The Myth of the Infinite Reader – why can’t you read it all

The Myth of the Infinite Reader and the Case for the Worn Paperback

There are roughly 130 million books in circulation. That was Google’s ambitious estimate back in 2016 after attempting to digitize every printed work. With the explosive ease of modern publishing, that number is likely closer to 200 million today. Even if we conservatively cap the estimate at 150 million, and assume that only five percent of these are truly great works of literature, we are still left with 7.5 million masterworks.

The math presents a blunt and frustrating reality: you cannot read everything. If you start early at age ten and maintain a grueling pace of one hundred books a year—an extraordinarily high volume even for those who read full-time—you will finish exactly 9,000 books by your hundredth birthday. That equates to consuming a mere 0.12% of all the great books ever written. It is an impossible mountain to climb, and as a reader, you must simply accept this limitation.

Because our capacity is so strictly limited, the modern obsession with merely increasing one’s read count is a wasted effort. Instead, we must turn to rereading. A genuinely great piece of writing deserves to be revisited two to five times throughout a lifetime. If you ever fall into a reading slump, the cure is often found in returning to a forgotten page-turner. A simple metric applies here: if you claim to love a book but cannot write a short essay recalling its core story and impact, you have forgotten it, and it is time to read it again.

This philosophy directly opposes the glaring illusion propagated by social media “bookfluencers.” The internet is flooded with self-proclaimed avid readers holding up pristine paperbacks, claiming a book is their absolute favorite or that they have read it multiple times this year. The physical evidence betrays them. Real reading leaves unavoidable marks—creased spines, worn edges, and structural fatigue. No matter how careful the reader is, a thoroughly consumed paperback does not look serene and untouched.

The harsh truth is that these creators forge this pristine aesthetic because the masses are attracted to visual perfection over authenticity. If one influencer refuses to fake it, a competitor will, and the algorithm will inevitably reward the fraud. As real readers, we must reject this performative metric, accept our numerical limits, and take pride in the battered, deeply understood books on our shelves.

Still In My Veins

They told me love’s a gentle spring,  
But in this room I taste its sting.  
The IV’s drip hums brittle tunes,  
Like hopes that wither much too soon.

My mirror shows a stranger’s face,  
Soft hair replaced by time’s embrace.  
A thousand prayers caught in my breath,  
As if I owed a debt to death.

He said his love would cross the stars,  
Yet every wish dissolved by scars.  
I count my moments, trembling slow—  
A bandaged soul with nowhere to go.

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The Room I Never Left

I live in a room where silence speaks,
the walls are stained, the ceiling leaks.
A clock keeps time I never own,
its hands move fast, yet I sit alone.

The chair leans back as if it knows,
I’ve told my story where no one goes.
The table remembers each mark, each fight,
I left them unwashed to prove I was right.

The windows don’t show the sky or street,
they only return the face I meet.
A tired face rehearsing goodbyes,
a hollow smile, unfaithful eyes.

If someone enters this room one day,
what will they think, what will they say?
Will they see the dust, the broken bed,
or the ghost of words I never said?

They may believe I packed and fled,
but truth is stranger—I stayed instead.
For most of me has already gone,
though the shell of me keeps moving on.

ख़ाक-ओ-सुपुर्द

है तेरी रूह से राबता,
ये मेरा शोर भी, ये मेरी ख़ामोशी भी।
न बरसीं आँखों से बारिश की बूँदें,
न ज़्यादा, न थोड़ी भी।

हैं ख़ाक से पैदा ये ख़्वाब मेरे,
हैं ख़ाक-ओ-सुपुर्द,
ये शब-ए-महफ़िल भी, ये मेरी मंज़िल भी।

जला रहा हूँ दीवारों पर तहरीरें,
ये मेरे फुज़ूल ख़यालात की साज़िश भी।
तू कहता है, बेमक़सद है ये ख़ुदफ़रोशी,
मगर इसी में छुपी है मेरी बंदगी भी।

मुझे रंज नहीं कि उजाले कम हैं,
मुझे डर है कि ये अंधेरे भी कम न हों।
ये दिल भी ढल रहा है किसी तस्लीम की तरह,
इस दर्द में न आये क़िलत कोई, ये उम्मीद भी।

तेरी गली से निकली तो मंज़र बदल गया,
ये रास्ते भी हैं तेरी अदावत की गवाही।
है दिल को ख़बर कि ख़ाक में होना है फ़ना,
है आरज़ू भी, ख़ाक से पैदा हो कहानी भी।

दम घुट रहा होगा तेरा, ये सोच कर
अजीब सी दिल में ख़ुशी छा गई।
सुना है जागती रहती है तू रातों में अब,
ये ख़बर आई तो नींद अच्छी आ गई।

