Tag: family

Failed attempts at remembering my childhood…

Is there an age or year of your life you would re-live?

Hi…

I hope all of you are doing well…

(I hope Halloween went for all those who celebrated..)

I’d love to live a specific age in my life once again, well tbh I’m not that old yet but there’s an age which I’d like to return once and live my life to the fullest…

It would be my childhood i.e. the age when I was between 6 years to 12 years, because I see people remember their childhood,

but I really have no clue as to what my childhood was or what were my quirks or things that I used to do…

I’ve seen people remember their childhood with photos and memories, but it’s all a hazy flashbacks for me, every once in a while someone will ask how my childhood was and I’d remember bits and pieces of it nothing more ;(

I know it might feel sad to hear, but when you actively fight for survival after being the sole earner, things tend to fall apart real soon…

Every once in a while someone in my family will say do you remember that (A core memory from my childhood)..?

I’d shake my head and agree with them even if they lie through their teeth, because I have little to no recollection of what happened back then…

It’s sad and disappointing but that’s how it is for me, so I’d like to live my childhood once again…

Cheers (To some dreams that might come true in the near future) 🥂

Love Waakiye🤍

01/11/2025
From Chaos to Joy: My Incredible Vacation Experience

Daily writing prompt
Describe your most memorable vacation.

Hey…

I hope all of you are doing well…

One of the most memorable vacations that I ever went to spanned across two weeks…

The struggles…

It was a plan that was being put on hold for two years,
and eventually,
we (my friend, one of his friends and myself),
got fed up with things not matching,
someday it was just dates not aligning,
vacation days for some,
for some it was a family emergency,
others were just struggling to make time from their schedule…

Impulsive acts…

So,
the week before Christmas,
we decided to just go along,
and started to make payments in advance,
to the travel guide,
to the homestay,
and a few days when all others bailed on us,
I took my cousin with me,
and my sister to the trip,
so in total I booked the ticket for the 4 of us to reach the nearest state through train,
from where the route was halved,
and my cousin brother picked us from a railway station in Haryana,
along with the taxi driver in his hatchback…

Our arrival at our destination..

The trip was complicated and messy,
around six hours later we reached,
but,
we were a total mess,
all of us throwing up,
as we weren’t accustomed to the change in the atmosphere and the environment,
as we climbed what seemed like an infinite flight of stairs,
praying to the Almighty,
holding our stomachs in pain,
we finally found ourselves a place to sit outside,
and wait till they cleaned the homestay…

On seeing the place where we were supposed to sit and rest it brought tears to our eyes,
as we picked out spots in the room,
and opened our bags and went to shower and later eat something to replenish our lost energy after throwing up,
and after eating out fill,
we went out for a stroll,
watching the sunset,
snacking on our way back,
and grabbing a few bottles to drink as we came back to our homestay,
and we lit a bonfire and took our solo cups and smashed 1.5 bottles within us 4 (one sober guy)..

Things We did for fun..

We went to sightseeing,
climbed a hill,
did adventure sports like ziplining,
ice-skating (during which I took so many falls and ended up with bruises),
playing in ice (My first time seeing real ice),
visited a temple,
and returned back to the homestay in the evening,
the running waterfall was the best thing to ever see,
as we took a bath and came back shivering…

Last day…

The day of our return was the saddest,
as the night before we emptied all our bottles and got piss drunk and all of us fell dead asleep,
on waking I saw my first snowfall,
a very real event that I haven’t seen before,
bringing me to tears,
as we were packing to leave,
we took some of the stuff that was popular in the area as a parting away gift,
and a bundle of memories to remember them by…

One of the most memorable of my vacations,
that I ever took,
flashbacks till this day…

Cheers (to good times) 🥂

Love Waakiye 🤍

05/07/2025
The Importance of Gratitude in Friendships

Daily writing prompt
How do you express your gratitude?

Hey…

I hope all of you are doing well…

Another day another good prompt,
There are a few instances where I take help of those who are around me,
and,
If I do,
I do let them know that I’m grateful for that…

Often,
it happens that they talked to me,
when I was feeling low,
or,
If i was in the need of something and they came in like a savior and handed me the thing that I needed,
or,
swooped me out of the bad situation,
by telling a simple excuse,
knowing I was feeling agitated,
and when we are out of that situation,
I usually thank them for it..

