Writer's Canvas

 Another trip to Hanna Lake Zainab Mustaali Sutterwala Darajah Ashera   “Are we there yet?” my grandson, impatiently, inquires the millionth time. “Beta, can you see the house at the top of the hill? We have almost arrived.” his mother consoles him. Yet still, I cannot see. I cannot see our two-storey holiday house. Nor its facade of French windows, for my eyes' current capability is only a shadow of what it used to be during my last visit. My eyes are weak but my sights from long ago help me review the place, as if through a clearer, sharpened lens. Memories from my last trip when I was nine years old.   But I do recall the roller coaster feeling while the car climbs up the steep road which is still there. ”Woah!” exclaims the young boy in awe as our car comes to a halt. I had been as excited as he was- maybe even more. I had jumped out of my car seat in hastiness only to hurt myself on the knees. But thanks to the adrenaline rush, I had forgotten the pain in no ...

  UNPRECEDENTED TIMES   Fatema Haidermota  Daraja 5AF      My friend and her father steered through the busy, run-down streets of her small town in Indore on her new purple bicycle. It didn’t fit in with the setting around her. It was all bright and sparkly compared to the grey and dull broken concrete that surrounded her. It did, however, match her spirit, cheerful and innocent compared to the problems that surrounded her             A little bit ahead, guiding the way to the market was her father. He steered through the flocks of cow carts and people, meticulously following his every swerve. Wrinkling her face in concentration, My friend tried to remember what they needed to buy from the store. She knew they needed green beans, onions, tomatoes, and… what was the last thing? Lentils, she remembered as her father pulled up to the cart.           ...

A Wet Delay Zainab Shk Saifuddin  4AF      The city drenched in a cloudburst. As if the sky had ruptured and was dropping oceans.  Hasan stood on a sidewalk, his umbrella wide open. They had left to visit an ailing relative but due to sudden downpour the car in which his father was coming to pick them up had collapsed in midway and his father had gone to fetch help, leaving them lingering outside, in the outpouring showers.            It was raining cats and dogs!      His mother and grandma were extremely frustrated with the entire scenario and the stench of boiling gutters from the main road nearby made it even worse, but Hasan was genuinely amused watching the tiny, translucent pellets bursting and popping on the grey asphalt. He gazed from the tip of the umbrella, at the graphite sky, wondering if the bright sky had worn a lustrous silver gown made of clouds or if it had been wrapped in a dull silver paper...

  Expectations Shehrebanu Zohair Bhai Punawala 4A    There was an eerie silence. Even the clock's tick-tock felt like noisy drum beats, creating a distressing tension in the room. Suddenly, the receptionist announced Mr. Khan’s name. He stood up - tensed - and stepped inside the teacher's cabin. His son Harris, who was hiding behind his mother, eventually froze in terror, when he heard his father's name being called out. His pleading eyes, filled with tsunamis of tears, appealed like a prisoner, begging for the sake of his life. He tightened his legs, refusing to go with his father, but a tight grab from his mother's sharp claws pulled him off from his chair. Desperately, he strode inside the master's room.     It was a huge room with perfect VIP comforts. Mr. Khan got engrossed while gazing at the hanging certificates, which had occupied one-third of the room's wall. He was regretting his spoilt childhood, as the certified degrees reminded him of his never...

                                                                     Zul Janah. Arwa Najmuddin Diwan Class 6A    Tears rolling down his face, bare-backed and severely wounded, his hair covered in the blood of his slain Master, wailing a constant cry of anguish whilst signaling in his mute language that all was lost, he stood against the silhouette of the setting sun, informing  Moulatena Zainab  AS,   Moulatena Sakina  AS and  Imam Zain-al Abedin  AS, that Imam Husain AS was beheaded in the most barbaric of ways on the hot sands of Karbala, and that the body was being trampled upon by horses and men alike. What thoughts must have raced through his mind at that moment? Torn between wanting to protect his Master's body from the onslaught of such animals-never to leave his ...

Looking through the telescope of life! Tasneem Mufaddal Marvi Darajah Taseah Looking through the telescope of life, We see far and long. But different people look through them, The elders who moan and the children who sing songs.   The incident in my life was a trail walk, That will be seen from two people's eyes. An elderly man who has had enough in life, And a young boy who copes with life and to do so,he un-mistakenly tries.   "Oh! We are going for a walk in the trail, I will have so much fun! I have packed my lunch and camera, I think it is all done."   Oh! Why go for a walk, I am tired now. Can't it wait Arthur, I can't stay much active but you can, how?   Yes! We have reached the trail, Look, there are animals and trees. Oh! I can see a butterfly! Go and stand there till I take your pic and say "cheese"!   I wish I could walk forever, This is wonderful. But i am very hungry, Can we eat grandfa...

  TRANQUILITY Amatullah Shk Fakhruddin Asherah A short story-  In the crisp air, the sun shining brightly as it played hide and seek, tucking itself behind the trees and buildings, and peering out again. Nearby, the waves could be heard, merrily splashing and crashing onto the shore. Overwhelmingly hospitable, the ocean gushed and rushed over to hug us, for we had finally arrived at the majestic city of Colombo. Here, our benevolent and beloved Aqa Moula Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS was about to commence the annual sermons on the martyrdom of our eternally revered moula Imam Husain AS. Asharah Mubarakah had begun! In the long lines of getting entry to the Masjid, stood an elderly woman and her grand-daughter, eagerly waiting to enter. The grand-daughter exclaimed, "Dadi look! The ocean looks so mesmerizing. I love the saline scent of the ocean! Feeling the soft breeze brings upon my face, tingling all my senses with joyous splendor." The grandmother couldn't ...

THE LIGHT THAT SHINES FOREVER   Maria M. Khuzeema Zariwala 1BF A young girl, As rare as a pearl, Completely was life changed, In the best way explained.   Leaving home had her heartbroken, Making her a confident person. A leap of faith is all she took, Began her journey to study The Book.   Across the sky, she flew, Not knowing even, a clue, In Allah is her trust, To a new life, she had to adjust.   “Tell me more!”, exclaims my grandchild, “Oh, how wonderful seems her life!” she cried. “My boy, lend your ear to this part,” “For her journey was a work of art.”     Entering her room with grace, Emotions gush to her face. Standing there are her roommates, Ready to welcome her and congratulate.   The Nairobi mukhayyam, For an adventure, here I am! With foundations so strong, Becoming Hafiz not before long. To help children exceed in life, All to blossom and ahead they’d strive.   Breakf...