Paradise.

I have no recollection of when I got to hear ‘Paradise’ by Coldplay for the first time, but one thing that I remember very clearly is the fact that I was introduced to Coldplay by someone I once considered my best friend, and it was the first song she had played for me.

I do not know why or how I remember this incident, but it is etched in the deepest corner of my brain and refuses to go anywhere despite the fact that we are not even friends anymore.

Oh well. That is not the point.

The song itself has been my constant companion through all my highs and lows, mostly lows.

Whenever I have hit my multiple rock bottoms, ‘Paradise’ has held my hand, given me a long warm hug, and given me hope for the coming day.

And on the instances, where the hope of the coming day has not worked out, it has reminded me of the fact that as a Muslim, paradise is promised, so I just have to stay steadfast.

Very hypocritical of a song reminding me of God and paradise, but it is what it is.

Every single time I have seemed to reach a dead end, with no idea of what to do next, and my mental health being absolute worst, I sit and play this song probably fifty times, and somehow find a door open.

Again it might probably be the fact that I end up unconsciously praying in my heart and very consciously crying my eyes out but anyhow it works. The proof that it works is that I am very much alive right now.

So yeah.

‘Paradise’ for me is my absolute comfort song that resonates within me.

It resonates with the literature student inside me, who loves the idea of running away to fictional worlds, the land of dreams and delusions.

It also resonates with the Muslim inside me, who is already very much over the test and trials of this world and desperately looks forward to ‘Paradise’.