14 / Magic
A world where anything is possible
Once upon a time, in a land not so far away from yours, lived a little girl who believed in magic. She knew, in her heart, that fairies were real. That wizards could transport you to faraway lands. That naughty elves lived in old trees, and little creatures made homes in brilliantly coloured mushrooms. She knew that if she lived in a forest, she would meet them all and go on adventures that only children could.
Everyone laughed at her. It made her sad, but she held firm in her belief, unwilling to give up this world where anything was possible.
As time passed, the little girl grew up and forgot about the fairies. She laughed at other little girls who believed in magic. She let the world and its many rules dictate her life. She became an adult, worrying about money - fighting to make a place for herself. She immersed herself in funny things like career, fashion and relationships.
Then, one day, she met a handsome man, fell in love and married him. After a few years, they had a baby girl. As her child grew older, she found her mother’s old fairy tale book. When she opened it up, a new world welcomed her—one where fairies with silver wings lived inside flowers, where wizards waved their wands and defeated demons, where little girls crossed the forest all alone without fear, where the Pegasus claimed the night, spreading its white wings while the world slept.
“Is magic real, mama?” she asked her mother one night.
“It is real if you believe in it,” answered her mother.
“Do you believe in magic, mama?
“I used to, once upon a time.”
“And now you don’t?”
The mother paused at the question. She had forgotten that she once lived in a world where anything was possible. A world filled with shy fairies and frisky unicorns. Where wizards with long, white beards took you to faraway lands, and witches who lived in the forest could cook up any potion.
The next day, the doorbell rang, and there stood a man with the largest and most beautiful bouquet of flowers. A rainbow of colours that danced under the sunlight. It was addressed to her daughter with a little note tucked in between its delicate flowers.
“Thank you for being our friend.
With love,
The unicorns from the magic forest.”
The flowers never wilted; their fragrance fresh even after months.
“Do you believe in magic now, mama?” asked her daughter.
“Yes,” replied her mother. “I think I always did.”
On Motherhood / No. 4
This month, I am exploring the many facets of being a mother.
Motherhood is a labyrinth that preys on you. It heightens your fears, brings out your guilt, plays with your unlived dreams and haunts you while you sleep. It also gives you a winding path with many turns. It's up to you, though – how you navigate it. You can lose yourself. You can find yourself. You can see the magic in the maze. You can rest and heal. You can find your way out. All you have to do is allow yourself to fail.
Naqab (Mask) explores the many masks I wear as an Indian woman. It is my attempt to unravel, and discover my deep-seated conditioning, biases, strengths and weaknesses, one portrait at a time.
The project will span a year, with one portrait every week.
Head here for the entire series.
If you liked this project, please consider sharing or recommending my publication. It would immensely help a new writer like me reach a wider audience.
I would love to hear from you! Drop in a comment and let me know your thoughts.
Samira magic comes full circle here, your belief in it as a child then the doubt and now you as a mother reliving the wonders and seeing them as real. Lovely
Beautifully written as always!! It’s a pleasure to read! ❤️❤️