Just the happening of last week,
I picked up a friend of mine from the nearest metro station that was to my workplace which I visited during my day off,
and we went from one cafe to another in search of good coffee,
and when we were done with the first one,
we had latte and a filter coffee with some brownies,
But,
we didn’t like the ambiance as the shop was packed and we had to sit outside,

So,
we went to another one,
had a cold coffee,
they ordered a lemon iced tea,
and we ordered some snacks to go with it,
And after having it we went to an art gallery,
and looked at these beautiful paintings,
as the artist themselves invited us in,
to look at them,
and they were one beautiful,
Of course,
we couldn’t take any pictures,
but we really thanked the artist as he walked us through,
the paintings their expression,
and what message it conveyed…

And after thanking him and getting to know his schedule,
we told him that we will send some art enthusiasts his ways,
one of them who paints as a hobby,
another one who does this as her profession…

After we were done and they waited for their uber to come pick them up,
I told them to sit,
and later I dropped them off outside their home,
and they thanked me and as they were going,
they reminded me of how much of a good friend I was,
and they’re forever grateful that I came into their life…

And they told me to drop them a message as soon as I arrived home,
but,
I got late as I had to pick up essentials,
and they got worried for me,
as I texted them,
that I was happy that we could spent time together today,
and they were too,
wishing the same for the next week,
and I told them I hope they’re free next week too,
so we can spend time together…

Just these little things,
spending time with loved ones,
exploring things and new places,
which makes them happy and gives me exposure,
broadening my horizon,
all the while being a better person and thanking anyone who becomes a part of this life,
My life…

Cheers 🥂

Love Waakiye 🤍

02/07/2025
Personal Accounts of Surgery: Lessons from Loved Ones

Daily writing prompt
Have you ever had surgery? What for?

Hey…

I hope all of you are doing well…

Thankfully,
I haven’t underwent any surgery up until this point of time in my life,
but,
I’m surrounded by people,
who are close to me,
very dear to me who underwent surgery,
To save them,
or try to save them from a life-threatening disease,
that was looming over their heads…

My father had to go through a colectomy,
to remove a part of infected small intestine,
which developed had developed into a fast-growing cancer,
that had already spread through his soft tissue,
but,
his conditions deteriorated after the procedure,
as the medications stopped working and we ultimately lost him in late ’23,
extremely hard times those were,
May his soul rest in peace…

My aunt had to go through multiple of them,
another person stuck with cancer,
first,
the doctors ordered to remove her uterus,
which was the center,
where the problems began,
later it metastasized to her other organs,
and detection were made,
where tumors were found in her breasts,
which had to be removed too,
which broke her spirit,
as we eventually lost her after a year of fighting the battle against the fast-spreading disease…

One of my cousin sisters had surgery too,
she was developing polyps in her uterus,
which were making her life miserable,
and the history of a mother who passed away with cancer,
she took no risks and went ahead with the surgery before it could develop into cancerous ones,
which made her life better,
as she can live carefree,
but,
she has to work with caution,
as they can develop again,
by managing diet,
and having routine check-ups…

Being surrounded by,
the survivors and the tales left by those who have left us early,
remembering and keeping all of them in our heart and minds,
as they taught us to never lose hope,
until the very last point…

Cheers 🥂
(Happy weekend)

Love Waakiye 🤍

29/06/2025

Reliving My First Crush Experience

Daily writing prompt

Write about your first crush.

View all responses

Hey…

I hope all of you are doing well…

Let me take you on a journey to my schooling years and my first crush…

A hot summer day,
A new admission she was,
A little while later,
She entered our class,

She didn't just enter in the class,
it was my heart that she came into...

A hot summer day it was...

Fixed seating for girls it was,
As she sat in the middle row,
right next to mine,
greeting everyone around,
and asking their names,
all of them replied with theirs,
as she turned around facing me..

It was magical,
she shined,
her face glistening,
with little specks of sweat,
above her lips,
and her cheeks,
which she cleaned with a handkerchief regularly...

Those eyes,
it felt like I took a fall while sitting in that seat,
her eyes,
bowl of honey,
and in sunlight they turned amber...

