Category: literature

re-entering my kindle era

Ashika GeorgeLeave a comment

so for my 17th birthday, I asked for a kindle paperwhite because I had started taking reading a tad bit seriously again, and thought it was a good way to keep my books in one compact device. the fact that you have to then buy individual books to read was sort of annoying but hey, at least they were cheaper than their physical counterparts. I had the kindle for a while and took it with me on holiday and even used it for college. I bought and read Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami, When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson, Carry On by Rainbow Rowell and Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets of The Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz. alongside these, I downloaded a number of samples for other books that I had on my TBR or just caught my interest.

but I also began missing the feel of physical books, continuing to buy more of those than try to stick purely to an e-reader.

the kindle accompanied me when I started university and into my second year until COVID-19 hit and I had to return home. it wasn’t until August 2020 that I was able to clear out my dorm room. but one thing was definitely off when I began searching for my kindle, thinking it must be with all my other belongings that were finally back in my bedroom at home. then I tried to remember where I last saw it and couldn’t think of anywhere I may have left it… it was literally nowhere to be found. so then began a period of mourning for my kindle paperwhite, lost somewhere out there.

there was a brief time when I considered buying a new kindle in secret as no one else knew about the fact that my original was lost. but since they cost quite a lot, I refrained and decided to save up more money first. I pretty much had fully given up at this point.

but in 2022, something incredible happened…

I noticed a message from someone on Instagram: it was a girl who was now living in my previous dorm room and while searching for her AirPods… she had found my kindle!!!! there was also a notebook and a note from a friend/flatmate from first year that was also left behind and the latter having my name helped her find me :’)) the amount of gratitude I have towards this girl is still grand. I expressed this gratitude and with help from another friend, the kindle, notebook and post-it note made their way back into my arms through the post ❤

I have been guarding the kindle immensely since so as not to lose it again. for a brief time though, I didn’t feel like reading because I wasn’t bothered to spend more money on e-books again. but this summer, I went on holiday with my family and some family friends and it coincided with the release of ‘Red, White & Royal Blue’ on Amazon Prime. since the novel was on my TBR for some time and I preferred to read it before watching the film, I caved in £4.99 to finally read it on my kindle. the amazing part? I was immersed into reading once more, wanting to keep turning the page and into the next chapters, a feeling I had not had much over the last few years 🙂 I even crocheted a sleeve for my kindle to make it extra special and protected.

these days, I see reels on my Instagram explore page of people buying and/or decorating their own kindles. there are stickers, a clear case and pop sockets being used on almost all of them. so the kindle paperwhite has become part of a lot of people’s lives again. mine was through a miracle and I’m glad I’m re-entering this kindle girl era.

A Tale of Two Cultures: Poetry & Thoughts

Ashika GeorgeLeave a comment

Being brought up

in two cultures

is a blessing.

The door to opportunity,

ambition and reality

is open.

Take what you like

to add to your

identity.

But nothing should

define you

other than

yourself.

– Ashika

I’m British-Indian. I’m ethnically Indian and migrated to the United Kingdom when I was a clueless 2-year-old with my Dad. Growing up in two cultures was fascinating but challenging, to say the least.

British culture has allowed me to be open, ambitious and encouraged to chase my passions and dreams. It has also taught me tolerance, respect and kindness to others. My Indian heritage has also taught me similar philosophies. But what I truly cherish from India is our diversity as a nation in language, religion, culture and much more. Our clothing and festivals are so vibrant and it sparks happiness when I show my British friends the wonders of my country.

I used to detest one or the other as I grew up, believing that it is not possible for me to value both as much as each other. I felt as if I can’t be British enough or I can’t be Indian enough. There were times where I was discouraged from “becoming too British”, as in not becoming like those English kids at school who do whatever they want, swear, have families that are split and not perfect. Even embracing my Indian identity had me scared for some reason, as if others will laugh at me for talking about curry or might snicker discreetly when I show my churidhar in class. But I love my English friends, I love the roast dinners and fish and chips at school, I love the carefree nature of those I have come to know living in Britain. I also love when my friends say they love Indian cuisine, I love showing off my traditional clothing, wearing them to school events and having classmates say it looks beautiful.

I grew tired of this pointless clash between cultures. There are bits and pieces that anyone who grew up in a multicultural family can value close to their heart. So I decided that I’ll embrace both my Indian and British identity, after all it makes me more unique as an individual and I shouldn’t run away from that. I also found that such an identity encourages a deeper understanding of the world and that reality is a door for endless possibilities and splendour. My eyes opened and witnessed the beauty of a culturally diverse person. A culturally diverse person is intelligent, aware, respectful, tolerant and possesses a kind and curious soul and thus can pass on these qualities to others so that may be the same.

Embrace your heritage and value your other half as well, for it is truly a blessing.

The Beauty Of The Rain: Poetry & Thoughts

Ashika GeorgeLeave a comment

The rain is ambiguous

The rain is ambitious

Tears of the lost souls fall

Your painfully sweet voice will call

These droplets are meant for sadness

But you say that is madness

Let’s make our love blossom with the rain

Let these raindrops wash away the pain

– Ashika

The inspiration for this poem stemmed from the Korean drama series, Love Rain. Although the content of the two differs, the series really made me appreciate the beauty of the rain completely.

The rain tends to connote sadness, loss and overall negativity. But what’s to stop it from being so meaningful, loving and beautiful? I used to wonder why kissing someone in the rain was romantic. Then I realised that people in love don’t care about anything around them or what will happen. The rain falling is making them wet and they’ll have to get dry, they could also become ill. But that love is so strong between them that even the evil bows down and changes for good.

The rain, to me, is also a metaphor of cleansing. These droplets, that can be considered the tears of those before us, are silently telling us that we should not dwell in sadness and instead, refresh and make ourselves new for the future. Its simplicity renders us able to imagine how wonderful the rain is, and it doesn’t have to be all negative.

So the next time you see or feel the rain, instead of complaining how it will affect you with useless problems, appreciate its beauty.