Sadaf Shahzad's Blog, page 5

Kdrama Strong Woman Do Bong Soon Review Episode 10 Onwards

Hello! I finally got my WordPress back since I updated my Windows and couldn’t even open the website. Praying this never happens again. So, I reviewed the first 10 episodes of Strong Woman Do Bong Soon previously where I covered most of the important bits. Today, I will be wrapping up my thoughts on it. So, let’s see if my mind changed in these final episodes.

THIS POST IS FULL OF SPOILERS

Unfortunately, the issues I had with this drama were never resolved and I am very disappointed about them.

Do Bong Soon’s mother makes a lameass excuse about how the strong girl born into their family always saps the strength of the boys born in the same generation. She justified her shitty behavior towards her daughter since childhood with that. Do Bong Soon literally feels unloved by her mother since she was a baby and in her 20s this is what her mother explains it with? Unacceptable!
Do Bong Soon’s mother is one rotten character who doesn’t make anything right till the very end. I don’t understand how the writers can be okay with such a character being accepted and loved by the very people she abuses. Besides, Do Bong Soon, her mother is verbally and physically abusive towards her own husband. Her husband eventually leaves home but comes back for some unfathomable reason. There’s no more talk of the abuse after that. Way to encourage abusive marriages!
 The goons had so many scenes, half of which completely unnecessary with bad comedy. I don’t get it. The whole monk thing as completely ridiculous. What was the point? Did they just need fillers?
The whole romance plot of the childhood bestie, his girlfriend and Do Bong Soon’s brother…what? Why? How? Can you not jebal?!!!!! It was beyond stupid and made zero sense especially given the conclusion.
 Our beloved CEO never resolved his issues with his family. They were pretty important in the beginning of the series but there was nothing after his brother’s betrayal was revealed. Why?

GOT7 Pakistan Birthday Project September 2017

Hello Aghases! Hope you are fluttering around happily

BTS Blood, Sweat & Tears MV Japanese Version Review & Fan Theories

Hi guys! Bangtan Sonyeondan’s Blood, Sweat & Tears MV Japanese version was officially released today and predictably, it’s awesome.

As expected, fan theories started pouring in within minutes of its release. I’m going to tell you what I think and the theories I have come up with. These are just my thoughts but I have heard some things from others which I will mention.

Let me start off with the obvious: Blood, Sweat & Tears Korean version is the first part and the Japanese version is the second part. This is not exactly a story but it does have a timeline. Both MVs have the timeline in common: we see the beginning in the last few scenes. There are many Biblical references in both MVs but sadly, I haven’t read the Bible so I was unable to grasp them all.

Namjoon has often said that they try to show the lives of the youth and BST does exactly that. BST is basically a depiction of the reality we face every day: the battle between good vs. evil. Namjoon explained that BST is about the temptations the youth face in the form of their own desires.

Here’s what happened

In the Korean version, we see Taehyung jump from the balcony and when the shroud lifts from him there is an injury on his back where his wings were ripped out. Taehyung is a fallen angel possibly, Lucifer. The statue of the fallen angel with the black feathered wings represents Taehyung. He acts like he’s one of boys so they never suspect him of being evil.

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The boys are all sitting at the table with apples on their plates but they haven’t touched them yet. The apple is the forbidden fruit which Adam and Eve ate after being enticed by Lucifer resulting in them being cast out of Heaven. The apples represent the temptation that is often invitingly laid before us like a feast.

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Jin stands up and the screen goes red as he lets go of the balloon but still reaches out for it. The balloon represents childish innocence which has now left him. Jin is alone when he kisses the statue and we see Taehyung covering Jin’s eyes. Jin has now succumbed to temptation and is blinded by evil.

Jin meets Namjoon and hands him a vial of Absinthe. Absinthe is also like apples here. The both represent the same thing: evil. So, Namjoon becomes corrupted and sets his eyes on Jungkook, who is his partner for the BST MVs. He forces Jungkook to drink the Absinthe. Jungkook is the youngest and I think he represents innocence almost angelic. The goodness in him repels the Absinthe as we see him vomit and the chaos spreading is shown as the swirling colors. Yoongi comes to check on him but Jungkook rejects his help. Remember the roles were reversed in the Run MV. When Jungkook wakes up in the Japanese MV, we can see a stain on his mattress similar to Taehyung’s wing injury. It’s like Jungkook was an angel but after being forced to take Absinthe he has fallen from grace. This probably shows how corruption spreads from one person to another and the role of peer pressure in it.

