You’re Beautiful

Always protect what you love!

🌈 1319 – Sunday, 23 February 2025 18:23

Hyderabad

It’s really early—earlier than I usually sit down at my laptop—but my brother and I are about to head out to pick up my nephew from his other grandparents’ house. He’s only 18 months old and has caught a stomach bug.

It’s sad how human suffering starts so early in life. At first, children rely on their parents and elders to care for them, then they grow up and look after themselves, and one day, if life allows, they take care of their elders in return. That’s the cycle, or at least, that’s what everyone hopes. I’m just his uncle, not his father, but I don’t mind taking care of him. If he grows up to be a kind and decent young man, that will be my reward—we come from the same family, after all.

I woke up at 4:30 AM today, tossing and turning, scrolling through my phone, wondering why I was up so early and why I couldn’t go back to sleep. Then I remembered—I had taken a two-hour nap in the afternoon. That’s probably why. Sleep is simple: if you nap too long during the day, or if your stomach is too full and still digesting, you won’t be able to sleep well at night. And of course, if you don’t tire yourself out during the day, you’ll be restless at night. You have to do something, not just lounge around all day and then complain about not being able to sleep (like my dad does sometimes—lol).

It’s a warm, sunny day in Hyderabad, around 35°C, but the wind is surprisingly cool, and it’s not humid, so it feels nice. Dad and I went out for breakfast while the rest of the family was still asleep. We went to Raghavendra Tiffin Centre in Uppal and had three puris, one bonda, and one vada each. On our way back, we picked up a plate of idli for my brother and mom at home.

The rest of the morning was spent running errands. Around 11:30 AM, I made beetroot juice for Mom, then helped my brother clear up some of the clutter that had built up around the house. For lunch, we ate the same fish ka khatta from yesterday, and I blended some rice and yogurt for Mom. Her next chemo session is on March 4th, and she’s still on a liquid diet, so blended foods and juices are her main meals for now. Since I’m her primary caregiver, I handle her meals and medication.

After lunch, I tackled more household chores. Mosquito season isn’t over yet, and the window netting we installed years ago was wearing out. I measured the windows, bought a new filter cloth, cut it to size, and prepped it for installation. By the time I was done, it was already late afternoon, and I needed a break. Around 4:30 PM, I made carrot soup for Mom, blending and straining it through a fine cloth. She has a strict diet, and when it comes to food, she only really listens to me.

At 5:15 PM, my brother and I prayed Asr. Right after, he got a call from his wife—our nephew wasn’t feeling well, so we decided to leave soon. Before heading out, I made apple and pomegranate juice for Mom in case we got back late.

Then we remembered—Mom needed her daily B12 injection at the nearby clinic. So we decided to take her first before picking up our nephew. We left home at 5:30 PM, and the clinic was just a 10-minute drive. Everything went smoothly, and we were back home by 6:15 PM. Dad and I quickly discussed the evening plans before my brother and I prayed Maghrib at 6:30 PM.

At 6:40 PM, we finally left for SR Nagar to pick up our nephew. It was a long drive from Uppal, but since it was Sunday, the traffic was moderate. I drove, and we reached exactly at 8:03 PM. It was our first time visiting my sister-in-law’s parents’ house—a nice place in a central area.

While I was there, I noticed two birds in a cage. Something about it made me uneasy. Without thinking too much, I quietly left the cage door open. It was too dark for them to fly away at that moment, but I hope that when morning came, they spread their wings and found their way to freedom.

“Oh humans, listen, hear my plea,

Do not steal what’s meant to be free.

The sky was painted for their wings,

Not bars and locks and clipped-off dreams.

Oh humans, the birds were born to soar,

To chase the winds, to roam the shores.

They weave their songs through golden light,

Not prison walls that steal their flight.

They have their whispers, they have their cries,

Their hearts beat wild beneath the skies.

Their wings are poems written wide,

Not caged away, not forced to hide.

So let them dance where sunsets burn,

Where rivers twist and seasons turn.

Let feathers ride the breath of day,

Not waste to dust, not fade away.

Oh humans, hear my silent prayer,

No bird should taste a life unfair.

Unlock the door, unchain the dream,

And set them free – just let them be.”

Around the world today –

• Today, world leaders gathered at the United Nations to sign a groundbreaking peace agreement, officially ending long-standing conflicts in multiple regions and committing to diplomatic resolutions.

• In a historic move, major world powers have agreed to begin phased nuclear disarmament, with inspections set to ensure a future free of nuclear threats.

• The UN, alongside 50 nations, has introduced a global curriculum promoting peace, conflict resolution, and cultural understanding in schools worldwide.

Three things I felt grateful for today:

• Grateful for the windshield wipers on my car.

• Grateful for my comfortable tracksuit bottoms.

• Grateful for the air we breathe on this planet.

I wonder – what would it take for a world without prisons? A world where no bird, animal, or human is ever locked behind bars, cages, or walls?

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Goodnight, good luck!

Ash Khaleem

my big bro and Neph in the pic below.