wannabe wordsworth

  The Language of the Heart: Whistles, Jaggery, and an Unbreakable Bond When the phone rang early Monday morning, the frantic, joyful voices of my two boys from Surat came rushing through the speaker. The two goats had arrived safely. The relief was a physical wave washing over me, but for the boys, the adventure was just beginning. Almost immediately, the barrage of questions started: "Bubbeessh, what do we feed them? Can we give them some rotis? Should we give them bread?" I couldn't help but chuckle, a warm smile spreading across my face. "No rotis, and absolutely no bread!" I laughed, teasing them gently over the phone. "Remember, animals don't eat junk food like you two do! Keep your biscuits and human treats to yourselves." Behind the laughter, though, my mind flipped to the care and responsibility these gentle souls needed after such an exhausting journey. I softy guided them through the steps of nursing an animal back to comfort. "Lis...

The Bridges We Build on Faith: A Story of Two Cities, Two Goats, and a Promise Kept Human relationships are beautiful, intricately woven tapestries. Sometimes, the lines of love cross and intertwine in ways only the heart truly understands. My cousin brother, Shehzad, lives in Surat, while my home is in Kalyan. But our bond goes beautifully deeper than just being cousins. Our mothers are biological sisters, drawing us together by the warmth of maternal blood. And in a beautiful twist of destiny, our lives aligned even further—my wife and his wife are also sisters. We are bound not just by family trees, but by shared lives, parallel timelines, and an abundance of affection that easily spans the distance between Maharashtra and Gujarat. Shehzad got married in 2009, and I followed a year later in 2010. While the years rolled by, my own home remained quiet for a decade; our blessings arrived later, with our sweet children being born in 2020 and 2023. But during those long, quiet ten years,...

  Raising Animals Made Me a Better Human Being There is something deeply human about raising animals with love. Whether it is feeding hungry chicks before sunrise, watching ducks splash joyfully in water, caring for pigeons perched on a rooftop, or walking proudly beside goats and sheep during bakra season — these moments shape the heart in ways modern life often cannot. For some people, bakrebazi is only a hobby. For others, it becomes a journey of emotion, responsibility, attachment, sacrifice, and spiritual reflection. The person who truly loves animals does not see them as “just livestock” or “pets.” He sees living creations of Allah — souls that depend upon human kindness, mercy, and care. The Silent Teachers of Compassion Animals teach us lessons without speaking a single word. A lamb teaches innocence. A pigeon teaches loyalty. A duck teaches joy and companionship. A goat teaches trust. A shepherd teaches responsibility. The one who feeds animals daily slowly becomes softer ...

  From Cute Fluffballs to Enormous Pekins: A Duck Tale 🦆💨 It all started two months ago with the classic line: "Mom/Dad, PLEASE can we get them?!" 😅 My kids successfully wore me down, and we walked out of the local pet shop with the tiniest, cutest little baby ducklings. Fast forward just 8 weeks... and those "little" ducklings transformed into absolute giant American Pekins! 📈😂 Eating us out of house and home, and officially outgrowing their welcome. Today was graduation day! 🎓 Three neighborhood boys knocked on the door, determined to buy them. They pooled together every single rupee they had and came up with ₹1,200. Even though I was asking for ₹1,700, you just can't say no to that kind of hustle and teamwork. Hooked them up with the neighborly discount and sent the big guys off to their new home! 😊 Subsidizing childhood adventures, one duck at a time. 📸 Swipe to see the 2-month glow-up! (From yellow cotton balls to feathered dinosaurs) #PetLove #Duc...

  The Beautiful Risk: A Tale of Love, Loss, and "Bakrebazi" They say Bakrebazi (the passion for goat rearing) isn't just a hobby; it’s a test of character. It’s an "alpha" pursuit that demands grit, risk-taking, and a strong heart. But sometimes, it’s also a journey of deep emotional attachment that defies logic. My recent experience with a Malwa-breed goat taught me that the line between a "good investment" and a "labor of love" is often thinner than we think. The One That Got Away (and Came Back) It started on YouTube. I saw a video of a stunning goat and felt an immediate connection. But by the time I dialed the number, the deal was done—someone else had beaten me to it. I accepted it as fate and moved on. Fast forward one month: through a series of coincidences and common acquaintances, I discovered that very same goat was back on the market. The new owner had an emergency and had to leave town. It felt like a second chance from the univ...

  The Day My Terrace Went Silent There was a time, just a couple of months ago, when my terrace rooftop was filled with tiny waddling feet, soft peeping sounds, and splashes of water everywhere. That was the beginning of my journey with two little Pekin ducklings. They arrived as fragile yellow fluff balls — innocent, curious, and completely dependent on care. From the very first day, they changed the atmosphere of the terrace. Suddenly every bucket became a swimming pool, every water tray became a playground, and every morning became louder, happier, and more alive. Raising ducklings on a rooftop in the middle of the city felt unusual to many people. But for me, it became a peaceful escape from daily stress and city life. Watching them grow became part of my routine and my happiness. Within just 1–2 months, those tiny ducklings transformed beautifully into a drake and duck pair. Their personalities became clearer with every passing day. The drake grew protective and confident, alw...

The Hardest Day on My Terrace Farm Three months ago, they were just tiny yellow chicks fitting inside my palms. Weak little creatures running behind me on the terrace rooftop, chirping endlessly for food, warmth, and attention. Every morning started with checking on them before even having my own tea. Slowly, my rooftop stopped feeling like a concrete terrace and started feeling alive. Day by day, they grew. Their feathers changed, their tiny squeaks became loud confident calls, and before I even realized it, my chicks had transformed into young roosters. Strong, energetic, territorial, and full of personality. Each one had its own behavior, its own attitude, its own bond with me. I watched them survive heavy heat, sudden rains, and rooftop winds. I fed them by hand, experimented with local desi foods, protected them from crows and cats, and proudly watched their healthy growth. Seeing them grow so quickly in just three months felt like an achievement of patience, care, and love. But s...

  Every Eid-ul-Adha, the biggest debate in our house is never about the animal… It is about *which day* to do the qurbani. ❤️ My wife always says: “First day is afzal and most preferred in Islam.” And when I agree by saying, “Okay, we’ll do it around Zohar…” she immediately replies: “No. Hazrat Ibrahim عليه السلام rushed to fulfill Allah’s command for sacrifice. Our Nabi ﷺ also taught us not to delay unnecessarily.” Meanwhile, my own heart quietly keeps searching for excuses. “Maybe second day after Fajr is better…” “Maybe the qasai is busy today…” “Too much crowd…” “Too many animals waiting…” And yes, sometimes people genuinely wait till the third day too depending on butcher availability. But deep inside… those were never the real reasons. The truth was much simpler. I just didn’t want to let go of Hero. 🐐🤍 And one year… I finally admitted this openly to my wife. I completely broke down. Crying. Moaning. Almost wailing like a child. In all our 17 years of marriage...