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I assume the others become similarly corrupted in various ways but they all react differently to it. Jimin bites into the apple. It obviously represents Jimin being corrupted maybe at the same time as Jungkook. This is further stressed on as the apple is blended into a liquid and the liquid turns green just like Absinthe. The scene from BST Korean version where Jungkook licks his finger tasting the green substance is repeated. This confirms that’s where Jungkook was corrupted. Jimin’s sin appears to be hypocrisy. He feels like he is living a lie and we see two parts of him in this MV: the Jimin who is aware that he has become corrupt and the Jimin who is confused and either unaware or in denial. In the blue room, Unaware Jimin looks at the apple in his hand in confusion. Yoongi keeps covering Jimin’s eyes with either his hands or a blindfold in both BST MVs.

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I don’t know if Yoongi was the one who led Jimin astray but he keeps trying to stop Jimin from learning the truth about the corruption within them both. They are partners in the BST MVs. Suddenly we start watching things from Jimin’s perspective as Yoongi’s fingers block the screen in the Japanese MV. As Jimin moved Yoongi’s hands away from his eyes he starts seeing reality. Aware Jimin walks and then literally runs away from Yoongi. He walks around realizing that his soul was tainted by the apple and feels ashamed of it trying to wipe the taste of the apple from his mouth.

J-Hope’s temptation is drugs I guess. We see him struggle with pills in many MVs. Yoongi’s might be lust/love like we saw him become destructive in First Love. J-Hope and Jimin’s solo dances are the same as that in their solo songs. I believe they reveal their inner turmoil as they battle the evil inside their souls. The ceiling of the dance studio is a scene from Heaven so J-Hope reaches out his hand in a plea for help. J-Hope alone seems keenly aware of his corruption and even manages to defeat it as he throws away his pills. J-Hope is repeatedly shown sitting in front a statue of the Virgin Mary I believe. I think it’s meant to show that the good in him is stronger than the evil and he ultimately overcomes it. Now, all six of the boys have been corrupted and we see Taehyung, the evil fallen angel, move away from Jimin and Jungkook.

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Maybe he corrupted them in order of age. It could be that kids learn from their elders and when the elders deviate from the right path, the younger ones follow. He seems to be stumbling around but I don’t know why. I can’t tell what’s written on his shirt but I think it’s significant. The lower part maybe “98six” but I can’t be sure. If so, it could be a Biblical reference I didn’t understand.

Several things happen around the same time now. Both Jimins face each other. Yoongi is again there to shield Unaware Jimin’s eyes from reality. Unaware Jimin drops the cause of the evil, the apple, in shock finally detaching himself from evil. Jimin is thrust into the chaos evil created, Jungkook tries to walk away from the cracks in the floor (the damage evil did in his life) and Namjoon breaks all the mirrors around himself probably because he was unable to face the reality of what he did and what he has become.

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Jimin and Jungkook hold Taehyung in place as he struggles to escape. Meanwhile, J-Hope skims his hand along a weapon and someone holds a dart read to throw it at Taehyung. I think it maybe Jin. The scene where J-Hope fires an arrow in BST Korean version is repeated but this time, the arrow flies through time and space and Taehyung flinches as if he sees it coming and not a tiny dart. J-Hope wins against Taehyung but not the others.

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Jin beats up Taehyung like he blames him for his corruption and has finally come to his senses. Taehyung seems happy that his mission to corrupt them all was successful. He pushes Jin down then appears to stab him in the heart. I think it means that Jin tried to fight his corruption too late and he couldn’t stop the corruption from killing him in the end. I think the shattered mirrors and swirls Jungkook and Namjoon see are the effects of Jin’s death on them showing how one person’s death affects those around him. Taehyung directly corrupted Jin. Jin corrupted Namjoon who in turn corrupted Jungkook. Taehyung gleefully moves on to kill the others. Taehyung’s jacket reads “Lone Wolf” and “Confuse” while having cards on it too. I think it shows that Lucifer is not one of the boys and that he plays games confusing them leading them to evil. Taehyung is moving through sheets and curtains which probably meant that he hides behind screens and it’s hard to see his true face. Namjoon also mentioned this in an interview that evil comes to us in the shape of our desires. So, that’s how Taehyung manages to lead them all astray. He sneaks around and crawls through a small opening into the outdoors where his jacket sleeve reads “DISAPPEAR”. I think it means that Lucifer sneakily corrupts and leaves once he’s done. If you are religious, you could interpret Taehyung’s character to be Lucifer or a fallen angel. If not, you could simply interpret it as supreme evil or the source of evil. It could also be understood as the selfish human part we all have inside of us.

