This Stays Between Us

Is there someone in life who you miss? Maybe the two of you don’t speak, there’s been a fall out, or they have left this world and you will only meet them in the next. Does that mean love stops flowing? No. It means that love takes on a different form. Love becomes a prayer you whisper in the dark. Love becomes the rain drops that kiss your head when you cup your hands and you ask Allah SWT to forgive them. Love becomes the croak in your throat, when you struggle to say their name, but ask Allah SWT to give this person glad tidings anyway. The love you cannot give out loud, becomes the love you whisper into shadows and silence, and eventually, it is this love - gentle, ebbing, flowing - that unshackles your soul.
So love.
And don’t look back.
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February 14th was my due date, but I arrived into the world four days later. I never thought much of it at first, until I realised how merciful it was of Allah, Ar-Rahman, to let me stay another four days inside my mother’s belly. Allah SWT knew of the hardships I would face in this world, so He gave me extra preparation time. In realising this, I wanted to talk about rahma - divine mercy - and how we can inject small but consistent droplets of mercy in our everyday interactions.
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So... where do I begin? There was a guy. And his name was Sky.
 
My first love has always been reading and writing. But at 17, my interest in this guy disturbed my art so deeply that I struggled to rescue it. Now, at 22, I’m looking back.
In this episode, I explore a question every creative soul eventually faces: Is it possible for a writer to become a lover or a partner without losing her connection to her work? And what does it mean to surrender your love to the 'Safest Vault'?
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Being both Bengali, a woman and in my early 20s, I know one thing for certain. The dreaded M's are coming my way. And what could they be? Maths equations, a masters degree, a minotaur? No - (surprisingly those things are less scary). It is the season where I am forced to reflect deeply on whether I want marriage and motherhood, or if that is just a dream that has been fed to me by the generations of women who survived, thrived and died before me. I know one thing for certain - I will take no part in a script that my soul has outgrown, and maybe, you will listen to your heart, and do the same too.
Opinions shared by the guests and hosts of this show are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network.

As an engineer, I've never felt comfortable with the unknown. Solving for x and y is one of the hardest tasks, because I like the certainty of knowing which equation to use and when. But as a Muslim especially, it is important for me to relinquish the need for control, and surrender to Allah. The question is ... how? How do you trust your Lord? I'm not an expert, but I wrote a reflective essay and I found a clarity worth sharing, that can hopefully help you and me to develop tawakkul (complete reliance upon Allah).
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In this episode, Eden and I will be talking about how important it is to be kind to yourself and to look after yourself as an eldest daughter. It is easy to put other people first, but what about you? What is it that you would like out of life? Join us as we unpack what it means to be kind, present and compassionate. You can also take some inspiration from us as we share what hobbies we like to do to unwind!
Opinions shared by the guests and hosts of this show are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network.

In this episode, I sit with Moka - an engineer, designer and secret poetic genius - who tells me about how she would tell her younger self to be grateful for each phase of her life, from being a college student to a university student, and to not worry so much. She describes her journey during a Design Project (DP) at university and how even though it was difficult, she got through it and became a stronger engineer! For the students among us who often worry about whether they'll make it - just remember, it's not that deep, and you've got this. 

Growing up, Dia was told that her laughter was too loud. Being the eldest girl in her family, she felt the weight of her father's expectations, and the need to maintain her family reputation. Her story is a mirror for many Bengali sisters alike, who have shrunk themselves into tiny spaces to maintain family peace, but have learnt the price of doing so - the fracturing of their happiness and individuality.
 
With the strength of her mother, Dia learned to let go of her father's controlling expectations, and pursue things that would make her happy. From her university degree to working at her job, Dia has found a sense of empowerment and courage. It was not an easy journey, but in this episode, Dia tells us about how she unlearned the harsh truths of Bengali girlhood, and gave herself the courage to embrace her own unique softness, strength and light.
 
This is a gem of an episode, and I can't wait for you to listen. Streaming across all major podcasting platforms now! Comment your thoughts below on what you would like to see next.
 
Opinions shared by the guests and hosts of this show are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network.

In this episode, we meet the very lovely Fizza, who is a first-year journalism student with a passion for writing and poetry. We talk about our hijab journeys, life in Year 4, the importance of accepting who we are now and living in the present moment, and how public speaking can help with this. Get ready to be empowered, because who you are is in the now! 
 
Salaam, your host, Z.K.
 
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Today I get to sit with the debut Bangladeshi-American author, Samiha Hoque, and discuss the inspiration behind her novel 'Slums of Paradise'. Samiha talks about her research process when documenting the generational impact of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, a time of great political turmoil, injustice and devastation. Her writing is a testament to the power of authentic and honest storytelling. And while there are many barriers that ethnic minority writers face when telling their stories, Samiha shows us that through the power of the pen, these too can be overcome. This conversation serves as a reminder that we can write stories where, finally, we get to see ourselves and our truths, and in doing so, can become empowered.
 
To all the aspiring writers in the room, this one's for you! And to all the Bengali sisters who want to pick up a pen and write, take some inspiration and go for it! 
 
As always, this stays between us xoxo
 
Opinions shared by the guests and hosts of this show are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network.