हैं राख में दबे हुए राज़ तेरे,
हो राख ही अब तेरी सूरत भी, सीरत भी।

हैं ख़ाक से पैदा ये ख़्वाब मेरे,
हुए ख़ाक-ओ-सुपुर्द दोनों,
ये तेरा अफ़साना भी, ये मेरी हक़ीक़त भी।

बीमार

कोई तर्जुमा बयान कैसे करेगा मेरी ज़ुबान को,
कि समझ न आने वालों में शुमार हूँ मैं।
स्याही ख़त्म हो गई है मेरी क़लम की ख़ुद को बयान करते करते,
कि ख़ुद को बयान करने के लिए अब भी बेक़रार हूँ मैं।
मैं तेरी आहट आज भी सुनता हूँ ख़्वाबों में,
तेरे अर्द-अल-इघराक़ का आज भी आमिल हूँ मैं,
ये दवायें ये तबीब तमाम, हार मान गए आख़िर में,
कि तेरे मुस्तशफ़ा-ए-हुस्न में पड़ा आज भी बीमार हूँ मैं।

Operation True Promise 2: Unveiling the strategy behind Iran’s October Missile Attack on Israel

The Iranian missile attack on Israel in early October 2024 was the result of extensive planning, likely initiated months prior. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the background, execution, and potential future conflicts.

Background and Planning of the Attack

The attack stemmed from heightened tensions in the Middle East, especially following Israel’s assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and other strikes on Iranian proxies in Lebanon. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Hezbollah, both known for their deep intelligence networks and logistical capabilities, had likely planned this retaliation for several months.

Iran’s missile arsenal, including Fattah-1 and Kheibar Sheykan models, are highly sophisticated, with long-range capabilities. These missiles were developed indigenously by Iran, but parts and technology could have been smuggled into the country through covert networks. Iran’s reliance on shell companies and intermediary nations for technology acquisition (similar to historical precedents) helped disguise its missile procurement efforts. Despite international sanctions, Iran has maintained a robust supply chain for acquiring military technology, often using third-party nations in Eastern Europe and even East Asia to source parts.

In preparation, Iran coordinated with its allies, including Hezbollah and Hamas, both of whom provided ground intelligence on Israeli defenses. Hezbollah’s underground smuggling networks, previously used to supply arms, were likely leveraged to funnel missiles and launchers into strategic positions in Syria and Lebanon .

Execution and Surprise Element

The attack was launched on the night of October 1st, 2024, with 181 ballistic missiles targeting key Israeli military sites and cities. The surprise element came from the use of decoys and sophisticated timing. Iran’s coordination with Hezbollah and other proxy groups allowed it to mislead Israeli intelligence services about the timing and scale of the attack.

Iran managed to catch Israel off-guard, despite the ongoing tension, due to their use of encrypted communications and well-hidden missile sites. Israel’s intelligence agencies, known for their advanced surveillance, were still unable to detect the full extent of Iran’s preparations. This was partly because Iran had concealed missile movements under the guise of routine military drills and through covert transport networks managed by Hezbollah .

The Role of Shell Companies and Smuggling Networks

Iran’s missile program has long relied on circumventing international sanctions. In this case, shell companies played a role in procuring advanced missile technology and parts. These companies were set up across different regions, including Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe, to mask the end-user—Iran. Over the past few years, U.S. intelligence has revealed how Iran’s proxies would acquire electronics, guidance systems, and missile components through third-party dealers, avoiding detection by global oversight mechanisms .

Additionally, Hezbollah’s underground smuggling networks, which have been used for arms smuggling from Syria into Lebanon, were likely crucial in supplying Hezbollah with advanced missile launchers and other critical components. Hezbollah has long been an ally of Iran, sharing its missile technology, and has often been a willing participant in broader regional strategies.

Future Conflicts and Escalation

This missile attack has pushed the Middle East closer to full-scale war. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in response, vowed that Iran would “pay for this” and hinted at a retaliatory strike. With U.S. backing, including increased military presence in the region, Israel is preparing for more escalations, potentially involving strikes deep within Iranian territory or its allies, like Hezbollah in Lebanon .

Iran has issued threats that any further Israeli retaliation would be met with even more devastating responses, promising to target American assets in the region if the U.S. involves itself directly. The future of this conflict could involve larger regional players, including Saudi Arabia, who are wary of Iran’s growing influence and missile capabilities.

At this stage, the region is locked in a precarious standoff, with both sides engaging in a dangerous game of brinkmanship. If Israel chooses to retaliate aggressively, it could trigger a broader war involving other nations like Iraq, where Iranian-backed militias are already threatening U.S. forces stationed there.

The Pyre Burns

When I count my days, they seem all spent,
Writing rhymes since '09, like a message sent.
Now it's time, feeling every line so fine,
Like a higher force guiding me, making me shine.
But when I glance at the clock, it's already nine,
The hours slip away like I'm losing time.