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You might be wondering why I didn’t talk about Jin and the painting. Jin stares at a painting which depicts a battle being Heaven and Hell in both BST MVs. I believe it is figurative and not literal. Jin is gazing upon the real world and the never ending battle between good and evil. In the Japanese MV, Jin is shown first but what we don’t realize is that Jin is dead and in the place between worlds. We are later shown the hole in his heart where Taehyung stabbed him. Looking at the painting, I think his life flashes before his eyes. The scene is abruptly filled with red smoke like it’s something hazy in the past. Once, he sees his death in the painting, a void opens up in the floor. I think Jin corrupted his loved ones so now he’s going to hell for it. Suddenly, we see one of the boys (maybe J-Hope) look up to the sky and see a pair of wings.

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Jin shatters and disappears but the falling shards of glass turn into white feathers. So, I believe that Jin did do to Heaven in the end because he repented for his sins and died trying to defeat evil.

Blood, Sweat and Tears is meant to show us the ugly reality I believe. It shows the youth how evil can sneak into their hearts, cause chaos in their lives, spread to others and even kill them. through the stories of these characters, it tells us how different people react to it and how we should deal with it. I think J-Hope would be the most inspiring in this case. We should be aware of it and fight it with all we have got if we don’t want it to consume us entirely.

Let me know what you guys thought and what your own fan theories are J Don’t forget to keep voting for the BBMAs and stream the new MV. BTS fighting! ARMY fighting! ❤

Book Review: A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3) by Sarah J. Maas

Hello! The much anticipated third book in the A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) series, A Court of Wings and Ruin (ACOWAR), was released on 2nd May, 2017 and I was able to get a copy the very next day thanks to the pre-order suggested by my fellow Massassin. Thanks Saima ❤ This is NOT a standalone novel so don’t skip the first two books in the series folks!

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Spoiler-free review

It’s huge like HUGE!! (705 pages) You can legit use it instead of a plain old dumbbell. I am sure a lot of people are disappointed (I actually have seen posts about this on social media) but remember that expectations were really high for this release. There were several fascinating fan theories but it appears that Sarah went in a completely different direction haha!

There are three parts: Princess of Carrion, Cursebreaker and High Lady. Everyone was agonizing over Feyre being stuck at the Spring Court and Tamlin’s “advances”. That part doesn’t take up too much space which I was glad for. I think you’ll find Feyre’s time at the Spring Court very satisfying

K-drama Strong Woman Do Bong Soon Episode 1-10 Review (Part 1)

Hi everyone! Summer is here and the days have gotten longer which means I get more time to play

A Book Review of Blues by Masooma Memon

Hello everyone! Today I will be reviewing another superb entry from Daastan’s A War Within competition: Blues by writer and blogger, Masooma Memon. Before we dive into the analysis let’s just appreciate this beautiful book cover. It really does capture the essence of the story.

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Waneeza Z. for Daastan Publishers

Blurb

Depression is an abyss. An abyss with sharp, scintillating canines that can swallow you whole.

She knows about it because she had been devoured by it once. She has come a long way, and at most of the nights she feels proud of herself, but some nights the memory of it is strong enough to pierce her skin and shatter her once again. She was nine when her parents went separate ways.

She thought she could survive that, but what she didn’t expect was that a dark, hollow abyss was waiting to engulf her just up the road.

 

My Thoughts

When I talked to Masooma about her story she told me it was about depression. I admit it made me hesitant to read it because I generally don’t go for sad stories. We all seek happiness in our lives, right? Most people don’t enjoy hanging around depressed people because they don’t want to be dragged down with them. I thought Blues was going to drag me down with it. Boy was I wrong!

I didn’t need to go past the first few lines to fall completely in love with the writing. The author is gifted at spinning sentences that push the limits of your imagination and allow the meaning of those words to penetrate deep inside your mind. I was enchanted and totally sucked into the story from the beginning.

The narrative is in the first person which may put off readers who don’t enjoy this point of view in fiction. The writer has cleverly woven in diary entries which enhance this form of narrative. We follow the protagonist’s journey into the past as she leafs through pages of her old diary. The growth in her character is evident from the stark contrast between her past self and present self. The story starts with her making new beginnings determined to change for the better. Unlike many she is not afraid of her past and decides to face her demons head on. We can see that she has come a long way from days filled with hopelessness, self doubt, denial and loneliness. She reflects on the thoughts of her younger self and tries to spot the mistakes that made her fall so deep into the darkness of depression.

