My Saify Phuppa!

‘Saify Phuppa’, said Mustafa bhai, warmly smiling like his father as I gave him my condolences on the great loss, and I could say nothing more except, ‘Sabar kijyega’, while my eyes were filled with tears remembering the kindered soul.

When my friends learned about it they all had the same question for me, ‘were you close to your uncle?’ I believe they asked me this because at times people aren’t attached to their aunt’s husband as they are to their aunt and I was not offended by it and replied that, after my aunt’s demise, it was his presence that reminded me of her and consoled that someone is there to represent her even when she is not physically among us. But, as I thought through, I realized that’s not the only reason why I adored my uncle, to say the least, he was a complete gentleman with a warm and kind smile always there, like a priceless jewel spread from ear to ear. Whenever anyone asked him how he was he had the same words like a beaded tasbeeh to his tongue, ‘Shukar hai Parwardigaar ka’. Never have I ever heard him being ungrateful or speaking of his troubles and I was always left with the thought that how could a person’s life be so calm and composed at all times. Never have I ever heard him being loud, or being irritated by someone, his nature becoming so difficult for me to understand that why does he never get angry on us being unruly, like other elders do?

While leaving the premises of the Masjid after giving condolences, an aunty asked me about who passed away and I said Saifuddin Cyclewala, but she couldn’t recall so I said, ‘do you know Mexico dry cleaners?’ And she immediately realized who I spoke of, and this isn’t the first time I’ve experienced explaining my Phuppa to anyone, most people know him by that in Sadar because he was so dedicated to his work, but to what degree, that I learnt it on the day of his demise. My cousin told me that he took the expensive and sensitive clothes that came for dry cleaning to home and would wash by himself in this harsh and cold weather, and I was awestruck, a man in his 80s, facing so many issues with illness could be so thoughtful for his customers.

But that was my Phuppa, who through his optimistic approach was liked by so many people that the Masjid was full when I arrived to recite the last verses for him, it is often said that a person is known by how many people appear for his funeral, and I knew that was right, for a cold morning like this, at 9 am, one could only come out for a loved one.

When Phuppi passed away he was sitting silently, and in a low but strong voice he said, ‘Zulekha (my aunt) looked like a bride, like how I married her, in the white kafan’. As much as I am broken by his death, I’m comforted that Phuppi will be reunited with him in Jannah and I only pray for both of them to receive the highest ranks in Heaven.

While I get flashbacks of the times I’ve met him, I can mostly think of me passing by his store and doing my greetings and he smiling and saying, ‘beta ghar pe upar ao na’, and I refusing to do so like every time saying, ‘phir kabhi aungi’ and leave his shop. What did I know there would be no phir kabhi and I’ll find his shop empty the next time I arrive.

Your ungrateful yet loving bhatiji,

Ruqaiya Lokhand.

Frozen.

Frozen in time, with words unsaid, and voices unheard,

Frozen, like the icicles on trees, that only melt in due time,

Frozen with love hidden inside, and unexpressed,

Frozen, because nature is too harsh and unbearable,

Frozen and paused, while slow tears stream down the eyes,

Frozen in cold chains, with no space to fly.

Ruqaiya Lokhand

 

To those who are irreplaceable…

As me and my friend Husain (school-mate) talked over about school and old times, our conversation took us to our school teachers. Some of them were who I had met in the past couple of months, and some, that he had met. But, in all we talked about every teacher of madrasa who had taught us and nurtured us with good qualities in madrasa.

I remember when CIE examinations in my 11th grade (last year of school) were about to begin I wrote an article on my classmates; I addressed a paragraph to each one of them and bid them farewell. My principal told me that I must not forget my teachers while bidding farewell. I picked up my pen but I didn’t know what to say to them, I was unsure that what was right and what wasn’t at that time because with friends you could say what you feel, but while speaking about a teacher you would always hesitate before making a statement.

Being naïve and immature you make a lot of mistakes and so did I. I think all students must have made fun of a teacher or spoken ill of them; and I agree I have too (almost about everyone).

Two years after passing school, I’ve come to realize that life will not give you what you want, it will not say what you want to hear, it will not do what you want to happen, in fact, it will silently teach you with remarks that would baffle you. Only after this I realized how wrong I had done to those who corrected me in the most polite manner, who generously gave me what I wanted, who left no chance of appreciating me, who stood by me and showed how to anchor life.

Without the art of handling my tools (which they gave me), I wouldn’t last a day. I didn’t know it was a blessing that I had them in my life, I did not thank them, in fact, I had done something so ill which makes me think I did not deserve such brilliant and hardworking teachers.

There have been instances where our teachers got tired and frustrated of our acts, but I found that, no matter what we did they didn’t leave us; they would come back again the next day beginning with a fresh start. I’m sure it’s not easy to forget where one does wrong to you, but they did.

