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When Breath Defies Air

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Rakhshee has never done things halfway, and I should have known from the start that her greatest lesson—the art of unyielding resilience—would be her gift to me. She is a teacher in the truest sense, but her methods are far from orthodox. Back in Karachi, she was my history teacher, and her classroom was as much a theater of stories as it was a lecture hall. She did not just teach history; she made us see it, feel it, question it, bringing figures and events to life with a voice that demanded attention. Through her teaching, she subtly reshaped my life’s course, though I did not realize it at the time. Years later, as I drifted deeper into academic medicine, entrenched in medical charts and lectures, I was reminded of Rakhshee’s wisdom—the stories, the humor, and her knack for nudging others toward a broader view of life. Her voice, in many ways, drew me into the world of children’s literature—a realm she opened to me with unexpected passion. She taught me that the only real critics ...
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Learning the Art & Science of Storytelling: A Necessity for the 21st Century

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  Storytelling is as old as humanity itself. For thousands of years, it has been humanity’s most powerful tool for understanding, connecting, and transforming. From the first cave paintings to today’s TED Talks, stories have transcended time, language, and culture. But in an era of data overload, rapid technological change, and growing social complexity, storytelling has evolved from a timeless tradition to an indispensable skill. This essay explores storytelling’s relevance in healthcare, business, and design, as well as its potential and challenges in the age of social media, highlighting why it is both an art and a science essential for our time. Why storytelling matters Storytelling transforms data into narratives that resonate, bridging the gap between information and emotion. While facts tell, stories sell. This ability to engage, inform, and move people has made storytelling a cornerstone of leadership, marketing, and innovation. I recall a particularly challenging n...
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Echoes Across Time: From Macondo to the Mediterranean

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I recently revisited One Hundred Years of Solitude —this time through Netflix’s lush adaptation. The series swept me into García Márquez's Macondo with its breathtaking cinematography and meticulous attention to detail. Though decades had passed since I first read the novel, its spirit of magical realism, woven into Colombia's historical fabric, felt familiar. The cycles of time, the endless loop of beginnings and endings, reminded me of Nietzsche’s eternal recurrence, the whirling dance of Sufi mystics, and Taoism's tranquil acceptance of life's flow. But the truth is, like the insomnia plague in Márquez's Macondo, the story had faded from my memory over the years. I don’t know if my first reading of One Hundred Years of Solitude in high school truly shaped me. Perhaps it was that novel, alongside The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende and even The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien, that collectively left their mark. It wasn’t until last week, while watching th...
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Lost in Transit: Movies, Dying, and (S)Mothering

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Prologue: Grounded in Houston – A City of My Many Lives The delay begins in Houston—a city etched into my identity. It’s where my kids were born, where I spent fifteen formative years, and where every return feels like both homecoming and farewell. Today, it’s a five-hour layover that stretches into an eternity. “Why this flight? Why me?” I mutter. The minutes bleed into hours. Airports have a peculiar way of amplifying existential questions, as if the pause in transit reflects a broader pause in life. When I finally reboard, it feels less like travel and more like drifting—an uneasy sense of being uprooted and untethered. In-Flight Double Feature: Cinema at 30,000 Feet Somewhere above the clouds, I scroll through the in-flight entertainment and land on Mother, Couch —a bizarre, dystopian family drama. A mother anchors herself to a couch in a furniture store, refusing to budge. Her children orbit around her, paralyzed by her immobility, tangled in invisible threads of expecta...
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Ada’s Birthday Adventure (Biloongra 3.0)

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[Doodle credit: ChatGPT-4] In a small, friendly town, there lived a lively girl named Ada. Her ninth birthday was coming up, and her parents planned a big celebration with balloons, cake, and lots of decorations. Ada was super excited, especially when she received a special stuffed toy from her best friend, Nunu. After the fun party, everyone helped clean up. Chike and Mama were busy tidying up, while Baba played games with Ada’s little brother, Kunle. Ada and her kitten, Biloongra, played outside, laughing and having a great time. “Fetch the toy, Biloongra!” Ada shouted, throwing the toy. It flew up and got stuck in a tree. Ada loved climbing trees, so she decided to climb up and get it. But as she reached for the toy, the branch snapped, and Ada fell to the ground. Nunu heard Ada’s cry and quickly got Mama. Mama came running and gave Ada a big hug. “Are you okay, sweetheart?” she asked. “My leg hurts,” Ada replied, tears in her eyes. Mama called for an ambulance, and soon,...
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Ada’s Brave Heart (Biloongra 3.0)

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[Doodle credit: ChatGPT-4] In a lively city, there lived a cheerful eight-year-old girl named Ada. Ada loved playing outside with her family: her loving Mama, strong Baba, her ten-year-old brother Chike, and their playful kitten, Biloongra. They were a happy bunch, always laughing and having fun together. One sunny day, while playing tag with Chike and Biloongra in the backyard, Ada tripped and hurt her leg. Baba quickly carried her to the hospital, where the doctors discovered she had sprained her ankle. Ada needed to stay in the hospital to get better. Although Ada was brave, she felt scared and lonely without her family. Nurse Joy, who was always kind and smiling, noticed Ada's sadness. "Can my Mama, Baba, Chike, and Biloongra stay with me while I'm here?" Ada asked with hopeful eyes. Nurse Joy knelt beside Ada’s bed. "I understand how you feel, Ada, but the hospital has rules to keep everyone safe. Visitors can't stay for too long, and pets like Bi...
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