A hot summer day it was...

As I spoke my name,
and she repeated it,
within a fraction of a second,
something that I carried for my entire life,
My name,
which wasn't appealing,
sounded mesmerizing from her mouth...

As the Roll call began,
On answering mine,
I just waited,
looking at her,
shyly,
not to disturb her,
or creep her out,
But,
to make her feel at ease....

A hot summer day it was...

As the lectures began,
and she keenly listened to all that was being said,
penning down occasionally,
what she thought was important,
into her notebook,
on seeing from afar,
she wrote in cursive,
and that too fast,
Impressed beyond the skill,
I began,
penning down that the teacher said,
but,
my mind went blank until I looked at her,
how she wrote,
so beautifully she wrote...

A hot,
hot summer day it was...

After a few periods passed,
and it was the time for lunch break,
all of the friends that I had,
came to my desk as we opened up the tiffin,
that we brought,
staring at the group she asked her bench mate,
"What happened...?"

And she just told her to get up,
And move to that seat,
as everyone opened their lunches,
our usual routine,
a face popped within the crowd,
it was "H",
Her bench mate and a good friend of mine,
she asked me what did I bring for lunch today...?

Before she could say anything,
she pushed in and took a bite out of my lunch,
She told me it was delicious,
As she slyly picked up my lunch and took it without anyone noticing but me,
she took a spoonful and shoved it in her mouth,
telling her,
how does it taste...?
Tell me isn't Waakiye's mom the best cook in the world isn't it...?

As she chewed it slowly,
savoring each bite,
as the flavors mixed in her mouth and gulped it down,
her eyes sparked,
it was a common dish that was prepared in every household,
but,
there was something different about this one,
as she took another bite,
and then gave it back to me,
as I raised my hand to take it from her,

Our hands touched briefly,
enough to as she was handing me the box,
a soft and delicate touch,
as she pulled me closer and told me,
they are absolutely delicious...

A hot,
hot summer day it was...

As she opened her lunchbox,
it was just plain jam sandwiches,
as she began eating them in peace while sitting in her seat,
I got up and walked towards her,
Man,
I never get sandwiches when I ask my mom,
Can I get a bite,
as she handed me a diamond shape that was precut,
before making the sandwiches,
as I took a bite and told her,
it was amazing,
as she looked up in hope,
Thinking,
how can something this simple be,
delicious...?
As she looked at my face,
as I enjoyed each and every bite of it...!

You can have lunch with us,
we all share and have what we like from other's tiffin,
as she got up and thanked me,
as I made space for her,
and she began eating with us,
from that day on...

A hot,
hot summer day it was,
And I found someone,
who looked like an Angel in a human form...

As she sat in her seat,
And thanked me for the lunch and the invitation into the group...

OH,
on seventh heaven I was,
As I spent the whole day,
adoring her,
watching her quirks,
as she smiled when our eyes locked...

A hot,
hot summer day it was,
all the while I felt a winter breeze as she looked at me,
The best,
one of the best days it was...

Cheers 🥂

Love Waakiye 🤍

19/06/2025

The True Value of Retirement: Family and Fulfillment

Daily writing prompt
How do you want to retire?
View all responses

Hey…

I hope all of you are doing well…

I hope this new week,
that all of you started is blessed with positivism,
and a learning experience that helps you develop,
(In a positive direction…)

Also,
today’s prompt,
comes at a time when all,
literally all of us think about it almost all of the time,
also, for those who brought us into the world,
our parents who also deserve much needed retirement and peace,
in their ever-running life…

Well,
there are many who have a dream of having a buttload of money,
and with that having all of the riches,
all of the things needed in this life,
waiting for your disposal,
but,
of what is the worth those things,
which only come in your life after all you have done is struggle all your life,
spending time away from your loved ones,
in order to spend the last few with them…?

Instead,
I’d rather have a house that has a family,
my family in which there are people who I can call mine,
my children and their children,
and we live in a big house all together..

