The Month - By Ayesha Falak

Written By: Ayesha Falak

Category: Creative Non Fiction

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In "The Month," Ayesha Falak delivers a poignant piece of creative non-fiction, sharing a deeply personal narrative set against the backdrop of Qatar. As part of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, this work explores the sudden shift from the comfort of safety to the stark reality of chaos. Ayesha's reflections offer an introspective look at how life can change in an instant, revealing themes of resilience and the enduring strength of familial bonds.

About the Work

Ayesha Falak's "The Month" masterfully captures the sudden upheaval of daily life as unexpected conflict shatters the peace once taken for granted. Through evocative imagery and a candid narrative style, Ayesha conveys the emotional turmoil of living under duress, the shifting perceptions of safety, and the profound appreciation for family. Her narrative serves as a reminder of life's fragile nature and the importance of cherishing what truly matters.

The Month - Creative Non fiction

Original Submission by Ayesha Falak

THE MONTH

Growing up in Qatar, safety was just a normal thing. I have been in Qatar for over 12 years of my life, and it is like my second home. We, as a family, just found safety as a background of our lives, never worried or gave any thoughts to it. You could literally leave your doors unlocked, your cars open, walk to the grocery store at midnight, it was such an easy lifestyle. Things like war, politics, conflicts were just seen on my TV screen, things that I only read, never worried about.

Until last year, when the dark, quiet sky literally broke open.

Last year, around June, it was just like any other normal day. I was in my bedroom, studying for an exam I had the next day, stressing over the most complicated questions. I just wanted the exam to get over, so that I could finally breathe. Just as I was about to start revising again, I heard a loud bang.

It wasn’t just any small car bang, it was this huge that my bedroom window’s frame literally rattled. My chest shook. I paused, and the loud bang was heard again. I ran to my living room where my family too was shocked the same way I was. We all gathered towards the window to see that the dark, quiet sky above us, was now filled with lights, bangs and missiles. Interceptions kept on happening, lights kept on flashing, and the bangs continued.

It felt like the sky broke apart. I had never seen these things ever, in my life. Even though as a teenager, I had knowledge of quite a few of these things, I had never even experienced this. My heart was beating so fast, it felt like it would rip out of my chest. It felt so weird, like the panic you feel like you want to run, scream, and cry at the same time. My whole family was thunderstruck.

I had never even imagined witnessing this, but look, what life is. One second you’re stressing over studying, and the next, you’re looking over the sky to witness a life or death situation. All of us got really scared, including my parents, as they had also never experienced this. That night, we all slept together in the living room, and watched the news, how the missiles were spread across different nations. Some videos even showed the missile falling on the roads and cars, and I just thanked god for giving us a roof over our heads.

We thought that that was a one-time situation. We thought all of it was over as 10 months had passed without any more bangs. But this year it happened all over again………for a whole month.

Suddenly, all my final exams, our school schedules and even the board exams of seniors were cancelled. Office workers were given holidays until further notice. Labourers who worked outdoors were given suspension, and it felt just like the covid 19 pandemic had returned. No one ever imagined how big this would get, but life is how it is. We never know when things can change, how small situations can take a u-turn to a huge position.

Usually, when we, school going kids, would get to know that exams are cancelled or schools are closed, we would jump up in the air to celebrate. But this time, the feeling of celebration was far, far away. It felt like my life, my normal life, was taken away from me, snatched away and I was unable to reach it. It felt heavy. It felt disturbing.

For four weeks, my life shrunk down inside my house. Hearing the bangs, getting the alert, watching the news has now become the daily activity. My dad, who usually went to the office under any circumstance, was also given leave until further notice. I didn’t know it would become this serious. I constantly scrolled through Youtube, trying to get as much news as possible. Everyday, I would search “qatar news” in google to see when attacks happened. Because now, we would just wait for the bang to be heard.

Look out the window, feel the vibration had now become our daily routine. You couldn’t even relax because you knew that anytime, anything can happen.

Living through this month changed how I started looking at everything, my perspective towards the world completely changed. I realized how fast the things we take for granted can leave us or be taken away from us because of things which are completely out of our control. This month wasn’t just a month of shock, it was a month of realization. It taught me that whatever we have right now, can never stay with us. Our families, our friends, our loved ones, are the people we love, and we should be grateful to even be with them. Whatever we don’t have, we shouldn’t be ungrateful. Whatever we do have, we should be thankful.

Because at the end of the day, having the most important things in life, is family. I don’t care about having these luxury items, all I’ve ever wanted now is peace and love. This month has taught me to look at the world with a whole new perspective. The sky above me gave me a lesson, that peace is fragile and experiencing even a little bit of that fear, opened my eyes for a good cause.

Even though the loud noises happen now and then, and my heart jumps every time - I know how to breathe through it, how to live through it and I have become stronger than ever to face it, with my whole family.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar celebrates literary talent across diverse genres such as poetry, short stories, essays, and creative writing. This prestigious event brings together writers from around the world, offering a platform for expression and storytelling. Participants share their unique voices and perspectives, contributing to a tapestry of global narratives that reflect the human experience.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Ayesha Falak for sharing her evocative piece, "The Month," in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Her narrative not only highlights the unpredictability of life but also underscores the enduring power of family and resilience. We look forward to witnessing more of Ayesha's insightful storytelling 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.