This Stays Between Us

My generation thinks that love is a YA novel. That love is Draco and Hermione making eyes at each other. That love is the chocolate boxes, the bouquet of roses, and the candle lit dinners. And yes, maybe all of those contain an element of love. But what about the love that our parents have for us?
Why don't we ever consider that in our grand definition of love?
In the seventh episode of 'This Stays Between Us', I take you on a trip back to Year 13, but this story is not about me. Rather, it is about the woman who held my hand the entire time - my mother. Or as I call her, Mamuni. 
This is a story of a mother who sacrificed her dreams, and a daughter who promised to carry them. But what happens when the dream falls apart? Will they still love each other then? 
Sit tight, this one is for all the eldest daughters. The people-pleaser kids. And the mums who need to hear how much we love you. Because we do. We know nothing except the kindness that flows from you like a river. 
To the Ammus, Mamas, Ummis, Muttis and Mamans in the world, 
This one's for you.
 
Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe!
Follow This Stays Between Us on Instagram: @this_st4ys_between_us.
Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram: @bethechangemedianetwork.
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.

Being the only brown girl and hijabi at school was never going to be easy - except it became one of my biggest battles in my self-worth journey. From being bullied over my skin colour to finally seeing my worth, this has been a tough ride through which I hope to share some key learnings that helped me along the way. Get ready my friend, episode 6 is going to be a deep one.
 
Things you will need: a quiet space, a notebook, a pen, maybe some bubble tea :)
 
Things we will let go of together: worrying about what people think, negative self-talk and limiting beliefs.
 
Throughout this piece, I have inserted quiet moments where you can use the journaling prompts to reflect on your own childhood experiences and how they have shaped you as an adult. What I hope to give you is an opportunity to make a promise to yourself and have an appreciation of how far you've come.
 
Trigger warning: I go into depth about the emotional impact of experiencing racism and Islamophobia at a young age. If this makes you feel uncomfortable, then perhaps this is not the episode for you. 
 
Resource round-up: 
1) Islamophobia Awareness Month - https://www.islamophobia-awareness.org/resources/
2) Young Minds - https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/coping-with-life/islamophobia-and-mental-health/
3) Show Racism the Red Card - https://www.theredcard.org/
4) Stop Hate UK - https://www.stophateuk.org/
 
Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe!
Follow This Stays Between Us on Instagram: @this_st4ys_between_us.
Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram: @bethechangemedianetwork.

As a thank you to everyone for all the support you've given me with my podcasting journey, I wanted to give you a bonus episode which is called: 15 Qs to get to know your podcaster a bit better (that is one mouthful of a title AHAH)!
In this episode, I asked Chat GPT to come up with 15 questions and my, it came up with some deeply philosophical ones! From exploring my relationship with books to how I've learned to accept myself as a soft-spoken woman with stories to tell, this is definitely one to sink your teeth into and perhaps, in the process, you may learn things about yourself too.
Bismillah <3.
 
Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe!
Follow This Stays Between Us on Instagram: @this_st4ys_between_us.
Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram: @bethechangemedianetwork.

In Episode 4 of my podcast, I will be exploring the break-up that no-one really talks about - the death of a friendship. I know! We should talk about this more! But don't worry, your big sister on the internet is here to talk about this huge topic and (hopefully!) make it easier to come to terms with.
I’m sure you’ll agree with me that some friendships are like a second skin, a shadow that haunts you even when they end.  You’ll notice the remnants of that other person in the way you see yourself, the way you laugh, the way you find yourself walking to uni, and even in something small like the way you like to wear your kohl. But what do these lingering memories mean and what do you do with them?
In this episode, I will explore the ache of a friendship that felt like home and the quiet heartbreak of letting them go. When I Wear Kohl, I Think of You is a reflection on loss, love, and the tender art of making peace with what won’t ever be the same again. So grab your matcha, your chai latte and your notebook - let’s dive in!
 
Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe!
Follow This Stays Between Us on Instagram: @this_st4ys_between_us.
Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram: @bethechangemedianetwork.

“A Bengali woman does not shrink.
She burns. She blooms. She becomes.”
In the third episode of ‘This Stays Between Us’, I challenge the negative expectations placed on a Bengali woman and teach you that she does not have to shrink to please others. 
For the girl who had to walk on eggshells around the elders. 
For the girl who was made to feel less than her brothers. 
For the girl who was undermined by her mother and consequently by others around her. 
For the girl who is afraid of love, because she was taught that unless she fits the narrow standard of Bengali beauty, she won’t be loved. 
Down with the cultural trauma. 
Down with it all.
Let’s begin this revolution with bismillah.
 
Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe!
Follow This Stays Between Us on Instagram: @this_st4ys_between_us.
Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram: @bethechangemedianetwork.

In the second episode of ‘This Stays Between Us’, I will take you back to my first year of uni. I studied engineering for the first time and hit a wall.
I bunked lectures. I failed modules. I wanted to walk away. On top of that, I wanted to be a writer, and thought, what am I doing in this degree that glorifies equations and fluid flowing through a pipe? 
But then I prayed istikhara. 
What happened next? 
The sign I received was not instant; it was a journey that unfolded quietly. In this episode, I share how tawakkul - trusting Allah’s plan even in uncertainty - guided me through my degree, kept me rooted, and eventually led me to exactly where I needed to be.  
So buckle up, and get ready with your notebook, and bring a friend too! This one's going to be an imaan-booster! 
As always, bismillah.
 
Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe!
Follow This Stays Between Us on Instagram: @this_st4ys_between_us.
Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram: @bethechangemedianetwork.

In the first episode of 'This Stays Between Us', I take you back to a moment where someone once said something that almost made me give up on my dreams. A boy who made me question my worth. But this episode isn't really about him. It's about the journey I took to silence his criticism and trust the voice inside me that said: 'I can do it'. In this episode, I'll be drawing on stories from my sixth form days, which feature:
Hot, burning brownies that taste like sand
A monumental, ground-breaking English literature exam
A (chaotic) lunchtime debate club
And a high dosage of 'this girl can'!
So buckle up, and get ready with your notebook, your pillow, and your blanket. This one's a cosy one, perfect to hold a cup of chai and plug your headphones in.
As always, bismillah.
 
Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe!
Follow This Stays Between Us on Instagram: @this_st4ys_between_us.
Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram: @bethechangemedianetwork.