Barbaad - Destruction - By Nur Firzana Mohamed Raffi

Written By: Nur Firzana Mohamed Raffi

Category: Poetry

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Nur Firzana Mohamed Raffi presents "Barbaad - Destruction," a poignant piece submitted to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. This entry, categorized under Poetry, delves into the nuanced feelings of vulnerability and transformation that accompany love's quiet encroachment. Through her writing, Nur Firzana offers an introspective exploration of how ordinary moments can become profoundly significant, reflecting the universal theme of emotional exposure and the gradual unraveling of guarded hearts.

About the Work

In "Barbaad - Destruction," Nur Firzana Mohamed Raffi masterfully captures the essence of vulnerability in love. The poem is marked by a gentle, contemplative tone, creating vivid imagery of everyday scenes that transform into emotional epiphanies. With an understated elegance, the work conveys how love infiltrates the mundane, leading to a tender unraveling of defenses. This piece evokes a sense of quiet inevitability and emotional depth, inviting readers to reflect on their own experiences of love and vulnerability.

Barbaad - Destruction

Original Submission by Nur Firzana Mohamed Raffi

6. Barbaad - Destruction

Perhaps this is what ‘barbaad’ means.

Not that love has ruined me.

But that I can feel myself becoming someone who could be ruined by it.

Because you don’t have to do anything extraordinary.

You can stand at the sink, sleeves pushed up, washing dishes after an ordinary day, and somehow the most unremarkable moment becomes difficult for me to look away from.

You laugh.

You giggle.

And somewhere between pretending I am busy and standing quietly in the corner, I realize I am softer around you than I ever meant to be.

Even the smallest things have begun to stay with me.

The way you squint when you’re trying to see something in the distance.

I don’t know when I started remembering things like that.

That’s the frightening part.

There was no grand moment when I decided to let you in.

It happened quietly.

Somewhere between shared conversations and ordinary evenings, between your laughter and the way you move through a room, my heart began making a home out of things it was never supposed to keep.

And now I understand the words—

Tujhse door main ik hi wajah ke liye hoon,

kamzor ho jaata hoon main.

I keep my distance for one reason.

Because around you, I become weak.

Not weak enough to fall at your feet.

Weak enough to forget all the reasons I once had for keeping my heart guarded.

Because I know how this could go.

One day, these little things won’t feel little anymore.

Your laughter will become something I look forward to.

Your presence will become part of the rhythm of my days.

And your absence—

I don’t even want to know what that might feel like.

So perhaps barbaad isn’t the fear of loving you.

Perhaps it is the fear that I am already on my way there—

quietly,

without permission,

with no dramatic beginning at all.

Just a man washing dishes,

and a woman standing a little too far away,

wondering how something so ordinary

could make her heart feel this dangerously full.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious event celebrating the art of written expression. It invites submissions from around the world, providing a platform for poets and writers to showcase their talent and creativity. The competition aims to foster a global community of writers, encouraging diverse voices and perspectives in poetry and creative writing.

We extend our sincere gratitude to Nur Firzana Mohamed Raffi for sharing "Barbaad - Destruction" with us. Her participation in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 enriches the tapestry of emotions and experiences that define this event. We look forward to seeing more of her evocative work in the future.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.