Mar 22, 2011

Confessions of a Chocoholic

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I am on a chocolate overdose for the last two days; somehow I just cannot control my brain to stop responding to it. People around have start saying if am in love or a relationship and I tell them a big NO.

I can go and ask anyone to make a chocolate charity for me so I can proceed with my day happily and free. I even smuggle into my bag without Mommy noticing, or keep munching it without colleagues seeing and asking for their share. Most shamelessly, I can baffle a 3-year-old for chocolate saying, “awwww birdie took it away”. Someday, I plan to tell him that the birdie was his very own Aunt K.

Chocolate actually keeps me away from the crap called, love. Why I call it crap? It’s because I saw the ugly picture. If I had seen the non-existent side of love, which is oh-so-beautiful, then maybe my opinion would have changed. But for now, I declare chocolate to be my most faithful and life long partner. You know what? I won’t even get scandalized for having an affair with chocolate. It is unbelievably safe.

I am exceptionally high on chocolate, eating it like any staple food.

It’s better than you.

Mar 16, 2011

Mar 8, 2011

Mar 6, 2011

Baat se Baat - II

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“Ye baat se baat kaise hoti hai?”
“Wo baatein jo tumhare samne nahi ho pati.”
‘Kuon? Meri maujudgi tumhe rokti hai?”
“Nahi. Bus haawee hojati hai.”
“Samjha nahi.”
“Tum samne hote ho tau mere khayalat aur alfaz aapas main jhagarne lagte hain.”
“Main tumhe pareshan karta hun?”
“Hargiz nahi. Bus haawee hojate ho.”
“Mujhe kuon is main se ilzam ki boo aati hai?
“Ilzam nahi haqeeqat hai. Tumne muhabbat main logon ko apna aap, apni zindagi waar’te dekha hai. Main’e apni infiradi’yat tum per waar di hai.”
“Tum mujh main gum ho?”
“Nahi, main tum main shamil hun. Gum tau wo hote hain jin ki manzil nahi. Tum se tau mera safar shuru hota hai.”
“Phir ye baatein mujh se alag kuon?”
“Alag hain tau kya? Hain tau tumhari baatein……… Bus soch humari se meri hojati hai.”

_________________________________________________________________________________

"یہ بات سے بات کیسے ہوتی ہے؟"
"وہ باتیں جو تمہارے سامنے نہیں ہو پاتی "
"کیوں ؟ میری موجودگی تمھیں روکتی ہے ؟"
"نہیں! بس حاوی ہوجاتے ہو ."
"میں سمجھا نہیں."
"تم سامنے ہوتے ہوتو میرے خیالات اور الفاظ آپس میں جھگڑنے لگتے ہیں"
"میں تمھیں پریشان کرتا ہوں؟"
"نہیں! بس حاوی ہوجاتے ہو"
"مجھے کیوں اس میں سے الزام کی بو آتی ہے؟"
"الزام نہیں حقیقت ہے. تم نے لوگوں کو محبّت میں اپنا آپ ، اپنی زندگی وارتے دیکھا ہے. میں نے اپنی انفرادیت تم پر وار دی ہے."
"تم مجھ میں گم گیئ  ہو؟"
"نہیں! میں تو تم میں شامل ہوں. گم تو وہ ہوتے ہیں جن کی منزل نہیں. تم سے تو میرا سفر شرو ہوتا ہے."
"پھر یہ باتیں مجھ سے الگ کیوں ؟"
"الگ ہیں تو کیا؟ ہیں تو باتیں.......بس سوچ ہماری سے میری ہوجاتی ہے."



#بانوسازی  

Feb 3, 2011

Pakistan (Egypt) Un(Changed)

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For the last 8 days, my routine is to go home and stick to BBC to watch uprising in Egypt. It is the country in which I spent good 4 months i.e. July – November in 2010 only.

When I was leaving Cairo two months back, I had all the plans to re-visit the city. Not only for the people I have befriended there but the place itself is lovely. Cairo is indeed one of the best combinations where you have the civilization meeting modernization. It is hard to believe that Cairo, the city that never sleeps, now doesn’t stop burning.
During my stay there, I had to come in terms that any Egyptian I meet will not be happy with Mubarak’s regime and want to leave the country soonest. Also, I learned that do not discuss politics or be opinionated in public places. You may discuss anything but do not touch politics as you don’t know where and who is Mubarak’s man.

A very close Egyptian friend used to curse the dictatorship and had various stories from here and there that how this regime is eating his country. In response, all I used to tell him that not all the dictators are like that. To which he always agreed and said, ‘Pakistan may be the only country that flourished in every mean after 1999 military takeover’.
Egypt’s uprising has also risen a concern in Pakistan if we ever going to witness such change. I plainly say, no. Change comes to those who feel the need for it and ready to accept it.