In the past, she felt imprisoned by her broken family. Her entire life was consumed with the grief and rage that comes with being a neglected child. That’s what she thought as she let her anger eat away at her common sense. It was clear whose fault it was but being stuck in her confused thoughts she directed the blame in the wrong direction. She allowed herself to be defined by her circumstances and her actions followed the path to self destruction.

With time she learned to escape from her pain, accepted the ugly truths of the world, appreciated the ones who never gave up on her, was grateful for what she had and most importantly, believed that she was not helpless or worthless. Living in a world that constantly seeks to put you down, it’s hard to believe in your value. Through Blues, the author shows us that there is always an escape from depression. It is usually a place you create yourself by holding fast to pessimism and thinking of problems rather than solutions. When you unearth the power of change that lies within you there is nothing that can stop you from moving forward towards the light. It is you who has to take the first step or else you could be lost in the darkness forever.

 

Overall Opinion

Beautifully crafted, Blues is an inspiring tale that serves as a lesson for us all.

 

My Rating

*****

 

Have you read any of the short stories published this year at Meraqissa store?

A Book Review of An Abandoned Leaf by Neeraj Brahmankar

Hello readers! Besides my Whimsical Wednesdays series, where I post a detailed book review every week, I will be sharing reviews of shorter publications like short stories I have read. Daastan is a relatively new publishing platform of Pakistan that organizes short story competitions in both Urdu and English categories. I participated in “A War Within” (English category) and made it to the Top 15. Today, I will be reviewing the first entry I read from this year’s batch of short stories: An Abandoned Leaf by Neeraj Brahmankar. Congratulations on clinching the 6th rank this year, Neeraj. May you enjoy more success in the future

A Book Review of Beckoning Darkness (The Damned and the Pure #1) By J. D. Stonebridge

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Hello! Welcome to the first post of my brand new series, Whimsical Wednesdays, where I will be reviewing a book every week J

My first selection is a book I received from the author in exchange for an honest review. It belongs to the Fantasy and Paranormal Romance genre. So, if this is something you’d like to try then read on!

“Beckoning Darkness” is the first book in the “The Damned and the Pure” series by J. D. Stonebridge. The name of the series makes sense since the hero is a “Damned” demon and the heroine is a “Pure” angel. I liked the depiction of the angel, Ariel, on the book cover but that sword is what stole my heart. It was released in 2014 and is now part of a trilogy.  So don’t worry about waiting for the next book to come out.

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Blurb

God left humanity in the care of the angels. Centuries have passed, and Heaven is preparing for His return.

After centuries of imprisonment in Heaven, Ariel is given a chance to redeem herself in the eyes of the archangels. Years after her last descent, Ariel must return to the mortal land to fulfill her mission for the coming of God. But the memories of her past sins catch up to her, and Ariel must decide where her faith truly lies.

The city of Chicago was the chosen residence of the eccentric demon, Caelum. His taste of entertainment sets him apart from the rest of his kind, driving him to walk amongst the mortal men. But when he is presented with an opportunity to have a hand in Hell’s grand plan, temptation beckoned him to take the risks. Walking through shadows and nightmares he crosses paths with an angel from Heaven, and the memories of his forgotten humanity begin to resurface.

Both Heaven and Hell have plans for the End of Days with the angel, Ariel, and the demon, Caelum, at the center. When faith is threatened, two natural enemies become unlikely allies in a war for all Humanity.

My Thoughts

I have never read a book by this author so I was excited to see what I would find. Beckoning Darkness opens with Ariel being released from imprisonment now that the archangels have a mission for her. What her sin was exactly even she doesn’t know. Her memories of that time have been erased. It’s not that her memory doesn’t try to resurface; it’s just that she’d rather not remember her shame. Fresh out of prison, she is assigned a task on earth and is eager to redeem herself in the eyes of Heaven as it prepares for the return of God.

Ariel is your typical Goody Two-shoes as you would expect of a mythological angel. She reminds me of that one kid in your class who refuses to budge a centimeter from the rules *points to self*. It’s almost like she is brainwashed since creation (which she probably is) into thinking that the world is black and white. She believes the best of all Heavenly beings and the worst of anyone remotely related to Hell. In a way, Ariel is the most naïve and innocent creature you have ever come across. She is an adult but I am sure you know street kids way smarter than her. The core of her ignorance is her belief that doubt is sin. This is why she fights so hard to keep her “faith” even when the signs clearly tell her otherwise.

