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The largest website for English phrases and quotes

Category: Jinat Rehana Begum

Jinat Rehana Begum

Anger ignites fires or do fires ignite anger? Did the dispossessed, their rage burning within them for years, finally strike a match to enlighten an oblivious region of their dissatisfaction? Or were the fires the primary cause of the dissatisfaction, inciting through its searing heat, the fury which is colouring the country a bright crimson, as its people imitating the violence of the flames spill the blood of thousands?

anger, dissatisfaction, emotions, fire, rage, violence

Jinat Rehana Begum

You know all those bad girls who take off their selendang and put round their neck like fashion-show? One day, when the wind is very strong, the selendang will catch the wind. Then it will swing up and down and then round and round so fast, very fast, until it traps the spirit of the wind. Then it will grow long and thick and wrap itself round and round and round this girl’s neck. And then, when the girl cannot breathe, it will swallow her whole. Be careful, girl, be careful how you wear this.

culture, growing-up, myths, spirits, trying-to-be-cool

Jinat Rehana Begum

Scar tissue — it’s a new layer of tender skin, lightly covering the wound. Still a vulnerable spot, the slightest little knock might tear the skin so it bleeds and the remembered ache from the old wound intensifies the pain from the latest blow.

healing, scars, vulnerability, wound

Jinat Rehana Begum

But what is the point of buying vegetables in plastic bags? Everything from the supermarket smells of plastic. Everything from the market smells like it’s supposed to.

grocery-shopping, materialism, supermarkets, vegetables

Jinat Rehana Begum

They want me to contain the raging fires within me. They need me to appreciate glowing embers, to understand that even weak flames need to be managed with a lot of careful planning.

difficulties, emotions-and-control, family-relationships, fire

Jinat Rehana Begum

My body shakes with a million different fires. Feet that look like yours warp and the corns split so you see craters of infinite variety, some pus-filled Lake Toba. The weakness in my limbs, the thick weight on my head and chest and the slow burning inside me that never reaches the skin, bring me closer to you. My afflictions bring me closer to you.

emotions, fires, hurt, love, memory, weakness

Jinat Rehana Begum

Difficulties were fires. If you kept them in check, you could learn from them. You simply had to know how to fan them the right way.

challenges, difficulties, fires, growth, learning

Jinat Rehana Begum

It was a tried and tested remedy. Go home, take two Panadols and fall into a deep dreamless slumber. The next morning awake in a hazy stupor, go through the daily routine and as soon as all obligations are met and affected parties satisfied, repeat procedure with Panadol. Continue routine for several days, months if necessary… it all depended on the magnitude of the cut.

cure, depression, emotions, jaded

Jinat Rehana Begum

Can you lose your inborn talents? Can the gifts you come into this world with be taken away without your even noticing? Maybe it’s my fault for wanting always to stem the fires within me? Perhaps there are some fires that should be allowed to rage on?

future, gifts, loss, talents, worry

Jinat Rehana Begum

The first sound a child hears is very important. It determines character. A Muslim child always hears the Azan first. Words in praise of God. Words to live by.

child, children, culture, god, growing-up, rituals, words, words-to-live-by

Jinat Rehana Begum

I struggle to discover what these silent sons of mine want, but words have always failed me. They are sullen even as they tell me they are okay. I know they are lying but there is nothing I can do.

children, motherhood, parenthood, sons, words

Jinat Rehana Begum

Sometimes, when you are busy and children ask funny questions, you don’t think so much. You just answer quickly so they will leave you alone. If you don’t answer, they will just keep asking or they will go and do something very bad.

children, curiosity, questions