Pakistan is the nation which is divided in the name of sects, language, ethnicity and what not. A divided nation can never witness a revolution or change; we always witness a takeover. On the streets of Cairo, people from all classes and backgrounds are claiming their rights. Moreover, Egyptians living abroad are also supporting their people.

Do Pakistanis have the courage to leave their comfort zone and come on the streets?

Every day, there are not less than 2 rape or abuse cases are reported in media. Food and health necessities are either missing from the sight or being sold at the highest price. Thousands of employees are getting sacked and industries shut down for months now. To all this, the nation reciprocates by becoming criminals.

The frustration of all the above is either taken out by raping a 2-year-old or by killing your own family.

We are definitely heading towards a change; a change in morals and values. We all literate people can do only yap, yap on talk shows, curse politicians, blame feudalism, abuse government, but we will never step out of our houses.

Pakistanis cannot bring the change, let alone be the change.



P.S. I too am a Pakistani.




Feb 1, 2011

Welcome to Client Services

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While talking to a friend in the office, I enlightened her with one of my mid-day philosophy. These philosophies occur to me usually when am consumed by client. I think people who are in the same industry will be in agreement with this.

They don’t have a choice :)

“Keeping a client happy is like keeping your in-laws happy.”


Jan 26, 2011

Taliban in Closet

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Veena Malik’s appearance on Frontline show has created a storm not only in print media but even at office desks. Holding a morning cup of coffee, I got myself into this raging argument when my colleague said,

“Veena tau wajib-ul-qatal hain. Is ne mulk ka naam badnaam kia hai Hindustan ja kar.”

I snapped him by asking who gave you the right to announce her death penalty and just in case you are thinking that she is bringing down the country then you better re-think. I reminded him to be thankful to 9/11 and Afghan Talibans for reminding west that where does Pakistan exists on the globe.

It was extremely irresponsible on the channel’s part to present such a show with the least relevance to Islam. The entertainment industry has nothing in common with Islam or cannot be brought in victim box for violating it. Then why a Mufti had to raise finger on Veena or describe her beauty as if drooling for it.

After all, Islam doesn’t start or finish at a woman only. But the fundamentalist is keen on proving that all the evils of this country belong to women from Fashion or Entertainment. Islam goes under pile when it comes to providing justice to a rape victim, condemning terrorism or punishing a Molvi for sodomy. These are the same so-called Islamists who take bribes for providing safe harbors to Un-Islamic business.
Pakistan is definitely increasing with the numbers of closeted Talibans. Clean shaved, university graduates can be found favoring Mumtaz Qadri, or denouncing Veena Malik while letching around. The idea of being religious has taken a new turn. To be religious is to be an extremist. Unless you don’t carry violent thoughts and shout out your religious values, you are not considered a good Muslim.

Why we Pakistani Muslims find it so easy to kill anyone in the name of religion. Is Islam all about it?
We have changed the bases of our religion ourselves. Instead of peace, brotherhood, and compassion, we are laying Islam with blood, racism, and intolerance.



Nov 23, 2010

Baat se Baat - I

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“Phir?”

“Phir kya?”

“Phir kuch nahi. Tum apni zindagi main apni jaga bana lo. Us kay baad meri jaga nahi rahegi.”

“Tumhe lagta hai kay main tumhe kabhi yad nahi karun ga?”

“Karogay na, bilkul karogay. Akele bethe cigarette peete hue, meri yaad ubhre gi jo us dhuwein k sath hi hawa main tehleel hojaye gi. Ya phir sardion ki kisi raat main koyle jalate hue, kisi chingari ki tarha jis tezi se bharkay gi, usi tezi se bujh bhi jayegi. Kabhi Tarrar ki koi kitaab parhte hue kisi lafz per meri yaad main gum ho kar chonk jao gay.”

“Aur tum nahi yaad karogi?”

“Karoon gi.”

“Kab?”

“Jab tumhe bhoolne lagoon gi.” 
_________________________________________________________________________________


"پھر؟"
"پھر کیا؟"
"پھر کچھ نہیں. تم اپنی زندگی میں اپنی جگہ بنا لوگے....اس کے بعد میری جگہ نہیں رہے گی."
" تمہیں لگتا ہے میں تمہیں کبھی یاد نہیں کرونگا؟"
" کروگے نا . بلکل کرو گے. اکیلے بیٹھے سگریٹ پیتے ہوئے میری یاد ابھرے گی جو اس دھوئیں کے ساتھ ہی ہوا میں تحلیل ہوجاے گی. یا پھر سردیوں کی رات میں کؤیلے جلاتے ہوئے کسی چنگاری کی طرح جس تیزی سے بھڑکے گی اسی تیزی سے بجھ بھی  جائے گی. کبھی تارڑ کی کوئی کتاب پڑھتے ہوئے کسی لفظ پر میری یاد میں گم ہو کر چونک جاؤ گے."
"اور تم نہیں یاد کرو گی؟"
"کرونگی !"
"کب؟"
"جب تمہیں بھولنے لگوں گی."



