A trophy is a funny thing. For a while, it sits proudly on a shelf, catching everyone’s eye. Then, slowly, it gathers dust. The memories, though? They never do. On May 10th 2026, I had the privilege of standing on a stage in Abu Dhabi, competing against some exceptional speakers from Jordan, Muscat and Abu…
Books That Highlight the Strength of Women Friends
Yesterday was Friendship Day, and it made me look at my bookshelf. I wasn’t looking for romances, thrillers or my favorite horror genre. I was looking for books that portrayed friendships. Women Friendships. The kind that quietly change you. The women who stay. The women who listen. The women who tell you the truth… even…
Unlock Free Audiobooks in the UAE – Here’s How!
Free Audiobooks in the United Arab Emirates? Yes, You Read That Right! The age-old debate continues—do audiobooks count as reading? Regardless of where you stand, one thing is undeniable: audiobooks are incredibly convenient. Whether you’re entering mindless data at work, driving, cooking, cleaning, or jogging, they let you enjoy books when your hands and eyes…
Twisted Minds & Deadly Secrets: Thrillers That Will Shock You
Step into the dark and unpredictable world of psychological thrillers, where nothing is as it seems, and every twist will leave you breathless. From unreliable narrators to shocking betrayals, these books will keep you on edge until the very last page. Get ready to question everything—you won’t see these endings coming!
Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa
Book Review The story hooked me from the start. Sentaro, an unhappy man working in a sweet shop, spends his days making Dorayaki—a Japanese confection of sweet bean paste sandwiched between two pancakes. One day, a 76-year-old woman with deformed fingers approaches him, asking for a job. Initially reluctant, he eventually agrees, and an unexpected…
Top 10 Must-Read Winter Books for Book Lovers
Coming from a tropical coastal climate to life in the desert, I’ve grown to love winter. And what better way to spend it than wrapped in a cozy blanket, coffee in hand, and lost in a good book? Here are 10 of my favorite winter reads! 1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak Liesel, a…
None of This is True
Book Review What did I just listen to? The audiobook, “None of this is True” by Lisa Jewell, blew my mind. The story was so gripping that I was hooked from the very beginning. It was a thriller that reminded me of “Gone Girl,” but with a unique twist that made it stand out. I…
Drowning by T.J Newman
Book Review I recently read a book that truly captured my heart and kept me on the edge of my seat. The book, Drowning by T.J. Newman, is a thrilling page-turner that will grip you from the very beginning and hold your attention until the end. The story follows the passengers and crew of a…
Let Us Descend By Jesmyn Ward
Book Review Have you ever encountered a book that reads like a beautiful piece of poetry? If not, then you must check out this tragic story of black slavery, which has been masterfully woven with words that have the power to touch your heart and soul deeply. Jesmyn Wand is a genuinely talented author who…
That’s Not My Name by Megan Lally
Book Review I went into the book knowing nothing, but it immediately captivated me. I found myself eagerly flipping through the pages. The story starts with a young girl who is found wounded in a ditch by a police officer. She has no recollection of her past and a man who introduces himself as her…
A Girl’s Best Friend
A girl needs a Best Friend and there definitely is no better friend than a Diamond. I for one met my best friend one day, while shopping. I passed by a Jewellery Store (okay, I didn’t pass by; I stepped in). I spotted this stunningnecklace with a big huge diamond pendant and the platinum chain further embellished…
7 Truths Everyone should accept for an Easy Life
It’s all about perception. A few years ago, I had been to a debate contest where I was one of the judges. The topic of debate was, “Are old age homes necessary?” I came across some fascinating points, both for and against nursing homes. It dawned upon me that there was no right or wrong….