I believe no student can succeed until he respects his teacher. It’s because the one who gives you knowledge matters more than the knowledge itself. Imagine a piece of clay awaiting its potter; we would be there, waiting to be shaped and polished by the potter.

I am deeply sorry, first for doing something which was inhumane and, for never thanking them. I was unable to write about each and every one of them but I want to take their names, not because I want to show off, but because I want them to know I remember them and I pray for them.

Janab Shk Mustafa Jack
Janab Shk Ammar Bhai
Janab Shk Tahir Bhai
Janab Shk Saifuddin
Janab Shk Huzefa Bhai
Janab Shk Mohammad Bhai
Janab Shk Shabbir
Janab Shk Mustafa Bhai
Janab Shk Yousuf Bhai
Janab M Quaid Johar Bhai
Janab M Ibrahim Bhai
Janab M Moiz Bhai
Janab M Mansoor Bhai
Janab M Ahmed Bhai
Janab M Abbas Bhai
Ali Sir
Murtaza Sir
Muzammil Sir
Zulifqar Sir (computer)
Quaid Sir
Sir Asgher
Sir Javed Kamal
Sir Arif
Sir Tauheed
Sir Sadiq
Sir Zulfiqar (Pakistan studies)
Sir Zohair
Sir Ahmed
Zahabiyah Bhen
Rabab Bhen
Tasneeem Bhen
Tahera Bhen
Tasneem Bhen

Husnebanu Bhen
Farida Bhen (Grade II)
Shireen Bhen
Shama Bhen
Fatema Bhen
Fatema Bhen (art teacher)
Arwa Bhen
Fauzia Bhen
Tasneem bhen Dawoodji
Durriya Bhen
Nighat Bhen
Shahzadi Bhen
Tasneem Bhen Shakir
Nafisa Bhen Jabir
Rehana Bhen
Rashida Bhen (Primary Urdu teacher)
Rashida Bhen Box
Zainab Bhen Anjar
Rashida Bhen Haji
Fatema Bhen Raziuddin
Zainab Bhen Sadri
Umme Hani Bhen
Maryam Bhen Sadri
Qurratul-Ain Bhen
Naseem Bhen
Raeesa Bhen

I know I must be definitely missing out on someone; I tried my mind to go back as much I could take it. I’m sorry (yet again) whose name I’ve missed out here. But, together I remember you all as school teachers. Regretting over the mistakes, I’m thankful to all of you, for being the potter and turning this clay into a piece of pottery.

My words might not reach you, and might not be so great, but I wanted to at least try and show my feelings.
To those who are irreplaceable and unforgettable.

Your student,
Ruqaiya Lokhand.

And, here it comes again!

It was New Year 2016 that brought a sudden flood of thoughts to my mind – last year of college, getting into university, good percentage, being responsible and so on. However, the most effecting thought was “Second Year Examinations”.

The word exam itself ran adrenaline in my body, awakening me, tantalizing me on a bit, and finally pushing me hard towards the lone books, kept in the corner of my room. As I turned the cover page of my Physics book, I found out, that the variables, numbers and exponents are dancing in front of my eyes (metaphorically), just like in Ishant Avasti’s notebooks (Taare Zameen Par).

At first, giving CIE in school, and coming to Intermediate Board, I learnt one major thing about myself; I never touched a book until I knew I had to give the paper the next day and always learnt everything on the 11^th hour. But, that doesn’t work every time right?

Have you heard about conditioned reflexes? They are those habits which we incorporate with an experience. For example, the sight of strawberry was nothing to me, but a red, cone-shaped fruit with spots all over it, before I had tasted it. But once, the taste of strawberries melted on my taste buds, I was awed by its flavor and texture. And then, the mere thought of strawberries, excited me and made me happy.

You must be thinking what connection do strawberries have with examinations, right? Literally there’s nothing to it, but, as a matter of fact, when talking about habits, there is. I was mistaken that I could do everything in the last moment until I got C in my Add Math paper. It changed everything, just like strawberries were unknown to me before, so was the consequence of bad result, until, I experienced it.

Now, I deal with it like a good hand job to be done every day. One of my college-mate tells me, ‘I always bear in my mind that I shouldn’t waste one single day, even if it’s learning 4 lines of, any law of heredity or refining of a metal’. Her words were simple but so inspiring that for a moment I was zoned-out from the conversation.

So, for me and you, the ‘EXAM-O-FLIES’, are coming to bite us once again (my school friend used to say this). Be prepared with your rackets at hand and give it the best shot you can aim for!

Ruqaiya Lokhand.

Friends For N-Ever!

I believe it was Grade VI where we learnt that;

Friendship is a priceless gift,

That cannot be bought or sold.

No wonder this poem was taken seriously only until the examinations, that we forgot what it actually meant. We never thought that its meaning could be deeper than Mariana’s Trench.

School life was the craziest and easiest, even though, at that time we all felt that it’s a really big thing if we have an exam the next day or a surprise test is taken in the class. What did our young minds know, that in practical life, these surprise tests and examinations are a daily routine?

