🌈 1299 – Monday, 13 January 2025 22:07
Hyderabad
It’s just past 10 PM, and I feel okay sitting in bed with my laptop on my lap. The big clock on my right keeps ticking loudly – tick, tick, tick – without stopping. My mother is sleeping beside me on the left side of another bed, snoring in a funny little rhythm.
The large window in front of me is open, and I can hear the sounds of the night. A bike just zoomed past, there’s music playing somewhere, and a tape recorder is playing a loud song. A lorry honked in the distance. I feel like I should go to bed, but I want to write something before I turn in.
When you grow up and leave home, returning always feels… different. I can’t put my finger on why. Everything looks smaller than it used to—my room, the car, the main gate, the terrace where I spent so much time studying and walking around back in the day. It’s funny how, after a few days, you just adjust, and everything feels normal again. Life moves on, places change, people change… but you keep going.
I’m still jetlagged, and my body is stuck on European time. Last night, I went to bed at midnight but couldn’t fall asleep until 5:10 AM. I got up to check on Mom one last time, and she was fine. She told me to pray Fajr and then try to sleep—it would help. So, I did. For Muslims, there are five obligatory prayers each day: Fajr at 5:33 AM, Zohr at 12:25 PM, Asar at 3:38 PM, Maghrib at 6:02 PM, and Isha at 7:18 PM. There’s also an optional one when the sun rises, around 6:49 AM. The timings shift slightly with the seasons and the sunrise or sunset. After Fajr, I went to bed and slept like a baby. When I woke up, it was 10:30 AM.
I’m on three weeks of carer’s leave from work to look after Mom. Right now, I’m just doing whatever makes her and Dad happy. Parents have this deep wish to see their kids follow the values they raised them with. When we do, it makes them proud, and there’s something so pure about that.
Later in the morning, Dad asked me to join him for a short drive to the local market before lunch. He retired from the police force a few years ago but hasn’t really slowed down. He’s busier now as the president of the local council, dealing with people, meetings, and all kinds of responsibilities. Retirement doesn’t seem to mean rest for him. Since we kids moved out, he’s had to rely on peers or assistants to help draft or check his official letters. But today, since I’m visiting, he asked me for help.
After lunch, he called me over and said, “Can you sit with me for a couple of minutes? Let’s finish this letter, and then you can get back to what you were doing.” I said, “Sure, Dad.” He handed me a handwritten letter he was drafting for the city commissioner about the upcoming Republic day, January 26th celebrations.
Instead of going through it manually, I opened my phone, took a picture of the letter, and used ChatGPT to rewrite it with proper grammar. In less than 30 seconds, it was done. I copied the text into a WhatsApp and sent it to him. He was flabbergasted at how quickly It was done when he read it. I didn’t tell him the secret, he won’t understand what it is – just one of the perks of technology, I guess.
And that’s how my day went. It was a simple day but one I want to remember. Someday, when I look back, I’ll be glad I spent this time with my parents. Even if it was for a short while, I was here, caring for them and making memories. That thought fills me with gratitude.
How was your day? Did you do anything today that you’ll want to remember tomorrow?
Around the rest of the world today –
Global Leaders Unite for Peace: Leaders from 50 nations convened in Geneva today to advance discussions on nuclear disarmament and conflict resolution strategies.
Historic Ceasefire Agreement: A long-awaited ceasefire was signed between warring factions in Yemen, raising hopes for an end to nearly a decade of conflict.
Youth-Led Peace Summit: Young activists from around the world gathered in Tokyo, emphasizing grassroots efforts and education as the keys to sustainable global peace.
3 things I felt grateful for today
Grateful for the inventors of electricity and its wonders.
Grateful for whoever first discovered how to turn milk into yoghurt.
Grateful for this tiny USB adapter that keeps my charger working.
What would it take for me and for you to wake up 10 x times bigger, thicker, stronger, more energetic, healthy, happy, have some workout in the morning, everything to be okay with family, friends and everyone around, then have a relaxing, relaxing, relaxing yet a productive day tomorrow?
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Goodnight, good luck!
Ash Khaleem
MY LETTERS ARE 100% FREE.