I enjoyed Caelum’s entrance. It shows you the harsh reality of humans and where demonic influence would actually stand if it existed as in this book. You could say our boy’s a bit unique. He is a demon who doesn’t like Hell or torturing souls. He has no loyalty to anyone but himself. So, in many ways, he is the opposite of Ariel. He survives dodging Hellish beings especially his superiors. Unlike Ariel, he loves the human world. He enjoys the fine comforts of life. Caelum has no recollection of his life before he was a demon but he knows that he used to be human. He is smart and charming. Did I mention this is all a façade for how deadly he really is? While angels can fly and heal, Caelum can move between shadows undetected and create nightmares. As Fate (or someone else *coughs*) would have it, Caelum and Ariel are assigned the same task by their higher-ups: influence the same human. Since beings off Heaven and Hell are sworn enemies, our leads are polar opposites and they are competing for the same prize, their first meeting goes something like this.

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Ariel’s straight-faced self-righteous dialogues in reaction to Caelum’s flirtatious provocation remind me of Castiel from Supernatural. It’s hilarious and kind of sad (for Ariel).

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I wasn’t expecting the book to veer off in a completely different direction with how that particular mission ended. I thought the story would be about that mission. I was quite glad though because that’s where the plot thickens. Ariel’s dreaded doubts arise and I delighted in her inner war. Is it bad that I didn’t take the woman’s side? Yes, I sold my heart to a demon but you can’t really blame me. Caelum grows on you pretty fast. He’s a swell guy despite being a demon. Are you telling me you wouldn’t want to be influenced by someone like that? !

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Coming back to the plot, mysterious events start to happen around them and disturbing rumors reach them (ooooooooohhh!). As you might have guessed, this is the part where they shake hands and decide to help each other “solve the mystery” *Uses Shaggy voice*. Ariel is still a haughty biatch but that’s okay, she goes through a tough inner battle and plays her part admirably. Lots of other supernatural creatures join the party and the bloodbath begins!! That’s always my favorite part

Riddles in the Dunes (Third Place Pakistani Readers Fantasy Short Story Competition 2016)

 

“Listen closely child to the tale of Mikamah, the goddess of wisdom. For her self-serving ways, she now suffers a fate worse than death they say. Perhaps she was not that bright after all. At a time when gods walked amongst humans and shifters in the desert realm of Yaransa, Mikamah was a celebrated deity. Combining the body of a lion, wings of an eagle and the torso of a woman she fashioned the first sphinx. Breathing her essence into the creature gave the female a unique form of wisdom: premonition. The catch was that sphinxes could only reveal those secrets in the form of riddles. In Mikamah’s sight, only those smart enough to solve them were worthy of possessing those secrets. The other gods and goddesses were alarmed as potent secrets were gained by those with nefarious intentions. They pleaded with the vain goddess but she rebelled and was finally defeated. Stripped of the amulet holding her power, she was cast into the deepest pits of the Underworld where she languishes to this day.”

The little girl stared wide eyed and slack jawed as her mother concluded the story. The young woman smiled affectionately at her daughter, “Close your mouth Lina or the locusts might jump in!”

Admonished and concerned the dark haired child pressed her lips together tightly. “Why is my precious flower turning blue in the face?” Malina’s father strode into the tent and settled down next to her pallet.

“Pa the locusts want to eat me!” the five year-old exclaimed throwing herself into brawny arms that snuggled her closer.

Her mother shook her head in exasperation while her father declared, “Only if they get past my deadly fist!”

A serious debate followed between father and daughter comparing the speed of fists to that of locusts.

Assured at last and yawning like a sand cat, Malina was tucked into bed and fast asleep when alarmed cries forced her awake. Her parents were nowhere to be seen in their humble nomadic dwelling. Horses stomped big hooves in the sand right outside the faded cloth causing her to whimper in fear. As gruff voices in a harsh dialect sounded closer and closer, she climbed into the large wicker basket set aside for blankets. Suddenly she heard her mother scream and her father bellow in outrage. Both backed away from an unseen threat stumbling through the tent flap. Before Malina could fly into her mother’s embrace, wild looking men with wicked curved weapons charged in. Before she could inhale to scream, identical crimson streaks laced across the air spattering the grimy tent fabric and the wooden poles that once held her home together. The child’s mind could take no more horror and she succumbed to blissful darkness.

 

Someone clutched Malina to their chest rocking her back and forth. Bleary amber eyes registered her grandma’s arms wrapped unyielding around her. The tears finally burst forth soaking them both in renewed grief. They along with two men, who had been visiting the nearby city of Ramin, were all that was left of the Kabali tribe. The rest had been slaughtered in their beds like cattle hunted by wolves in the night. The Harashi tribe had their vengeance for some ancient indiscretion no one remembered and Malina became an orphan. Once the funeral rites were observed, Ashbel bundled up her granddaughter and returned to Ramin. Her elderly friend, a kind schoolmaster took them in and soon Malina was learning to be a scribe while Ashbel minded an herb stall in the Great Market.

