More About SAM
Logic and longing. Faith and feeling.
A life lived fully, reflected deeply.
SAM Ruh
Poet, author, and storyteller — giving shape to thoughts that refuse to stay unheard.
SAM Ruh is a poet, writer, and author who finds meaning not in the roles that she plays, but in the many lives she lives within them. By day, she works full-time in IT; by heart, she is always writing — poems, stories, and screenplays. She gives shape to the thoughts that loop endlessly in her mind and refuses to let them remain unheard. There are moments when she feels compelled to write and does so incessantly. She also goes through periods when she struggles with writer's block and is unable to come up with any words.
SAM Ruh is a pen name — and behind it is Shehnaz. SAM are her initials and Ruh is the Arabic and Urdu word for soul. Together, they became the name she writes under — not because she is someone different when she writes, but because writing asks something deeper of her than daily life does.
She chose Ruh because that is precisely where her writing comes from — not from skill or strategy, but from the soul. Every poem, every story, every line that has ever felt true to her has arrived from that wordless interior place. To name herself after it felt not like a choice, but like a recognition.
Born in India and now rooted in New Jersey, SAM holds a Master's degree in Computer Applications — a quiet testament to how logic and creativity have always coexisted within her. Grounded deeply in her faith and anchored by her family, she carries the spirit of a free soul and the depth of an old one. She draws inspiration from the ordinary yet intimate details of life: shared laughter over chai, long drives filled with unspoken thoughts, fading sunsets, walks along the beach, fleeting smiles from strangers, a touch that reaches the heart, forced loneliness that slowly transforms into comfort, and the quiet resilience found in everyday survival.
Her writing is shaped by emotion, observation, and memory — often blurring the line between what was lived and what was felt. Some moments she writes about were vivid, real, and tangible; others exist only within the landscape of her thoughts. Through her words, she hopes to offer readers not answers, but recognition and freedom.
SAM believes that human beings are, at their core, magical — born to feel deeply, meant to endure life's challenges, and called to live each moment consciously, gratefully, and fully aware of their own existence. Life is much more profound than most individuals are inclined to think.
Music
From Rafi's voice to the karaoke stage — a lifelong love affair with song.
SAM possesses a deep and enduring affinity for Bollywood and its music, shaped largely by her father. His life had been a struggle, yet he never let go of his will to live or his faith in the Almighty. Music became his refuge. Songs like "Bhagwan" by Rafi would move him to tears. He would listen to songs at high volume, singing along with abandon, letting music lift his spirits and transform his mood instantly. Through him, SAM was introduced to Rafi's voice — songs that felt like emotions wrapped in melody rather than mere lyrics.
Her childhood was immersed in the golden era of Bollywood, where voices like Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle became far more than singers. SAM shared a profound bond with her father, inheriting his resilience, intensity, and capacity for deep emotion. Their relationship was marked by healthy conflicts, small victories, and countless lessons in patience, understanding, and love. His unwavering support helped nurture her love for music, acting, and writing.
Her mother sang softly in the quiet solitude of the kitchen — melodies filled with warmth that lingered in SAM's heart long after the notes faded. But beyond her voice, it was her unwavering faith that left the deepest imprint. A fighter by nature, her mother stood steadfast through every trial, carrying life's burdens with patience and grace. Through her mother, SAM found her way closer to Islam. Faith was not taught through sermons, but through example — through prayer, compassion, resilience, and trust in Allah during both ease and hardship.
SAM's musical passion continues with a karaoke group of like-minded individuals, creating a musical family that allows SAM to stay connected with her past and the nostalgia of cherished memories. This group inspires and motivates her, helping her remain grounded and true to herself.
Discover SAM's Voice & Karaoke
Acting
A deep love for Indian cinema — and an enduring desire to be part of the story.
SAM has always held a deep appreciation for Indian cinema, immersing herself in the stories films tell. She has long harbored a desire to be part of those narratives. Amitabh Bachchan remains her perennial favourite, whose commanding presence and artistry left a lasting impression on her aspirations. She continues to yearn for opportunities to perform and experiment — an urge she partially fulfils through short self-produced videos created purely for joy and expression.
Radio Jockey
Classic Bollywood, desi audiences, and the stories between the songs.
Her love for Bollywood eventually drew SAM to the world of radio. As a Radio Jockey, she brought classic Bollywood films and music to desi audiences through stations in New Jersey and Chicago. Her shows explored everyday moments as well as deeper, more sensitive themes — love, heartache, life, pain, and everything in between. This chapter of her life remains especially dear to her, filled with nostalgia, connection, and joy.
Listen to her Radio Shows
Family
The people who gave her roots, and the ones who give her wings.
