, do somersaults . . . just because you can. What do we do instead? We surround ourselves with all these big and small blinking screens, while our bodies and minds slowly forget how to tumble, how to wonder, how to live.”
― Twinkle Khanna, Mrs Funnybones: She's just like You and a lot like Me

“Allah Ki Mohabbat Ke Siwa, Har Mohabbat Ko Zawal Hai.
Rab Ki Mohabbat Ke Illawa Duniya Ki Koi Mohabbat Sachi Nahi,
Aur Rab Asliyat Dekha Deta Hai. Har Rishte, Har Mohabbat Ki.
Phir Wo Sab Kuch Dekha Ker Adami Se Kehta Hai,
"Ab Bata Tera Mere Siwa Kon Hai?”
― Umera Ahmed, Shahr E Zaat/شہر ذات