15 Comments

Yes ….

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Aekta, Safia and I saw the film on Monday and spoke about you and we got so excited to recognise you from her cohort. We cried after witnessing the story and had goosebumps. The heartwarming story, beautifully told, as it is, left me thinking about your family constantly and continuously since then. This piece however, completes that story on the big screen for me. Thank you for writing this. Thank you for your courage in living your story and in telling/writing it, for all of us to heal collectively, like Raju said. I will come back to this piece often. Lots of love.

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Thank you so much for sharing this, Sana! This piece helped vent a year of inner turmoil for me too. I am so grateful to Natasha for inviting me to this workshop!

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This was searing indeed. Much love and healing to Aekta and her family.

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Your blessings mean the world.

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Thank you Natasha for this wonderful post, as always. And thank you Aekta for your beautiful writing as always. I learn so much from you. The courage, the strength, the honesty, and the vulnerability. The yin and the yang. Life.

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Thank you Beena!

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Thank you for your love and strength, Beena. Means so much to hear from you

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Thank you Natasha. Likewise. And thanks for all you are doing. Radical love is what we need. In that spirit, sharing a few offerings from our @southasiapeace network that Aekta has been an integral part of:

- https://sapannews.com/2023/03/08/celebrating-love-beyond-borders-and-boundaries-of-religion-caste-nationality/ (report on our post-V-Day event last year)

- https://beenasarwar.com/2023/07/23/the-way-forward-is-a-rainbow-of-blended-colours/ (a talk I gave on the issue)

- https://sapannews.com/2022/04/11/evoking-the-madness-of-manto-what-we-need-is-one-big-roar-of-laughter-across-southasia/ (report on our music and mystics event)

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Writing is healing but reading writing that is healing is healing also. Brain, heart, and fingers feel like jelly when I read such stories. Fellow readers, while Aekta is living up to her name, her heart is living up to its true nature, why don’t we live up to our own work of spreading stories and share this inspiring love story far and wide? For there is no love without vulnerability and Aekta owns hers like it is a gorgeous, fiery, red Ferrari. Like it is an asset, not a burden. Like vulnerability is both the mother and the daughter of love. 💘

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Oh that's so beautiful Raju! Such an honour to have those words written for me! Thank you!

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what wonderful words, Raju!

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This is so triggering, I could write an essay only in response to this piece. I know an older divorced woman who never married again because her family felt embarrassed about her remarriage prospects. I know a friend and family who chose to marry again after their divorce and faced so much ridicule by people. Thank you, Aekta for listening to your wretched heart. You've shown your girls that to honour love and those you love, you must first learn to love yourself. I've enjoyed this essay in your voice - reflected sincerity, honesty and so much innocent, pure love! More power to you, I'm sure the Amazon series will be huge!

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Thank you so much Sanobar! I am so touched by your heartfelt note. It was my first time doing this kind of a recording... wasn't sure how it's going to turn out. Thank you for validating it!

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Of course our true stories will catalyse everyone else's lived stories. Thanks for sharing, Sanobar

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