In the evening as I return to the home,
I am wished by my grandkids,
and their happy faces which make my day much better,
as my children and their s/o’s return from their place of work,
I’m there present at home,
and wait their return…

All of us,
have dinner,
as we are sitting,
on a table that is big enough for our family and the Grandkids too,
as and we are done with the dinner,
we go out and take a walk in out garden Infront of our house,
as I am in the arms of my beloved,
as I stare into her eyes,
and the moon,
as we sit on the bench when we feel a bit tired,
and the walk home as we are surrounded by the kids that call us Daadi and dada( Grandma and grandpa)…

Isn’t that one of the life’s best treasures…?

Having a home full of people,
waiting for your return,
instead of earning everything fast and crashing hard early,
but,
building a life that is enjoyable even till the very end…?

Cheers 🥂

Love Waakiye 🤍

With a wish,
that originated from deep within,
A dream to exist,
exist to see the faces of those,
who will call us,
Call us their grandparents…

As we progress,
go beyond ages,
And from that we learn,
learn the meaning,
As we look at happy faces that shine,
shine when they see their grandkids…

All of the worries,
All of the pain,
Appears to subside,
vanish into thin air,
as soon as they are seen,
or their happy faces are remembered,
and their sweet laughter comes to these ears…

A wish,
a wish it seems to be,
Making this life,
this sad miserable life worth surviving…

“A life worth living…”

16/06/2025
Cherishing My Oldest Daily Companion

Daily writing prompt
What’s the oldest thing you own that you still use daily?
View all responses

Hey…

I hope all of you are doing well…

I hope the weekend is going well,
and you wake up well rested,
this morning and don’t have the buzz from the last night…

The oldest thing that I own and use…
It will be one of my oldest devices that i still use to this day,
the trusty Samsung S7 edge,
its been used ruggedly ever since it came into my hand,
in the late 2016…

It’s been something that I’ve cherished,
loved and bought with real passion and discussion with those in my surroundings,
and when I got it in my hand,
it felt like I held a cherished treasure,
for which I worked really hard,
(Well not really…),
but,
it was one such passion that I had,
and it was the one thing that was with me,
Everywhere I went,
and whenever I needed it was there for me…

That was the one device where all of this started,
like,
my writing,
all of my beginnings are a part of that device,
where I started all of this from scratch,
and all of it is a journey from nothing to something to whatever I am today…

With that being said,
it’s still with me,
and on it I am playing the tracks that I love through a speaker,
which brings out fresh feelings as this harsh sunny morning curses us…

Cheers 🥂

Love Waakiye 🤍

After spending night,
with adequate and sleepless,
I found,
my cherished phone to be my partner…

Through thick and thin,
the ups and downs,
welcoming a new member,
And a few of them passing away,
it was always there with me…

The first crush and its addressing of my feelings
the cues that I saved on my phone,
became the helping hand for me,
as I flipped it,
to see what I had to say as my words fumbled…

But,
that same became a helping hand when I was,
When I was all alone,
within this world,
within this mind I was trapped,
without a single clue,
as I prepared a document,
citing my untimely end,
and how it was no-one’s blame,
or everyone’s but mine,
and now when I look at it,
a sensible chuckle stays on this face…

“Crazy times”

15/06/2025
Exploring Luxuries: Perspectives and Realities

Daily writing prompt
What’s the one luxury you can’t live without?
View all responses

Hi…

I hope all of you are doing well…

A luxury I can’t live without,
Hmm,
it really got me thinking,
what are the luxuries that I own and use on a daily basis…

Then the question comes,
what are the things that you consider luxuries,
do you consider a car or a bike to be luxury,
or do you consider a laptop or a phone to be a luxury,
do you consider the roof over your head to be a luxury or
you consider all of the above things that are basic of the basic things…?

Where I’m from,
having a roof over your head is a luxury,
but,
having a car or a bike isn’t;

having a laptop or a phone isn’t a luxury,
but,
having enough money to eat daily is a luxury…

What do you think the division of power is?
when one side is dying to barely afford 3 meals,
and the other generate many times as waste,

One side doesn’t get even the basic of necessities,
like water and a place to bath and relieve themselves,
but,
The other has all of these things readily available at their disposal,
whenever they want to;

This type of thinking that sees a stark difference and is willing to make an observation,
and an effort to expose those who oppress and keep them in conditions similar,
even after working many times compared to others,

This becomes a luxury in my case,
As I see and try to make an effort to those who suffer unnecessarily,
by helping them,
those who want to be helped,
and show a genuine need and want to be helped,
to be pulled out of this cycle that their generations were trapped in…

A luxury that comes when a silent observant being,
sees and processes things differently,
when others,
they just go and lower their head or avert their eyes to not see,
all the wrong that goes on…

MAYBE YOUR LUXURY AND MY LUXURY DIFFERS VASTLY,
AND THAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US…!?

