Thursday 27 November 2014

No Pain, No Gain....

"No pain, No Gain." Only a few days ago, I summarized my entire life in this one wholesome, meaningful proverb.

Like every Tom, Dick and Harry, all I ever did was complain. Of all the healthy activities in which I could invest time and energy, I wasted my resources in whining.

All day long, I perturbed the people around me; my intimates and family (usually my mother). fell victims to my ungraciousness. I did not even spare God from my perpetual pleadings.

My prayers were not prayers, they were a whining ordeal. I had surrounded my self in a cocoon of selfishness, I was never in content with my life: an aura of pessimism had engulfed me.

It was on Thursday, 13th November 2014 when I fell sick and my life took a turn. That day I truly realized how life has its own designs to teach us a callous yet a consequential lesson.

I fell seriously ill, vomited several times during the night, felt dizzy all the time. I walked as I were a drunk! I remained on IVs for a few days thus, had to wear a canola on my right hand, partially handicapping me. Trivial activities had become a grueling tribulation. Complications ranging from using the toilet to eating using my left hand became painstaking.
It was during this period that my mom gave me a bath and I realized how ungracious I was to her.

I had to pay visits to the hospital twice a day and that experience changed my insight. I often thought that God was unkind to me, not blessing me enough. In the hospital I witnessed the paramedic staff working tirelessly to aid the ailing patients.

Once, while an IV was being injected to me, I was lying on the bed, busy contemplating about my approach to life when suddenly I heard a young boy's wail. The boy had fallen down from the stairs and had injured himself, his head was bleeding.

Since the curtain was drawn, I could only listen to the child and envision him. Even in the midst of such pain and agony that boy chuckled and prayed to Jesus.

Another such event moved me, even now as I recall that incident as it vividly repaints it self on the canvas in my mind. A young boy of a tender age of five or perhaps six, the poor lad was suffering from asthma. The friendly nurse asked him, what he'd like to do when he'll grow up? The boy earnestly replies, " I'd like to be preach my religion when I grow up because, my religion is a religion of peace, it is not what is perceived of it."
The boy's answer astounded me, it was well beyond his age.

This is what life can make of you; it takes away innocence and teaches you another less colorful yet a meaningful lesson.

Tuesday 11 November 2014

A Poem

Life is not life,
When a prayer is not said to you.

Life is not life,
When a tear is not shed from his eye.

Life is not life,
When this heart breaks.

Life is not life,
When this soul does not feel lonely.

Life is not life,
When dreams are shattered.

Life is not life,
When it seeks your mercy.

Life is not life,
When it longs your presence

Life is not life,
When you show a ray of hope.

Life is not life,
When this filthy world shows its true colors.

Life is not life,
When you make your presence prominent.

Life is not life,
When you’re thought does not occur.

Life is not life,
When you dispose and propose plans.

Life is not life,
With a day spent without your thought.

Life is not life,
With a hope not broken

Life is not life,
When this heart bleeds

Life is not life,
When these eyes shed never ending tears

Life is not life,
When this soul is drawn away for this body.

Life is not life,
When this mind longs for an answer.

Life is not life,

With your presence not felt….

Monday 10 November 2014

An Open Letter to Rimsha Farooq









Dear Rimsha,

“They have taken you away from us but failed to tear your memory.”

It has been five days since you left us in a state of bewilderment and ever since, a moment has not passed by when you visit us: your laughs, your jokes and your voice all cling to my mind every now and then.
Rimsha… We got acquainted through Palwasha; your elder sister and my confidante.  But now, when I look back it was never an arduous ordeal for you to become friends with anyone. Your smile did the charm!

For a short while, you served under me as the Blue House Captain in the Student Council and believe me, the level of responsibility, sincerity and maturity displayed by you was well beyond your years. I wish you could hear me say that. Alas!

The day I first saw you, repaints itself on a canvas in my mind. It was in the hot, scorching summer heat of Lahore in the month of April; you were bustling with your peers indulged in “Pakran Pakrai” (Hide n Seek).
An aura of magnanimity always surrounded you, but, what drew my attention towards you was your “tomboy-ish” demeanor.  It was an anomaly to see a girl like you in all girl institution.

Your hair trimmed perfectly in ‘Afro-style’, your sleeves all rolled-up, your sash… simply hang around your neck, you did not care much about it. Your blue cap: you wore it in your signature style, turned backwards.
Was it just me or many girls felt the same way, will now remain a mystery…  It seemed an oddity to have you among us because I perceived you as a boy!  You even talked like one! But underneath that boyish ‘exterior’ of yours lay the heart of an angel.

Whenever, Palwasha was in pain, she ran to you and poured her heart out. Her head resting on your shoulder and you stood there consoling her.
O! How much I envied Palwasha, God had blessed her with a beautiful soul in you. Both of you were a perfect duo:  Palwasha being the volatile one; whilst you, the rational one.

Unfortunately; that could not last for more than sixteen years. The fateful evening of 2nd November 2014 arrived and you departed from this world forever, leaving us in despair.

My friend let me assure you, we are proud of you. You always wanted to be a martyr and God granted your wish on the eve of 9th Muharram, when you died in the Wagah border bomb-blast.

Today, you do not live among us but in your short life span, you earned a special place for yourself in our hearts, your undaunting spirit and courage are beyond the reach of any terrorist.

With every passing day, I yearn for your jokes and chuckles. This heart bleeds deeper and redder for you.

Love,

Hareem