At that age, we all were naïve; we fought and patched up our broken hearts every other day. Who knew we would all miss being children one day? All we wanted was, to grow up and control the world.

In all the experiences, friends were a major part, what so ever happened, it was mandatory to share it in the friends group. Without doing that, our day would be incomplete. Pranks and gossips would be the favorite part of our friendship.

We all considered that friendship is a very common thing, that everyone has a friend. In some way it is true. But, when people grow up, we never know how their priorities might change.

Seeing that school life was ending, and we all made like a thousand promises to stay in touch and keeping re-unions to water our plant of ‘friendship’.

Our fate took us to different paths, where Moiz and Hatim shifted to Dubai and Alefiyah shifted to Dares-Salaam. After school got over, we all had a different routine. Our studies were different and the environment was entirely different. Getting busy with life, we missed the happy days of bunking class in school because bunking in college meant a great loss in understanding the subject. Nothing remained the same, except the will to laugh together once again.

After one and a half year of shifting to Dares-Salaam, Alefiyah flew to Karachi for two weeks, where I and Alif met four times. All worries and tensions went out the window and disappeared into the thin air. We laughed, cheered and shared our feelings once again. After a long time we felt like life is worth living.

Our friendship is like Never Ever, because never, never comes, even when we die, our minds rest with the happy memories of our lives. Hence, our friendship lives through this phase to the other.

PS.Have a safe flight back home! 😉

With lots of love,

Yours sincerely,

Ruqai.

Because, I miss you…

I really have no idea where to begin from, and I’m not sure if people would like to read it, but I’d like to notify the readers, that, this essay is as a small gift of thanks to my friend, Rasheeda.

There’s no once upon a time in this story, I’ve known Rasheeda since I was a kid. It’s simple; I and Rasheeda have been living in the same area since childhood just until yesterday. We have known each other since we were babies crawling here and there in the masjid. Then we joined the madrasah and had our own girls group of the mohalla (area). Time passed and we used to play with each other/ be with each other for like every day.

When teenage hit us, there came times for sleepovers and gossips. Girls will be girls, there’s no denying it. So, there used to be cat fights (amongst all of us), I don’t mean physically, but saying stuff and cold wars, that kind. But even then, I don’t know why or how we still stayed along in a group.

In all of this growing part, we graduated from schools, and then from colleges and got into universities (except me, still in college – no comments on that) . We enjoyed getting older, because now no aunties will tell us not to sit in separate thaals and go to our moms (Just kidding! :D) Taking the oath of misaaq was one part of growing up, because it really meant we have to be serious towards studies and life, and we have to act mature, somehow all those parts in life went well. I believe growing up brought us closer to each other’s heart.

Naturally, no one can live without friends, even if we don’t say it, we want our friends to listen to our scored goals and the missed ones too, and our times of hardship and happy days, we like it when they appreciate, and are consoled even if they just keep a warm hand of comfort on our shoulder. At the end of teenage, our ‘girly-group’ transformed  into a ‘club’, our park walks became dining out on occasions, our gossips jumped from who hit whom to who went out with whom, but, one thing remained the same, we laughed the same way like we did when we were kids.

Although our physique changed and we became different people now, but we stayed together, we enjoyed each other’s company, actually relished it, it was something special, actually it IS something special that I can’t define.

Time ran so fast it came to the part of engagements. Well, Rasheeda was the first one to get engaged from our group. We were all happy that now we are adults and have become mature with time. Who knew that we will all miss being together one day?

Day before yesterday, it was the last function of Rasheeda’s wedding, sorry if I’m jumping from engagement to the wedding, but it seems like she got engaged just some time ago and now, she is happily married.

I don’t know Rasheeda if I was ever a good friend to you, but you ARE to me. You might laugh now, I couldn’t sleep right now, I miss you. I miss you singing 9XM songs, I miss your smartness, I miss your cries, I miss you being bossy, I miss your enthusiasm, I miss dancing in the rain with you, and I miss your smile, I really miss you – already.

I think about your home, it’s such a big part of my childhood, I miss you being there. Apart from all the differences we have had, you were a really good friend to me, and to see you away I really don’t know how to react. I will miss your place beside Fatema – Muslim in the thaal. I will miss you every time as I pass by your building (which will be every day).

Yesterday as I hugged you the last time, I really didn’t want to let go of you, you are so much to me, you don’t even know. I know we haven’t been like best friends and all, but even then I will miss you like A LOT (Have I said this like the hundredth time till now?)

Life is really bitter sometimes, I really don’t want to be away from you.

I’d like to quote some lines to you;

I pray that your each and every day passes with a light heart, that no troubles bother you because I know you are great at tackling them 😉 .

I wish that every day you light the days with your radiant smile, and live a happy contented life under the Saya Mubarakah of both Maula. Ameen.

May Allah grant our Maula a long, healthy and prosperous life till the Day of Judgement. Ameen.

