Hi, my name is Aasiya. I am an artist, writer, and, in general, a natural creative. I grew up in the chaotic hustle and bustle of Mumbai, India, before moving to Southern Italy. I've always seen creativity as a way of making sense of the world, whether it was through drawing, writing, or even designing. Creativity has always been the one constant of my life and identity. I started as a fashion student in Mumbai, where I immersed myself in designing. It is where I realized that my creativity was no longer for me but FROM me. It shaped how I saw the world; it taught me to think deeply, to observe life around me, and to take every moment as it comes. But, somewhere along the way, I realized I was drowning in a constant need to prove myself — and my creativity, which slowly pushed me toward burnout.

So, there I was asking myself the question. Who am I, and where do I belong? This question went from being existential to something I ask myself every time I write. The “who” is subjective; sometimes it's me, sometimes it is the place I write about, a cause, or an experience, even. It allows me to write from a place of empathy; it is like stepping into being the subject itself and writing what I truly feel. I moved to Southern Italy to study business, seeking a more strategic perspective to actualize my creativity. Living abroad has changed me profoundly. It pushed me to become more adaptable. In a way, it is relearning everything about what life is supposed to be. Being a woman of color, I have become more aware of the space I navigate, how I see the world, and how the world sees me. I am curious about everyone as they are like me, and that is the balance I try to convey when I write. I find myself living in contrast. Mumbai was loud, exploding with life every hour of the day; everything ran at full speed, and I was constantly trying to catch up, wondering where I fit into this mayhem. Italy slowed me down; life is slower, even the sceneries are quieter, and life is enjoyed and not just lived. It is like breathing in a new life where you don’t have to be in constant motion.

It taught me to reflect on myself; now more than ever I ask myself, who am I becoming? What does the future hold for me? Now, my thoughts are not a mere reflection of my surroundings; rather, I write to understand the challenge of being in my 20s, exploring the nuances of life that get lost in translation, the fashion, and the personal diaspora of identity it creates, the richness in history and culture that runs so deep it is overwhelming to comprehend, the food that is passed down through generations, the people I meet, and the lives they've lived. I collect these moments, conversations, emotions, and adventures, a curious mix of life, and attempt to pour them into stories that are personal, a little messy, and at times poetic. These are stories that allow me to stay connected to what matters. To identity, to culture, to creativity, it allows me to see the unseen, moments otherwise unnoticed, history lost in the bylanes of life; it is like stamping them into reality. When I am not writing, you’ll find me lost in music, baking for my friends (really just an excuse to make a sweet treat for myself), daydreaming of quiet seaside towns I hope to call home someday, or watching movies that make me cry. After all, I am just trying to make sense of who I truly am, and telling stories is one way of getting closer. I write how I live—slowly, with curiosity.