🌈 1327 – Monday, 17 March 2025 23:59
Hyderabad
Just going to head to bed, but I don’t want to lose this day – it’s one to remember. After a long time, I got to spend a day alone with my brother and sister. On our way back in the auto-rickshaw, I found myself wondering: ten years from now, will we still be the same – connected, loved, and happy, with our parents around?
There is no greater joy than being with siblings and knowing your parents are safe. It’s a true blessing. My heart goes out to those who have lost their loved ones, especially their parents. No matter the differences siblings may have, the love of their parents always binds them together. In that love, one finds true wealth.
Time for a Poem on parents.
Dear Parents
Today marked the 16th day of fasting. All of us family are observing Ramadan together, while Mum, despite her early morning fatigue, woke up to prepare our Suhoor. Just one more day until her final chemo session – hopefully, this will be the last one, and she will be free of it for good.
With Eid approaching, our parents advised us to complete all our tasks today since after tomorrow’s chemo, Mum will need rest, and it will be difficult to leave her side. Typically, I spend Ramadan alone, in quiet surrender to God, and reunite with family for Bakrid. But this year is different – brother and I are home with our parents, while my sister, along with her two little bundles of joy and her wonderful husband, lives nearby in Hyderabad. I’m grateful she’s close, always there to look after Mum and Dad.
Like generations before us, following the traditions of our ancestors – the Mughals, Nawabs, and Nizams who once ruled Hyderabad – our family has always gone to the old city, Charminar, for Eid shopping.
At around 10:00 AM, I made carrot and beetroot juice for Mum, arranged lunch for our parents, and then my brother and I set off to pick up our sister from her home in Narayanguda. Knowing how crowded Charminar gets, we parked the car there and took an Uber to the heart of the old city.
The ride was smooth, and the 20-minute journey flew by as we watched the city buzz with life, joked around, and reminisced about childhood memories. It had been a long time since the three of us spent time together like this – just us, like old times.
My sister, well-versed in the old city’s best spots, led us straight to a trusted shop in Osmania Bazaar. The three-story complex had everything – men’s kurtas, kids’ clothing upstairs, and ladies’ apparel below. We finished all our family shopping in one place. By the time we wrapped up, it was already 16:30. Sister suggested we head home before the crowd thickened as Iftar approached.
But brother and I had another idea. Since we were already in the old city, why not break our fast at the grand Makkah Masjid?
Makkah Masjid, Hyderabad’s largest mosque, can hold 10,000 worshippers. Built in 1617 by Sultan Muhammad Qutb Shah, its central arch contains bricks made from Meccan soil, which gave the mosque its name. Construction was later completed by Emperor Aurangzeb in 1694. A historic and spiritual landmark, it stands near Charminar and Chowmahalla Palace, its grand three-arched façade carved from a single granite block, which took five years to quarry.
That evening, more than 10,000 people gathered at the mosque for Iftar, seated in the open courtyard. Volunteers distributed dates, fresh fruit boxes, and juice. My brother, sister, and I found a quiet corner, made dua, and broke our fast together. Sitting there, side by side, we felt nothing but gratitude – for each other, for our parents, for this moment.
The way back was long. The heavy crowds made it nearly impossible to move, and it took us 45 minutes just to get to the taxi stand. Finally, we found an auto, and at 19:00 PM, we set off home, the ride taking another 40 minutes through the packed streets.
The love of my siblings.
The values our parents instilled in us.
A day filled with memories made with the people who matter most.
Today Israel declared the ceasefire with Hamas over and launched airstrikes in Gaza, resulting in over 400 deaths, including many women and children. The Israeli government stated that the renewed offensive, named “Operation Strength and Sword,” was initiated due to Hamas’s refusal to accept U.S.-proposed ceasefire terms. The conflict, ongoing since October 2023, has led to more than 50,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza health authorities.
Russian forces claimed control over the towns of Mali Shcherbaky and Shcherbaky in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. In response to Russian troop movements, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law permitting the Ukrainian military to operate overseas during martial law. Additionally, Germany announced an aid package to Ukraine, including ammunition for air defense systems and armored vehicles.
Also today, NVIDIA unveiled the company’s next-generation AI chips, Blackwell Ultra and Vera Rubin, at GTC 2025, highlighting significant advancements in AI technology.
Google released Gemma 3, the latest iteration of its open-source language model, marking a significant advancement in natural language processing. Furthermore, Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, discussed AI’s potential to revolutionize various sectors, including healthcare and energy, within the next decade.
What would it take for me and for you to wake up tomorrow and for the rest of the life to have loving family and friends around always be there.. to wake up full of energy, healthy, wealthy, bigger, muscular, happy, grateful, do some workout as we get up, 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.