Take care.

With lots of love,

Yours truly,

Ruqqu.

And, you’re beautiful even when you fall…

It is this morning that I love,

Where greens in garden spring along,

From small to tall, they all appeal,

And, refresh me on the morning walk.

 

When fall arrives and they die out,

From green to yellow to orange they change,

With purple, pink and red on side,

They show their beauty one last time.

 

Dew rests on leaves, washing them out,

And Sun gives them all, a hot, warm bath,

Glistening and glowing with colors all kind,

Making a sad heart happy with last good bye.

 

And, when autumn sojourns, clearing them out,

The last look of love is never forgone,

Hustling with wind, the leaves fly away,

And so, they’re beautiful, even when they fall.

 

From New Jersey, with love.

Ruqaiya Lokhand.

 

Inni Wallahe Ohibboka Ya Maula!

As it dawned on Wednesday, 2^nd September 2015, my home seemed like a fish market, we all were in a hurry to get to Hyderabad. All in all, we left home by almost 7.30 am. The plan was, that Syedna Ali-Qadar Mufaddal Saifuddin Maula TUS was directly coming to Hyderabad from Karachi airport.

We reached in time and got the sharaf of waaz of Urus Mubarak of Syedna Idrees Imaduddin Maula RA in Hyderabad; in bayan Mufaddal Maula TUS explained the position of a leader. He (TUS) told that the leader is like a lion, the protector from evils, the King of all, He whose one roar can make everyone silent. And, when I read this quote I knew exactly what Maula TUS tried to tell us, ‘I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.’ ~Alexander the Great

Unfortunately, I couldn’t stay in Hyderabad while Maula TUS was there, and came back to Karachi by evening, none of us knew if the city of Karachi will get His blessings too, but on the inside everyone prayed that He would bless our city too. By weekend, we knew the stay in Karachi for a few days was confirmed, and the arrangements and preparations had begun as soon as the news came in.

On Monday morning, 7^th September ’15, Maula TUS flew to Burhani Industrial Park and then Burhani Recreational Park in helicopter; the parks were inaugurated by His Holiness. Around 1.15 pm, Maula TUS came to Karachi.

In the evening of 7^th, thousands of mumineen did deedar of Maula TUS at Naadil Burhani. Each heart was rejoiced as Maula TUS gave salami to the crowds in the ground. The cricket match of Saifee Burhani Games commenced. While the match went on, Maula TUS enjoined on mumineen to keep this ground as a ground, since health is very important, and no other thing should take this ground’s place.

I and my few friends hurried to Hasani Masjid- Clifton, where Maula TUS would offer Magrib/ Isha prayers. Luckily, we got through the excited crowd and prayed after Maula’s Imamat.

Then, on 8th of September, Tuesday, the day began with Fajr prayers in Taheri Masjid – Sadar. After the prayers and deedar, the MSB staff, students and alumni proceeded to Al-Madrasa-Tus-Saifiyah-Tul-Burhaniyah Hyderi campus, last minute work was going on for Maula TUS’s arrival in the madrasa.

In not more than 18 minutes, Mufaddal Maula TUS did an overview of the whole school, He TUS looked inside every classroom, every lab. Since I was standing by the counter, where shehed (honey), water, and many things were kept for shifa, I was right in front of Maula as he said shifa to all the things, never in my life have I ever been so close to Maula TUS. And then, Zohar Asar prayers were offered in Husami Masjid – Barakaat-e-Hyderi.

Later that night, Governor of Sindh Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad conferred doctorate degree upon Mufaddal Maula TUS in a convention organized by University of Karachi (KU) at Governor House.

9^th September started with Fajr prayers in Adam Masjid – Old Karachi, and at night Saleh Masjid was blessed with Magrib/Isha prayers in the night of Milaad Mubarak of 51^st Dai Syedna Taher Saifuddin RA. A noorani procession was held in Naadil Burhani, the sight was amazing, and the cries of ‘Maula Maula’, ‘Maula Aik Nazar’, ‘Labbaika Ya Dai-Allah’ and ‘Inni Wallahe Ohibboka Ya Maula’ are still ringing in my ears. The Moukib (procession) was truly something that the mumineen of Karachi will never forget.

The day of Milad dawned on us, and the news which none of us wanted to hear was clear to us when Maula TUS gave wada nu salam (the last words) to all of us. When I heard the waaz, I felt every word, every zikr, every sentence was meant for my soul. Many of us did deedar from the terrace of Masjid, which was like the do or die thing but at that moment no one cared, the want of Aik Nazar gave us the spirit.

As I sat for jaman (lunch) with my mohalla friends, we came up with a plan to do last deedar as Maula TUS would leave for airport from a zyafat nearby. We, and many mumineen stood on the road waiting for Maula TUS as He’d come towards the car. Not once, not twice, not even thrice, it was definitely more than that, I ran after the car, seeing the last salami of Maula today, my feelings can’t be put to words. As much as I’m thankful, my heart is grieving on Maula TUS’s departure.