Cheers 🥂

Love Waakiye 🤍

A wish,
in hope a child,
from a family that isn’t well off,
imagines…;

A room,
an entire room full of toys,
as he stares into a passerby’s home,
a family that is loving and caring,
he imagines,
Is all of this his fault…?

Is this his fault,
being born,
born in a family that works so hard,
yet,
earns so little,
is this his fault…?

Is this dream of a room,
a room as big as his house,
in which four others live,
is this his fault…?

As he sees the crib,
in which the child probably sleeps,
as big as the broken and unkempt TV stand that we have,
which doesn’t even cover a third of the room,
Is all of this my fault…?

Being born in a family that’s ridden with debt,
a child,
another one,
that they brought into this world,
to curse,
to push into something,
that isn’t even remotely as close as living good,
where diseases are widespread and making past 10 is a blessing,
is,
is being born,
being born in these conditions,
in this situation,
my fault…?

“A blame no-one will take…”

10/06/2025
The Power of Personal Taglines in Everyday Life

Daily writing prompt
If humans had taglines, what would yours be?
View all responses

Hey…

I hope all of you are doing well…

Another day,
another great prompt if you ask me,
if us humans,
each and every one of us had their own tagline,
a catchy phrase,
or something indicating the type of person they are,
or the type of work they do,
which would easily cut down a lot of unnecessary conversations,
or a part thereof..

Imagine,
if you were in need of a lawyer,
and on introduction in an informal setting,
they said their tagline,
like,

“A proficient lawyer,
and an attorney with 25 years of experience,
tracing the footsteps of (their parent’s business),
and taking real pride in their work…”

Doesn’t this make things much simple,
like you know what you want and what are you looking for,
with a simple introduction that starts with a tagline,
and you already know if you want to continue the conversation or not….

But,
there has to be some strict laws that are guiding them,
imagine someone forging their data or information,
(A much real possibility.)
just for securing a deal or a job and after that fleeing the scene without a trace,
which in fact nullifies all of the effort and dependence on this tagline system….

If you were to ask a normal person about this,
they would for sure be expressive of their feelings,
and within it,
in plain sight where their professional skills would be told in an easy-to-understand way;
But,
if they were seeking companionship,
they would add things that might be common like their interests like birdwatching or going on hikes,
or dog walking or something like keeping a garden,
which would signify that he takes care of his surroundings and loves animals and such,
making them a viable candidate…

Again,
we’d have to be careful,
that someone doesn’t come up with things that they can’t do,
and they added it just to make themselves sound better and get what ulterior motives they had…

NOW,
What would be my tagline you ask…?

“A hardworking person,
who tries to fit themselves into places that are new and difficult,
just to expose and gain enough skills to be a better person,
A writer too,
who writes without boundaries and seeks new experiences,
to be a better storyteller to his kids and grandkids as he ages like fine Wine,
coming from a business family,
and importance of learning things from scratch makes them always open for new innovation,
and skills that can be honed and refined further…”

Cheers 🥂

Love Waakiye 🤍

A table full of people,
waiting for someone’s arrival,
a person of character for whom they gathered there,
much more valuable his time was than theirs…

As they ordered some entrees,
a few drinks on the table,
slowly everyone’s taglines escaped their mouths,
a business owner,
a housewife,
a diligent employee,
a secretary,
and a newly appointed receptionist,
and in the background,
a newly married couple,
sharing the same last name,
sobbing she was as he consoled her…

As he watched from the corner,
waiting for things to settle down,
as his phone rang,
on hearing the news,
he went silent,
a single beep continued as he heard the news…

We couldn’t save the people in the vehicle,
a drunk driver whose tagline said,
“An addict who was clean from the past 5 years…”
was in fact drunk and ran a red light
crashing into the car in which his wife and kid were,
killing them on the spot…