“I wish the rest of my students were as bright and eager as Malina”, Behlur remarked. “Such a creative spirit she is with her quick wit and queer puzzles.”

Ashbel froze arranging herbs and struggled to smile in reply at her old friend. After he walked off, she packed up for the day and hurried home to her granddaughter.

“Nana, look at this book I found today!” the eleven-year old trilled in greeting. Malina’s love for mythology had resulted in an entire collection of strange books like one she now held out.

“Lovely, dear”, Ashbel kissed her cheek. “Do put the kettle on. Will you?”

She had dreaded this day ever since Malina’s mother, her daughter-in-law, had confided in her about their true heritage.

Dropping in the seat next to her, Malina sighed dreamily, “Oh! How I wish I had claws like Marion or wings like Gaili.”

Listing the fascinating traits of her shifter friends, Malina’s voice slowly trailed off noticing the increasing alarm on her grandma’s face.

“What’s the matter, Nana?” she placed a gentle palm on her furrowed forehead.

The wrinkled hands grasped the smaller ones warmly. “Lina, it is time you know who you are”, Ashbel begin hesitantly.

“Who I am? Why I am Lina!” the child’s wide smile died out when Ashbel’s somber expression remained.

“Do you remember the bedtime stories your Ma told you about hunted sphinxes and the evil goddess?”

A shaky nod was her only response.

“They are not legends child, but history; the history of your people.” Ashbel continued.

Malina had always longed to be like her exciting shifter friends but this? This was scary. Panicked tears leaked down her golden face and she ran out of the house towards her favourite thinking spot by the Hamrum River. When Ashbel joined her hours later, Malina’s tears had dried and she appeared pensive.

“Your Ma also had a special message for you,” her grandma pushed back a stray lock. Malina perked up at that and her grandma recited.

 

“Mirror to heart is mind,

Soul to body they bind.

Blind are ye accursed vain,

Wiser to fear than disdain.”

At Malina’s perplexed expression, Ashbel gave a watery smile, “She said you would figure it out when the time came.”

Hand in hand they walked back determined to face whatever came as family.

 

Standing at Behlur’s doorstep, nineteen-year old Malina reflected that her Nana would be there now if the gods hadn’t called her away three years ago. Life had been hard without her to teach Malina control of her growing abilities especially shape shifting.

“Promise you won’t breathe a word of this to anyone Lina”, she had made her swear.

Malina had kept her word since but hiding such secrets had cost her many friends growing up.

“Jazzem is a well respected professor at Sarus University. Make me proud,” Behlur gave her a parting hug sending her off to the capital as a scribe to his long time friend.

When the caravan stopped to rest in the quaint town of Laleer, Malina happily browsed book stalls at the weekly market. Suddenly aware of a man breathing down her neck, she whirled around but a pungent cloth was pressed to her mouth stifling any protests. Darkness engulfed her and she fell limp in his burly arms.

“Ah! The heat was too much for my little sister.”

Syn inwardly cringed at Jef’s lame tactic.

Thrusting the girl at him, the eagle shifter ordered, “Load the bitch up in the carriage and let’s be off”.

Syn was really getting tired of that low life acting like the boss but he cursed at the mercenary’s back and did as told.

Glancing at his unconscious burden he lamented, “Too bad we can’t be friends darling. You’re kind of pretty.”

Scowling at the unfairness of the universe, Syn guided the horses to their hidden destination.

 

Malina jerked awake in pitch black. While her eyes adjusted, trembling hands felt around for clues making contact with a rocky surface on all sides but one. Gripping metal bars, she realized it was a cell of some sort. Sensing her shifting ability blocked by a spell of some sort, she was resigned to act like a damsel in distress.

“Help!” she yelled.

Her voice echoed off invisible surfaces leading her to conclude she was trapped in a cave-like prison.

“Shut up!” a gruff voice complained coming closer along with a lit torch until she could make out the sharp features of the speaker.

“Enough Jef! Zellis is on her way”, a clear deep voice announced.

It came from a younger man around her age, who appeared bored but his alert gaze said otherwise.

A haughty older woman in scarlet robes swept in addressing her scornfully, “You? You are the sphinx?”

Malina’s blood turned to ice in her veins.