This safar has changed me like no other, I guess, some things can never be explained, and maybe never be understood by any other person, except Maula TUS himself.

As these days pass, I wish to do His deedar again and again, until there is no other day.

May Allah, grant our Maula TUS, a prosperous and healthy life till the day of Judgment. Ameen.

Amate Syedna Maulanal Mannan,

Ruqaiya Mulla Mustafa Lokhand Wala.

What do you hope to achieve in your lifetime?

We’ve all born up with, or at least I can say that I’ve born up with- fairy tales, a place where magic existed, and anything could be done by a swish swash of a wand; there was an outside world- so called Narnia and a school named Hogwarts. Life went on, and then I started to realize, that those places and things were mere imaginations, those were just illusions that are not the meaning to life, that’s not the core of it, there’s something else besides being a hero.

Like all children, I had my own fantasy world (of course); being the youngest of my siblings, I never had anything to worry about. I was always pampered and got whatever I wanted. I was not an outspoken person; I had such ideas and elements in my world that no one would believe I would think of. The fantasies made me feel that my life would be the same, but seriously, would it?

Humans are unique creatures, aren’t they? I don’t know if there’s one definition to them. Of all the creations of God, humans are entirely distinctive in features and habits. There are many theories of how humans evolved from other animals, but then, humans have this most insane thing in them, yes, I call it insane, because this particular thing has the ability to do anything, absolutely anything; it is the mind, yes. This is where I disagree to the fact that humans evolved from animals, if so, one aspect to that is; why would it be taken as an insult if one called us an animal?

The point is; that humans have the ability; to think, visualize, weigh the options according to their priorities and likes/dislikes, and act upon it. Animals do that too, but they can do it to a certain extent, they can’t go across their boundaries to do something mind blowing. It is the humans that can bring peace, and then, at the same time, mass destruction as well. It is the humans, who have the ability to go as far as the moon. It is the humans that can turn mere particles into sky scrapers.

I’m sure we all know what a human mind is capable of doing. This brings us to reason out; why humans are born different? Why do they have a particular race in life? What is the meaning to their live? Will they be particularly accounted for what they do? And so, the questions arise one after another.

A few years ago, I started to write on a blog with my school-mates. There, I wrote an essay (or you could call it an autobiography), which was; ‘it’s fun to be me’, and one of my teachers commented there, ‘Knowing oneself is a life-long process of discovery. It’s good to realize your own strengths and shortcomings. That is the key towards self-development.’ That’s what struck me; our process of experiencing life is the same thing. It works the same way, as we proceed to take steps in our life one after another, we come down to various perspectives, we understand ourselves in a better way and hence, the motive of our life.

The first revelation that came upon Prophet Mohammad PBUH was,

“Proclaim! In the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created-
Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood;
Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful,-
Who taught (the use of) the pen,-
Taught man that which he knew not.”

It was a clear order, to acquire knowledge and then, spread it to others. When we study or wade through the words of wisdom, at first, we accept what is brought to us and then, we ask of how and why this or that happened, which enables our mind to open up. When we talk in religious terms, there have been people who were astray and then as time passed they became religious, on the other hand, there have been people who were born in a religious environment but they found ‘their’ meaning of life something else. Every mind is given a certain time (age), to use his mind and contemplate with what he has observed in his time.

I’m not a scholar, and I do not have the sound reasons to argue about the theories of life evolving from a unicellular organism to a very well developed one, but with what I have grasped and what my mind tells me is that if humans are extra-ordinary, then there’s definitely a reason to it. I am, in the process of learning, everyday my mind perceives a new thing, and it makes me wonder and ponder.

It is my mind that instructs me, to dive-in, in the sea of knowledge and achieve the task of knowing of my existence here.

Ruqaiya Lokhand.

The pressure cooker!

Remember the movie ‘3 idiots’; the part where Rancho (Aamir Khan) says to his Principal that; “the place where we study is a university, not a pressure cooker”? Well, to be honest, even if it’s not the institutes that put that pressure, the mind always does.

We humans are always fighting; fighting for money, fighting for power, fighting for a rank and fighting to make a place- to make a name in this world. So basically, life is a pressure cooker.

In every part of life, may it be our childhood- adolescence-old age, we encounter difficult situations. At that very moment, it seems like that is the most crucial time of our life, with or without that thing, makes our future.

In childhood, I guess we all have done a lot of troubles and hidden from our parents for doing it. My favorite action used to be emptying toothpastes. I used to relish doing it and I never wanted to get caught (like obviously). I used to act all innocent in front of my mom, and getting a bad lecture from my mom would be like life and death situation to me; taking saliva down my throat would be even so painful to me. Now that I think of it, I laugh over it.

