There used to be a time when I lived more on my balcony than inside my room. Now I sit down in the same spot on my study table, facing the window, trying to look out through the negative spaces between the drying clothes. As days go by, I miss how the outside of my window used to look. When I was 12, my family unanimously decided to annexe the balcony into our rooms. On paper it was a great idea; the balconies were tiny and any added space in our small rooms would be awesome. I recall the process of this annexure, with numerous masons working in the house, demolishing a few existing walls and then constructing new walls and windows. I remember thinking how astronomically huge the rooms felt to me at that age, although the extension was barely 2.5 feet in width. I would frequently play cricket in that tiny extension, with no clue of what I had lost. Another 13 years later, now I feel we didn't gain much, the rooms are darker, the quality of space in the house feels low and we have b...
It took me a considerable amount of time to read this book, hindered by exams, deadlines, and outings with my friends, oscillating between complete engrossment and utter boredom; all of which culminated in last week, where I couldn't put the book down. The story elicited a range of emotions in me, from the obvious romantic ‘heart-eyes’ to the outright disgust over the protagonists’ actions. I am certain that the author, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, intended for all readers to experience these contrasting feelings. He deliberately crafts his characters to be deeply layered, spending extensive paragraphs ensuring you comprehend how their minds process everything, only to surprise you when the context shifts their actions. In my view, the story features three protagonists: the two alleged lovers who have been separated by various people and circumstances, and lastly, a man who presents as the most significant reason for this separation. The outcome of the highly detailed writing is that...
Time vacuum sucked me in and dropped me on the 19th of January with waking up to give the next exam. It felt like reliving the day I gave my NID exams but now I was seasoned and approached the situation ritually. The day started out strangely similar, with constant déjà vu on my mind as I left the house. I remember this time asking my friends to wish me all the best, as even they had become accustomed to me taking exams now. As I started out with my dad, he had all the confidence in the world that we would reach the center on time. We started out much earlier than the previous exam and I stayed calm and confident in the trip. As we reached closer to the exam center I could see the number of cars increasing, to our surprise a huge crowd of parents and their eager children were already there to give their exams. This included the CEED students as well as undergraduate applicants. Dad, being a seasoned veteran at these ordeals, made the decision to park well ahead of the exam center and w...
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