“I am Zellis, high priestess of Mikamah’s Temple,” the woman gestured at herself regally studying her with reptilian eyes.

Rattlesnake shifter, Malina noted uneasily.

While she stood mute with panic, the priestess droned on about how the priesthood had fled underground after Mikamah’s fall.

“You will locate her lost amulet and mighty Mikamah will return to finish what she started,” Zellis commanded.

“Why me?” Malina titled her head curiously.

“Pathetic as you are, you are the last descendant of the first-born sphinx, ungrateful wench!” Zellis spat out viciously. “The goddess told me where to find you when we last communed in ritual. Her connection to your blood is strong.”

Lunging forward, her lethal nails piercing Malina’s neck, the priestess hauled her by the collar and demanded, “Tell me where the amulet is!”

Malina’s gaze grew unfocused even as an otherworldly voice issued from her lips:

 

“Power that seek the bold,

Sleeps in death’s embrace cold.

Watch as dark devours light,

Beckoning to those with the Sight.”

Smiling triumphantly, Zellis dragged Jef out shooting over her shoulder, “Report to me when you solve the riddle, Syn.”

Striding closer to Malina, Syn waved a familiar parchment in her face.

“Jazzem’s scribe huh? I know him from my university days,” he revealed. “Cooperate and I will deliver you to him safely.”

 

Mulling over her options during a wretched meal of moldy bread and cloudy water, Malina decided to remain compliant until she could find real help. Absorbed in her gloomy thoughts, she didn’t notice the desert wolf slinking in until it sat panting beyond the bars cocking his head to study her. The canine wagged its fluffy tail and whined rubbing its damp nose against the bars. She reached out with an uncertain hand to pet her only friend in that miserable rank cave.

“Better a wild animal than a caged one,” she sadly mumbled to her companion.

The desert wolf’s muscles trembled beneath its fur and before she could blink, Syn stared down at her smirking. Quickly recovering, Malina stumbled to her feet and returned his intense stare, ignoring the flush that crept up her temples.

“See something you like?” Syn teased bending to her level.

“For Gods’ sake, put some pants on man!” Jef marched in eyes tightly squeezed shut.

Infuriated beyond belief, Malina shot back, “I’ve seen better!”

Uproarious laughter followed Syn all the way to the entrance where he paused and announced, “We leave at dawn.”

 

The next morning the trio set off with their reluctant prisoner in tow and Syn navigating. “The Valley of the Damned!” Zellis screeched at him. “Have you lost your mind?”

“That’s where the riddle points to,” Syn explained calmly, “Clever really when you think of it. No one would think to venture into that pit of decay.”

“The ancient battleground of the Gods,” Malina gasped in realization.

“They say the souls of the damned still haunt it, ripping apart any who dares enter,” Jef supplied.

Braving sweltering days and bitter cold nights in the desert, they finally reached the mouth of the valley on the sixth night.

“Are you sure about this?” Zellis asked uncertainly.

“Rattled?” Syn taunted.

“Careful mutt before I whip out a leash!” she hissed back.

Jef added his fears of being followed and no one noticed Malina pacing towards the dead tree smack in the middle of the wasteland.

She was being pulled inexplicably in the direction of the grey trunks twisted as if in pain, the branches bare and lifeless. Her quick strides turned into a sprint and she slammed her hands over the creaking trunk. Running feet sounded behind her while she desperately scratched at the bark till her nails bled.

Syn pulled her off and held her struggling form still reaching out. Jef brought down his axe and the rotting tree groaned falling to the cracked earth.

“It was hollow!” Jef exclaimed.

He plunged a hand to extract the heavy gold amulet with an oval amber stone set in the center. The mercenary’s agonized scream rent the air once before he collapsed dead and unmoving. Taking advantage of Syn’s shock, Malina freed herself and grabbed the amulet sighing in relief. The pull had vanished.

“Good riddance,” Zellis flipped her long golden hair back and straightened her shoulders. “Time to summon our mistress!”

“Don’t do this!” Malina pleaded with Syn. “I cooperated. Now take me to Sarus.”

“Not so fast!” He dragged her to Zellis, who produced a dagger and sliced Malina’s palm coating the amulet in blood.

A maniacal gleam entered Syn’s eyes as the priestess began a hypnotic chant.

“You think this is about gold?” he sneered. “Those fools at the university threw me out just because I showed another his place. Once Mikamah rises, the brightest like me will take their rightful place as rulers of the world!”