Today, I fear examinations, I fear losing my dream, the dream that I see in all my loved ones’ eyes; I fear of breaking them. I think all the time, what if I don’t do good enough, what if this, what if that and these questions drive me crazy eventually. It’s said that, “ من ذن بك خيرا فصدق ذنه – man zanna bika khairan fa saddiq zannahu” (when someone has good expectations from you, you should make them come true). As I thought of this saying, I went back past to last year when I was about to give the second year of the O levels Examinations.

Before the exams had to begin, the school principal told us a small story of a deaf frog (I hope I remember it right). I don’t remember his exact words, but the plot of the story was that; there was a race held among frogs, at the end of the race they had to climb a hill. Many frogs took part in that race and among all the kinds of frogs, one was deaf. Well then, the race begun and all the frogs bing-boinged and jumped along the race-track. There were a lot of cheers and a lot shouting from the crowd while the participants were climbing the hill. Soon, the race came to an end. Do you know who the winner was, it was the deaf frog. The principal – Janab Ash-Shaikh Ammar Bhai – one of the persons who had a lot of expectations from us, gave each of us a lesson. He told us that in all our times when we want to achieve something big, there are going to be people criticizing us for what we do; never listen to them, listen to your heart, to your Allah who created you, He is your right guide. The only reason the deaf frog won the race was, he couldn’t listen to what people said, he didn’t hear the criticizing comments passed by them- the only reason he won was – he was ambitious. He was dedicated to his goal and he earned it. It was a lesson for me to learn and remember whenever I would be fighting with the pressure cooker.

So then, I learnt this that; no matter how much and how loud we whine, life is always going to be a pressure cooker, be the stubborn potato and never let it boil you!

Ruqaiya Lokhand.

Navratan.

After school got over, I always felt that you can’t let go of those people you knew for your entire life. Well, it’s true, you can never let go of those people, but you ought to meet new people in life and get along with them, that’s how life is.

Coming to Aga Khan Higher Secondary School, I came into an entirely different environment. At school, I met people from my own community but now I got to know people from other communities as well. At first I didn’t know how to respond, there was no hesitancy in means of shyness of anything, but I felt unsure about what I should say; not knowing what they would think about me. With time, I got close to them; and, they to me. I gradually learned that the thin line that I had made between me and them, had slowly vanished into the air, and in no time we had become a crazy bunch of people.

I would never compare my friends, from those who were in school and now in college, but, I know I’m very fortunate in finding good friends here too. So, I call this group of nine crazy people (which includes me) as Navratan.

‘Navratan’ was a term applied to a group of nine extraordinary people in an emperor’s court in India. Some well-known groups are in the Raaj Sabha (court) of King Janaka, Emperor Vikramaditya (Chandragupta II) and in Emperor Akbar’s “Darbar”.(Source: Wikipedia)

The literal meaning of Navratan is nine gems. All of them are gems to me. Coming from an O levels background there were a lot of tussles and wrestles with studies, because the way of learning was very distinctive in means of wrote-learning and ‘rattafying’ (learn something by heart by continuously repeating it). However, I dealt with this dilemma with a little spirit inside me and a lot of encouragement from them.

These are my gems;

First of all:

Aquamarine.

Aquamarine; this is the stone to help you be in touch with your spiritual being. This stone is used in deep meditations. It has been called ‘Water of the Sea’. My seat-mate Zahra is like an Aquamarine. She always leaves me with a sense of spirituality. Her sense of humor leaves me awestricken and for her all-time good words we call her our senior citizen. I believe her novel-reading habit has made her a detective, knowing what ever is in our hearts. 😀

Blue Opal.

Secondly:

The Blue Opal; Opals contain water, which makes them very sensitive to heat. They are soft and can be cracked or chipped easily. Opals should be stored in moist absorbent cotton. And, so should my soft-hearted Atyaba. She’s a strong one on the outside, but emotional and sentimental on the inside. Whatever we say, she stays the same but we can read it from her expressions when something is wrong. A true hard-worker she is, never letting anything make her hopes down. 😉

Then, comes;

Spinel.

Spinel; the name “spinel” is derived from the Greek word for spark, in reference to the fiery red color of spinels often used for gems. Hareem is just like a Spinel, she gives hope when I’ve lost it all; gets me out of that emotional trauma by acting like she is facing the same situation! She’s the stylish one in us. 😀

Then is;

Alexandrite.

Alexandrite; Alexandrite is a very rare stone. It was named after Alexander II of Russia as it was found on his Coming of Age Day. My friend Famiya is very much like an Alexandrite; a very rare person. At first, we used to call her ‘Famiya Bacche (child)’, now that I see her true form I realize she has changed colors like an Alexandrite, at last coming out of her shy-shell.

This brings me to;

Diamond.

Diamond; it is the hardest gemstone and one of the most valued. The diamond in our treasure box is Rabail. She is our very own ‘WOODERA’ (land-lord). The fact that we call her by this name is, she is very rough and tough- totally a tomboy by behavior. 😀 But, let me tell you, her intentions are very innocent. No matter how hard hearted she might look to you, if you know her truly you’ll know you are in a great company.

