Endometriosis is Disabling
I was reluctant to use the terms ‘disabled’ and ‘disabling’ when it comes to my current state of health. But as I lay awake in bed at 12.24 am, on Monday 12 February in excruciating pain unable to sleep, unable to find a comfortable position, in a state of panic, anger, and despair, and unable to think about anything other than my entire abdomen, sides, groin and lower back tighten in on itself because the pain relief I had no longer began to work, it cemented to me that my periods are disabling.
‘You’re Basically White’
The older I get the more I reflect on my race, religious beliefs, and identity, so here is an essay on my experience as a British Pakistani woman in an increasingly more right-wing UK - dare I say fascist country- and my experiences with various forms of racism, how I felt about the incidents at the time and how I feel about them now.
I Failed My 2023 Resolutions
That time of year has come around again, the first week of January in which we reflect on the success of the resolutions of 2023 and ponder what we will pick for 2024.
Food is How We Keep Cultures Alive
The sweetness of onions slowly caramelising, the warmth of garlic, ginger, and spices cooking out, to the richness of buttery, aromatic carrots infused with cardamom. These are the smells of home.
In this piece I explore veganising the Pakistani cuisine I grew up with.
Endometriosis: a lonely illness
I thought hard about how to define the journey of diagnosis, the physical pain and mental toll of endometriosis, and the one thing they all had in common — how alone you can feel in it.
Religion, Spirituality and Me: The Atheist Who Sleeps With an Ayatul Kursi Necklace On Every Night
I have now found a way of retaining my Pakistani identity without it having to be inherently tied to Islam and being Muslim. But, the most important thing I gained from the last three years is a strong sense of independence and a willingness to be open to the unexpected.