The girl on being a friend of the nurse in the hospital,
which their lifeless body came in,
and confirming her,
of the worst fears…

As he got up to approach them,
they climbed into their vehicles,
and drove to the hospital,
unknown to the happening,
he sat there,
as he recognized,
a similar car,
a similar number plate and a similar bumper sticker,
before they flashed a photo,
with him and his wife and a child merely 7,
his whole world uprooted,
as the tires screeched and in the parking lot of hospital he was,
where they saw the remainder of his family surrounded by news reporters,
as he slid past them,
he saw,
on the gurney,
bruised up,
scratched and heavily injured body of his wife,
and on the other,
a crushed one,
from the direct impact,
on the passenger’s side,
A small,
little one,
his little one,
laughing and playing with his toys hours before…

As he screamed silently,
curling up in a ball,
unknown to how he would face,
face this world ever again…

“A fault in the system…”

09/06/2025
कफ़न में ना लौटने की अभिलाषा: एक बेटी का संघर्ष

कफ़न में आना मंजूर है,

उस बेटी का,

जिसको पाल पोस कर बड़ा किया;

लड़ झगड़ कर ना आए वापस वहां,

बचपन बीता जहां उसका

हर बार यही कहा;

जलील हो एक बार,

बार बार,

लाखों बार,

सांस लेना हर एक पल उस घर में,

जो लगने लगा अब कैद—खाना;

ताने सुनने पड़े हर बार,

कभी छोटी जात को ले कर,

तोह कभी ना आना पैसे वाले खानदान से;

कफ़न में आना मंजूर है,

उस बेटी का,

जिसको पाल पोस कर बड़ा किया;

वोह एक बार हाथ उठा दिया जो,

सहम गई वोह,

रोती—रोती सोचने पर मजबूर,

ना किया किसी ने ऐसा उस घर,

जहां से आई वोह;

देखने पर कोई निशान नहीं,

हादसा ऐसा,

जिसकी कोई चोट नहीं,

पर दुख और पीड़ा अनंत,

ना जाने कैसे सहार गई;

वापस जाने को आज कोई घर नहीं,

जहां से आई वहां के लिए,

दरवाजे बंद,

किसी दुख के मुकाम पर,

वहा के दरवाजे बंद जहां बिताया बचपन मैने;

खुश होंगे जरूर,

खुशी दिखेगी,

चेहरे पर,

आँखें भी नम होगी,

जाऊंगी में वापस जब,

उस दिन खुश होंगे सभ;

कफ़न में आना मंजूर है,

उस बेटी का,

जिसको पाल पोस कर बड़ा किया;

तब देखेंगे,

सब गौर से,

अरे,

ये तोह,

बचपन में इसी घर में तोह खेली ये,

पर,

उस पल भी सोच में होऊंगी मैं,

क्या वोह अमीरी जिसकी कमी थी,

इस घर भी,

उस घर भी,

क्या वोह पाई किसी को,

या ले गई मैं अपने इस किस्मत की अमीरी अपने साथ;

उस सफेद में,

आऊंगी वापस,

पर आऊंगी लेके चेहरे पर एक मुस्कान,

क्योंकि,

दुखी होके,

किसी का दिल दुखा के,

लड़ झगड़ के

आना,

मना जो है मेरा….।

A sense of loss,
profound,
filled with grief…

Every breath taken,
in a sense,
to last longer,
than the last…

The pain,
like
a slow working poison,
hurting as its traveling to parts different,
and eats from within the being…

A sense of doom,
looms over the person,
a fear that haunts,
reminding,
of the change in dynamics,
of the responsibilities that were shed,
once she was given from a home,
to a house,
unknown…

Numerous calls,
a wish to return,
A wish to see the faces of those remaining,
BUT,
A strict no,
stood in the way,
As she breathed,
drank,
dabbed herself in poison,
each day,
until the blue,
overcame her,
and there she lay,
in a cloth pure white,
a call was made…

A call was made,
that carefree father’s laughter,
turned into nightmare,
as tears started to fall,
the drive was painful,
The words barely leaving,
As they saw,
their daughter,
or what remained of her,
in a cloth,
PURE WHITE…

Wishing a conversation,
a last one,
but,
unaware of the fact,
they themselves closed that gate shut….!

29/05/2025