The crack beneath their feet got wider as the chanting grew in fervor. Unbelievably hot vapors shot out of the fractures causing them to leap back. The goddess emerged as they dissipated terrifying beautiful and undeniably cruel. Syn and Zellis fell in prostration but Malina stood transfixed with terror.

“Ah, my little sphinx,” she purred. “Stand with me and taste true power. Imagine the strong Broji demons and my wise sphinxes breeding to birth the ultimate race not even the gods could defeat!”

Sickened with horror, it took Malina a minute to register her words, “Sphinxes?”

Mikamah laughed maliciously, “You didn’t think you were the only one, did you? Your sisters are out there. My connection to them is weaker but exists.”

Struggling to see through the red haze that clouded her vision, her mother’s words swam to the forefront of Malina’s mind. Struck by an epiphany, she calmed and bowed her head to Mikamah.

“I yield”, she said quietly.

Zellis and Syn rose to join her smiling and victorious. As Mikamah glided to her, a single black arrow flew through the air and plunged into the priestess’s neck killing her instantly. Howling with anger, Syn shifted at the same time Malina did, now free of Zellis’s spell.

Mikamah lifted a hand to curse the black clad figures poised to attack from behind a crumbling rock but Malina pounced on her crushing the amulet under one giant paw. A painful yelp told her another arrow had found its mark in the desert wolf’s body. Malina’s long sharp teeth sank into the goddess’s neck delivering pure divine essence that devoured her own tainted essence. Mikamah’s body dissolved into vapors before her eyes.

“Diamond cuts diamond huh?” Amber eyes so like hers smiled at Malina.

“Sorry we were late for the party,” another young woman with the same eyes spoke emerging from behind the rock.

Soon Malina was gazing upon an entire group of sphinxes, warriors by the look of it.

“Mikamah couldn’t see beyond her own pride to the compassion she always thought demeaning,” Malina explained.

“We have been searching for you for a long time sister,” the first sphinx took her hands warmly.

Feeling tears well up, Malina embraced her sisters one by one. Shifting into magnificent beasts, they spread their wings and soared into the approaching dawn together at last.

 

THE END

A Proud/ Vain Woman

When was the last time you felt proud of yourself? Did you ace a test or manage not to flunk this time? Each individual has their own special set of skills and a unique scale for measuring it. However, none of the usual rules apply to you if you are a woman living in Pakistan. Your sudden burst of pride was probably born of a simple joy and crushed before you had a chance to acknowledge it properly.

The plain truth of the matter is that a Pakistani woman is supposed to feel no pride whatsoever. If she ever shows any inclination towards being pleased about an accomplishment, it must be vanity. The Masters degree she just received does not reflect upon her own hard work rather her parents’ generosity. After all, she cannot be allowed to have an actual job because that would throw suspicion on her character. The son she gave birth to after nine months of a difficult pregnancy is a gift from God and hopefully, will inherit nothing from her. Cooking is not rocket science. The feast she lays out at dinner table everyday is obviously the result of having too much time of her hands to watch cooking shows. Being offered an opportunity to move ahead in life is clearly a cause for concern or more often just a nuisance for everyone who has to adjust their schedule for it.

A Pakistani woman has to tread carefully and show no confidence in herself. Why would you check out your hair in the mirror before leaving the house? You aren’t a movie star on a film set. Going to the university with some lipstick on means you are trying to impress someone. Random people will stop you in the hallways and ask if you have recently gotten hitched or worse, they might gossip about your alleged affair with a notorious professor. “Look at her walking in her 3-inch heels as if she’s a supermodel on the ramp!” She hears the carelessly tossed out comment as she rushes to her next appointment. Apparently, it is unacceptable to wear high heels unless you are a celebrity or forced to attend a lame family wedding or one of “those” women.

People seem to believe that if he is a man he must be accomplished. Let us look a specific case. He has barely managed to pass high school and attached himself to the family business. He is the shining star of the family and a constant source of pride for his parents. If he says it’s important to go on that trip with his friends then it is surely no inconvenience. He must have a flashy bike or car because he has places to go to. So what if his qualifications aren’t that high, if he says he wishes to live in Europe then he must be supported with every last coin they possess. Years of going through low end jobs and leaving his family broke has not dulled his radiance. When it is time to find him a bride she must be the “fairest in the land” and have a good degree too. After all, that is the least they can do for their son who has made them so proud with his countless accomplishments. A man running his hands through his short tresses a million times a day is okay. He must look good every day so his suit with those perfectly coordinated accessories demand nothing but praise.

So you see dear friends, at the end of the day we cannot ignore one of our community’s fundamental rules: Her pride is shameless but his vanity is expected.