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Tickling

You know my back tickles,
You had caressed with your hands
Your whisper mingles, Drifting like the sands
Felt the wrinkles forming when you started to fade
Love turned brittle, in the mess that you made
You promised forever, but forever was brief
Left me with mingled memories and a pocket full of grief
Wrinkles on my soul, etched deep from your game
Thought you were different, but ya'll just the same
Now how do I make a comeback?
How do I get stronger than before?
Your touch's just a ghost, can't haunt me anymore
Back tickles, remind me of your deceitful parade
I'm moving on, from the mess that you made
Your nails lingered, sharp like splinters, little pricks and sickles
I still won't deny that my back tickles

Bidding The Past Adieu

The sunshine shines so bright.
I ponder if it was you or I
Who was wrong, who was right.
Your departure, so abruptly declared
No closure, my heart felt bared.
Not dwelling on the good moments past,
But on the moments that hurt, that last.
Each verse dipped in a tear-filled fountain,
My heart's ripped, feelng cursed, barren mountains
I lurked to watch you while you used to sleep,
A feeling so profound, forever etched, so deep.
In the end I realised it’s time to let go
To heal, to grow,
To find in the darkness, my own glow
Never received any closure from you,
Thus, the pain lingers, I’ll find it anew
Embracing the future, bidding the past adieu!

We Came to a Huge STOP— Sunday, December 3, 2023

I Tell Myself

बाक़ीमान्दा

उम्र हर बरस जैसे दो बरस आगे बढ़ रही है मेरी,
ये मेरी पेशानी पर झुर्रियाँ बेवजह तो नहीं आयी हैं।

मेरे माथे की शिकन में तुम हो,
मेरी ख़ुशी का सिला न सही,
मेरे हर एक ग़म में तुम हो।

तुम से गिला करें भी तो क्या करें?
तुम तो आख़िर तुम हो।

कभी हाल अपना बयान करने आना ज़रूर,
कभी कोई बात सताये तो बताना ज़रूर।

सुन लूँगा हर परेशानी तुम्हारी,
पर करूँगा कुछ नहीं।

सह लूँगा चाहें चुभे आवाज़ तुम्हारी,
पर कहूँगा कुछ नहीं।

क्या कहा? ख़फ़ा हूँ तुम से?
नहीं, सच-मुच नहीं।

बस अब करने-कहने को बाक़ी रहा कुछ नहीं।

अभी दिन हँसने के हैं तुम्हारे

कहीं तमाशा है, दौर है, बादस्तूर क़ुर्बत है।
कहीं कोई मुंतज़िर, इज़्तिरार, रश्क़-ए-क़मर है, ग़ुरबत है।
मुख़्तलिफ़ हैं हम दोनों,
तुम्हें तुम्हारी मुसलसल मौत्जा मुबारक़,
मैं ठीक हूँ मेरी सिफ़र से।
हर्फ़-हर्फ़ लिखे वो सैकड़ों पन्ने झूँठ के,
ख़ुद ही खो चले सब रूठ के।
कुछ तुमसे ज़्यादा है मुझमें तो शायद वो ग़ैरत ही है फ़िलहाल,
मुझे मेरी ग़ैरत मुबारक़,
मुझमें अभी अफ़सोस की कमी नहीं।
दौर बदलते हैं, दिन बदलते हैं, बदलते हैं वक़्त के साथ हालात।
बदल गया हूँ कुछ मैं भी, मैं बेशक़ अब तुम्हारे “काम” न आऊँगा।
ख़ैर ये अहसास अभी नहीं होगा तुम को,
ख़ुमार अभी जश्न का है तुम पर,
अभी दिन हँसने के हैं तुम्हारे।

Ink’s Return: A Renewed Quest

Once a quill lay idle, untouched for too long,
But now, it awakens to the siren song.

Words, dormant in silence, now gently stir,
As a poet's heart remembers what's sure.

The verses, once hidden, like stars in the night,
Illuminate the path to poetic light.

Though I strayed from this art, from my love and my soul,
I'm finding my way back to make my heart whole.

For poetry's a journey, a lifelong quest,
A return to the words, the very best.

In the rhythm of lines, and the beauty of rhyme,
I discover the magic, lost through time.

So, here I stand, once more at the door,
Embracing the art I was yearning for.

Ink flows on paper, a dance that's so free,
I've rediscovered the poet in me.

The lost habits, an eternal embrace,
In the realm of poetry, habits again find their space.

A Journey Towards Hope

In the realm of broken hearts,
Where solitude tears us apart,
Sorrow engulfs the night,
But we choose to fight,
For hope resides within our hearts.

With every step we take,
A brighter future we make,
Through the shadows we roam,
Finding strength to atone,
For the love we once had, now at stake.

In this battle against despair,
We rise above, we repair,
With resilience as our guide,
We won't let love subside,
For hope is the answer we share.

Let the echoes of our fight,
Illuminate the darkest night,
With courage we will find,
A love that's redefined,
A journey towards hope, shining bright.