And, then;

Ruby.

Ruby; the ruby is considered to be the most powerful gem in the universe. I find Aamna the most mature one in our group. She has a good control over herself, unlike all others (this is no means of insulting anyone else). To have her, brings contentment and peace. It’s always good to take out the tension of the pressure of studies and she has always been there for that.

Next up is;

Sapphire.

Sapphire; Sapphire is a Stone of Wisdom, a royal stone of learning, mental acuity and psychic activation, a seeker after spiritual truth. Najia is very similar to a Sapphire. She has a God-gift, that she is truly a genius. She is a very diligent student and a wise one. Having her around, always gives me motivation to study more and more.

Topaz.

And;

Topaz; Topaz is one of the twelve breastplate stones of the High Priest referred to in the Book of Exodus. Thinking of Topaz, made me think of Wajiha. She is a very good friend to me and her silly jokes literally make us laugh our hearts out. At times, she underestimates her own potential but knowing her for almost a year I believe that she will face all the problems and tackle them being a strong Topaz.

Lastly;

Pearl.

Pearl; the pearl is the oldest known gem, and for many centuries it was considered the most valuable. Unlike all gems, the pearl is organic matter derived from a living creature – oysters and mollusks. I am their Pearl; every day, as I go to college and move to the crowd standing near the main gate, I see them smiling at me. Just like they are special to me, their smiles bringing me utter happiness, telling me, I am too.

Together, we give hope to one another, strengthen one another’s hopes and share it among us all. We help each other and take out new tactics and schemes to deal with studies and all other things that jump out of nowhere at us from time to time.

So likely,

Friends are true gems.

Ruqaiya Lokhand.

Life goes on…

Sometimes, I sit down and think, of all that has happened in my life. At one place I was a shy person, who would be forced to talk, and, at another I was quite the opposite.

As time passed, I blend myself in the colors of life, acquiring something new each time for a different situation. Each day brought a new role for me in life. One day I was a mere student in my school and the next day the head girl of the entire school. I don’t think so that I played each role with perfection because I’m a very lazy person. Those who don’t know me personally often don’t believe that I could be a lazy person, maybe because at times I am able to save the day at the eleventh hour (lucky!).

Life went on as the sun went down each day, throwing random things at me all the time. I fought for catching on everything but I simply used to end frustrated and drop the simple catches being Umar Akmal.

I always used to think that life should be called a problem. It gives nothing to you. But, growing up gave me one thing, it made me understand that life is a chance given by Allah; you ought to remember His message.

Being a child I thought of being a hero, saving people and doing what-not, but being a teenager my views changed completely. I don’t know who should be put to question for that, maybe I should be, because I had my every right to do anything. I’m proud of some things I did, and even saddened at my foolishness when I messed up everything.

Will I ever learn to be a mature person? (Haha that is an essay in itself) What I simply do, is wake up every morning, do something good, and put my head to rest; that is good enough, isn’t it? Well, to be true it’s not even near good.

Few months ago, I read a letter in my Easy Urdu class with my teacher. It was a letter from Sir Syed Ahmed Khan to his students, which means this happened way before independence. Coming down to the point, every word of that letter touched my heart. His words taught me how we never realize the importance of time. We think it will always be the same way; the sun will go up every morning, the stars will be lit up every night, the clock will tick every second and we will enjoy ourselves every might. Everything might go on the same, but we miss out on the part, that we won’t. He said that, ‘my life should be a notice board to you all, “Beware! Don’t go this way.”’ He meant that he had not given the time to study and learn that he should have, but, we should. Of course a well-educated person like him couldn’t be like this, he being so humble, explained it all so well.

We don’t value the words of our own people, but most of the times, it is them who inspire and motivate us. If there’s one major thing his letter taught me, it was;

Life goes on…

Ruqaiya Lokhand.

The incident that silenced the nation.

I don’t think there might be anyone who must not have heard about what happened day before yesterday. When I heard the news, for a second, I felt feeling-less, do you know why, it’s because these constant bomb blasts and open-air firings have made my heart so hard, that, for a second I did not think of them. I didn’t think what must have happened.

When I write here, I never lie, I tell what I feel. I say exactly what my heart holds inside. The breaking news was clear, over 84 students had been shot and killed, and a few teachers too. The news seemed like an everyday routine thing. Just then, there came pictures, not a few, a flood of them came one after another. One showing a parent taking his young son to school and the other showed that child, lying on the ground, with his eyes closed, and blood all over him. His father who had dropped him to school that morning was holding his son in his arms and crying because he didn’t know he had brought him that day for this reason.

The nation lost its flowers; the flowers that once bloomed in the garden were plucked out and burnt to ashes. That moment, I heard a bell ringing, it rung so loud, that I went to my room, closed the door and sat on my bed in silence. I closed my eyes and I could see, I could see these cruel people going to each class and firing each child in the head, I could see them taking out children that were hiding underneath the desks and shot each one of them.