Much younger than her, her brother entered her life not merely as a sibling, but as someone she instinctively learned to protect. From an early age, his talent for art was unmistakable. With pencils and brushes, he brought nature to life — drawing and painting with a sensitivity and depth far beyond his years. Despite the age difference, their bond was effortless and deep. They shared laughter, secrets, and unhurried hours steeped in music and cinema. Faith and family anchored their connection, and the closeness they formed in childhood remains steadfast — a bond of protection, friendship, and enduring love.
SAM cherished time spent with her elder sister — reserved yet powerful, intelligent, and strikingly beautiful. Music and movies became their shared language. Together, they watched, enacted, listened to, and sang Bollywood melodies. Her sister's natural talent inspired SAM to persist in her own musical journey. Throughout her life, her sister overcame many obstacles and lived a difficult existence. She battled cancer with every ounce of her strength. Her faith in Islam and her cheerful demeanor helped her become even more resilient and kind to others. She continues to be one of SAM's role models.
SAM shares a deep and loving partnership with her husband, S.J, navigating life's journey together with respect, laughter, and shared dreams. The A.J boys are the heartbeat of their home, treasured beyond measure. Together, they embrace life's joys and challenges, creating a household built on trust, warmth, and the quiet strength of shared purpose. Her family wholeheartedly supports her creative endeavors — writing, music, acting, and artistic pursuits — encouraging her with unwavering belief and love.
At the heart of this lively household is also a cherished family of cats, adored by all. SAM loves her cats more than words can hold. Every touch, every whisper of affection, sometimes makes them run — but still, she adores them fiercely. Their quirks, their purrs, the way they curl up in quiet corners have changed her, teaching patience, empathy, and the joy of loving completely. And though she fears the day she might lose them, every moment with them is a gift she treasures beyond measure.
Best Friends
Not all friendships are the same. Some become so intertwined with your existence that imagining life without them feels impossible.
SAM is fortunate to have friendships that are not only enduring, but deeply transformative. Some walk beside you for a season, some fade quietly, and some stay — choosing you again and again.
N is more than just a friend to SAM — she is home. Life without her is unimaginable. N's presence is stitched into the core of who SAM is, steady and enduring. N cherishes SAM with a depth of care and respect that is rare and constant. Like any true bond, theirs has known disagreements and collisions, yet each time they return to one another, stronger, more certain, choosing each other again and again. This is a friendship SAM believes transcends this world and continues into the next.
K has stood beside SAM in a way few ever could. Through uncertainty, transformation, and moments of deep vulnerability, his support has never wavered. He reminds her of her worth not with grand displays, but through steady presence, patience, and a quiet, intuitive understanding. He knows her truths — both voiced and silent — and remains by her side, showing that being truly seen does not have to come with judgment.
S is always ready to listen — to moments of joy and to the weightier ones alike. When SAM needs to speak freely, without being hurried or corrected, he offers steady, thoughtful space. With an instinctive ability to motivate, S reflects her strength back to her when she momentarily loses sight of it, softly transforming hesitation into confidence and doubt into movement.
V is a keeper of shared history — a living reminder of her past and her resilience. Through V, she sees both where she began and how far she has come, grounded in memory and strength. Though the friendship has grown and changed with time, it has never dimmed. V is not fleeting or circumstantial — he is a forever friend.
Some More About SAM
Travel, chai, biriyani, and the art of becoming.
Travel has always held a quiet pull for SAM, though her relationship with it is slowly changing. She enjoys the journey as much as the destination — the movement, the transitions, the unfolding of new places through sight and sound. Sightseeing excites her, yet there are moments when she longs not to move at all, choosing stillness over motion.
She loves solo trips for the freedom they offer — the ability to think, observe, and exist without explanation. At the same time, solitude sometimes brings with it a gentle worry of loneliness. SAM continues to navigate this balance, learning that both movement and pause have their place, and that travel, much like life, does not always need to be about going somewhere — sometimes it is simply about being.
Desi cuisine is one of SAM's favourite joys, though her culinary experiments often end in chaos. S.J ensures she is protected from the mundane or the uninspiring, while she delights in her infamous biriyani and upma recipes. SAM balances creativity, curiosity, and occasional laziness, embracing change and self-growth. She continues to write, listen to music, watch films across languages, read widely, and travel often. Decluttering, minimalism, and reflection provide her unexpected peace, while she celebrates abundance and learning anew.
A Pen. A Path. A Purpose.
One image. Everything SAM Ruh is.
A fountain pen on one side. The Kaaba on the other. Between them, a dotted arc curving gently — the way all meaningful journeys do.
Above the Kaaba: بَيْتُ اللَّهِ — Baytullah, the House of Allah. Above that, a crescent moon. The pen does not point there by accident. It points there because that is where everything SAM writes ultimately leads — back to the source, back to the One who gave her the words in the first place.
The logo does not say: I have arrived. It says: I am on my way. The pen is still moving. The House is still there — patient, permanent, waiting.