#بانوسازی 


Oct 26, 2010

Oct 13, 2010

Oct 5, 2010

Oct 2, 2010

Oct 1, 2010

Sep 30, 2010

Anesthesia

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Thousands of miles away from home, I learn a new lesson each day. Life has never taught me at this speed like it does now.

Embodying myself with experiences has made me a bit lost in my own life. I made new relations, lost old ones under 6-feet while being away in the desert.

I want to lose my mind in a different alley for some time.

Sep 24, 2010

Sep 7, 2010

Sheharbano ka Yousuf

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"I always tell people that it's eyes in the human body that decides my communication and connection with other person. It's true. Nobody knows, how I keep falling in love again and again only because the way you look at me."


Tum dekhte ho tau yun lagta hai, is kainaat main mujh sa koi haseen nahi. 
Mere naseeb, tumhari nazron ki peimaish sirf aur sirf mere liye hai......bhala kahan se koi aisi nazar laaye  jo neend main bhi mere hon'ton ko cher jaaye.


Ye ankhein, meri zindagi per waise hi saaya karti hain, jaise baadal kisi samandar per.......hadd-e-nigah tak.


--- Yousuf ki Sheharbano

Sep 5, 2010

Sep 3, 2010

Sep 2, 2010

Only because.....

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Dear Express Tribune,

The nation doesn’t need to know what’s cooking in PM Gilani’s kitchen. So you better keep rubbish aside and don’t let it be the decoration of your newspaper. Fizza Batool is PM Yusuf Raza Gilani's daughter, doesn't mean Pakistani Press has the right to bring her personal life in the light. Who knew her till Express Tribune published this.

Media lost it long ago, and Express Tribune is no exception. This is ridiculous and highly irresponsible on Editor’s part to get a story published like hers. After all, floods and ethnical and sectarian clashes are enough to fill in the web or newspaper space.


This is the same media that condemn Sialkot lynching and Mukhtaran Mai’s gang rape and bring the public on roads to protest for securing the youth and respect of a woman. But on the other hand, the same media doesn’t think twice before ripping off a woman publicly only because her father happens to be Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Aug 31, 2010

Mola Ali ibn e Abi Talib A.S.

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The zeal and virtue of Ali were never outstripped by any recent proselyte. He united the qualifications of a poet, a soldier, and a saint; his wisdom still breathes in a collection of moral and religious sayings; and every antagonist, in the combats of the tongue or of the sword, was subdued by his eloquence and valour. From the first hour of his mission to the last rites of his funeral, the apostle was never forsaken by a generous friend, whom he delighted to name his brother, his vicegerent, and the faithful Aaron of a second Moses."
--- English historian Edward Gibbon
"In my view, ʿAlī was the first Arab to have contact with and converse with the universal soul. He died a martyr of his greatness, he died while prayer was between his two lips. The Arabs did not realise his value until appeared among their Persian neighbors some who knew the difference between gems and gravels"
--- Khalil Gibran

Image Courtesy: Here

"O people, I am a human being. I am about to receive a message from my Lord and I, in response to Allah's call, (would bid good-bye to you), but I am leaving among you two weighty things: the one being the Book of Allah(Qur'an) in which there is right guidance and light, so hold fast to the Book of Allah and adhere to it. He exhorted (us) (to hold fast) to the Book of Allah and then said: The second are the members of my household I remind you (of your duties) to the members of my family."
--- Hadith at Pond of Khumm, Sahih Bukhari, Vol 3, P 5920



Sayings of Mola Ali A.S.

  • “People's hearts are like wild animals. They attach their selves to those that love and train them.”

  • “You [humans] think that you an insignificant, while there is a great universe contained in you.”

  • “Associate with people in such a manner, that they weep for you when you die and long for you if you are alive.”

  • "He who is deserted by friends and relatives will often find help and sympathy from strangers."

  • "One who does not realize his own value is condemned to utter failure. (Every kind of complex, superiority or inferiority is harmful to man)." 

21st Ramadan, 1431 Hijri 

“With him perished the truest hearted and best Muslim of whom Mohammadan history had preserved the remembrance.”
---Robert Durey Osborn (1835-1889) Major of the Bengal Staff Corps.
[Islam Under the Arabs, 1876, p. 120]