Leadership Lessons
Leadership is not something that can be taught in school. There is no special formula. And I wish I could say, “Just follow these 10 steps to be a successful Leader.” Nope! the bad news is Leadership cannot be taught, but the good news is Leadership can be learnt. A few weeks back as part…
Coffee with Friends
A cup of coffee with friends. A warm handshake and a tight embrace. Laughter and gossip as the day ends. A day that seems to have gone apace. As this strange cataclysm impends, staying afar appears to be the only solace. In our talks we never did apprehend, being together would turn into an indulgence. …
To Change Or Not To Change
I was an introvert growing up, a gauche teenager among a sea of extrovert party lovers in school and college. It took me a tumble into life’s aching realities, a web of wrinkles and a paint of grey, to convert myself into the ambivert I am today. As an adroit ambivert, I have quite successfully…
The Alter Ego
It’s outright crazy that a person for whom the world revolves only around himself, the Egoist and the person who only talks of himself, the Egotist differentiate by an extra t. When we meet people who are mainly concerned about themselves, that extra t rarely crosses our mind. Frankly, whether they look only for their own interests or brag…
Reading People (Not My Cup Of Tea)
I am too naive, too trusting. This is what I am often told. I am not proud of it. In fact, I am easily offended by these unintended harsh judgement of my character, though it is true. I do trust people easily. I take people for their words, the actions they portray and never try…
I Don’t Hate You
A lot has been said and lot has been unsaid on the flames of violence and hatred that engulfs my country. Issues pertaining to politics, spiritual beliefs and beliefs that we have held onto for generations are being dissected and the innards are being strewn all across the country. With social media as the most…
A New Journey
This whole year I had been on a journey. Not to some exotic location or on an enchanting escape to a serene island but on a crazy journey of self-improvement, better understanding and awareness of the people around me. I have learnt some hard hitting lessons and gone through tough times. I have realized that…
Sail Away
As a kid playtime for me was always the make believe world. I had plenty of toys and video games of the generation, yet I was extremely fond of the pretend game. Pretend to be a princess slaying monsters, pretend that my brother was a sister and convince him to dress up as a girl….
Wo(men)
Let me take you 40 years back, when two shy high school girls walked to school and were harassed and taunted by neighbors for going to school. Now let’s get back to the present, where two high school girls where they are preparing themselves for further education in Medical and Engineering. That is a huge…
A New You
The fear of public speaking is Glossophobia. Quite a fancy name for fear… isn’t it. It is believed that Glossophobia affects 75% of the world population. That means a majority of people across the world would rather die than come up on stage and speak to a room full of people. The characterstics of glossophobia…
Superstitions
A question for the ladies and for some image conscious gentlemen? How long do u spend in front of the mirror? Did you know that the mirror can take away your soul if u stand too long looking at it? If I am to believe this superstition, then I am probably a zombie, because I…
Six Signs You Are Boring
I have been a Toastmaster for almost 5 years now. I have delivered a fair amount of speeches and have also competed in Speech contests. But even to this day, I get jittery about giving a speech. As I walk up the stage, there are a number of dreaded possibilities, a number of “What ifs”…
Let’s Talk About Hate
Everyone talks about love but I would like to reflect on one of the most fundamental human emotion – Hate. That doesn’t seem right? You might be thinking, “Oh! we have already got so much hate surrounding us.” True! but no one talks about it. May be if we did talk about it and understood…
Being A Child… Again
Remember the time when we laughed at our own silly jokes, believed that we had super powers, screamed,”Me,Me,Me, in class whenever we were asked to volunteer for something, ate jam straight from the jar, jumped into puddles. That used to be fun right? So, what happened? When did all that energy and excitement fizzle out?…
Simple Life
“Life used to be simple.” I remember my Grandma would often say this when I talked about the latest technologies and trends. At that time, I would retaliate, “But, Grandma, the reason for these technologies is to make our life simpler.” She would simply shrug and give her signature smile. My Grandma is no more,…
Just A Housewife
On the curved balcony of her beautiful home, Shikah sat in her rattan lounge chair staring at the bustling city pass by. With her loving husband now put to rest, after a long painful fight with cancer and her grown up children busy leading their life, she felt she had nothing to do. She had…
Reena Althaf 
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