The hard-heartedness had vanished, tears rolled down as I thought of that incident. Those young children who survived this heinous massacre lost their childhood. They’ve lost their innocence; God knows what they must have seen and what situation they must be in. You know, I’m not a ruthless, cruel person, but, these incidents are unbearable for me, I see my people dying every day and there’s nothing I could do about it. So, I created a wall, but when I saw these young ones my heart couldn’t hold it anymore, it was just too much.

What must have been going on those parents whose children were taken away from them forever? They must have lost themselves when they would have known that their meaning of life was gone. For those who earn, so that their child gets good education and one day he’d shine like a star and have a better life then they did, their dreams went in vain, their dreams, were crushed by these people.

These people who came to each classroom and said, “Allah-o-Akbar”, do you call them Muslims? Do you call these people Muslims who took lives of guiltless children? Don’t they know that Prophet Mohammad PBUH loved children? Oh and besides that, Prophet Mohammad PBUH never fought unless it was needed, he would not even hurt those who hurt him the most. So, do we call these people Muslims? These people; do this in the name of Muslims so that they can make a bad name of true Muslims. They are nothing but beasts, yes beasts, I’m sure you remember what happened in Karbala, when Imam Husain A.S took his 6 months old son out, so that maybe one of the enemies might have mercy on the child and would give at least a drop of water, the enemy didn’t give water, in fact, the young soldier was martyred by an arrow.  The ones who did this hideous act were like the enemies of Imam Husain A.S, they were so-called Muslims.

Every dark night is followed by a bright day, and this cycle goes on, I being a Pakistani openly condemn of this terrorist attack and solemnly feel that we all must bring a change. We must not let them fear us, we have each other, and together we can reach the sky. This incident has silenced the nation, but, we can overcome this. We can overcome all of that we lost and start from a fresh page. We must stand together so that people like them can’t harm us again. A small brick can be drifted along, but together, we will make a wall, we will build ourselves up so that whatever they do does not affect us.

Because; ‘united we stand and divided we fall’.

A patriotic Pakistani,

Ruqaiya Lokhand.

Victory is not an ice-cream you can buy, it’s a goal you have to achieve.

Victory!

The March that began in August has continued to September also. The literal meaning of March in August is that the long march held in August. While, on the contrary it also means to bring two great months’ histories together. On 23rd March 1940, Pakistan (Lahore) resolution was passed. In that resolution, the Muslims of the sub-continent demanded a separate homeland for themselves and then after 7 years from then on 14th August 1947, the Muslims got a nation for themselves, Pakistan.

Over the years, in 67 years after independence, Pakistan has gone through many crucial situations. But, even then it has had enough strength to go ahead; the strength that came from the people of Pakistan, the strength of patience and determination. Then, a time comes when one can’t hold it anymore he needs to get that insecurity out of his mind, he demands for peace and justice. In those times when one wants a true leader, they fortunately get one but, it’s not easy. It’s not easy to change that old corrupted system in just minutes or hours. It takes time to change.

Imran Khan is an ideal leader. He says that I’m not against any particular person for own purposes. I want that our people should get what they deserve. Let there be fair elections and then, if you win you can have that seat. But, if you don’t you can be a member of the Parliament. However, the mean politicians disagree for their own good. They think, that Pakistan is for them and if they rule they have the right to do whatsoever they want.

The participants of the long march should be appreciated. They’ve stayed there day and night protesting against the unlawful set of demands set by the government. They fight for justice and peace and that is every person’s right in the country.

Majority of the Pakistanis want a change. They want a change that makes them feel secure. They want the country to prosper. All we demand is re-election that would be done under strict examination. And then, we all know we will be satisfied with the result of that. As these political happenings have changed the whole situation of Pakistan, a thought came across my mind, ‘Victory is not an ice-cream you can buy, it is a goal you have to achieve.’ Victory comes from rage, determination and hard work. Bringing these elements together one can achieve his goal of ‘VICTORY’.

For all those who stand firm in their faith for having a bright future for Pakistan.

For all the dedicated Pakistanis!

Victory!

Ruqaiya Lokhand.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday!

Has it ever happened to you that you forget to wish your best friend on his/her birthday? No, it wouldn’t have, I believe. Such a mean friend I am that I can’t even wish my best friend happy birthday on time and I realize this is the second time I have done the same thing.

I know I am the meanest friend and I don’t even deserve to be forgiven after doing the same thing again but I still would apologize to you. You would give a change to at least apologize, right?

Friends are people who play a major role in our lives. They tease you, play with you, they are there for you in your pleasurable moments and even those times when you don’t have the courage to go to your elders and tell them that I’m stuck in a problem. For me, you are that friend; a friend who is always there for me, a friend who inspires me and motivates me, a friend that tells me ‘I can do it’, and, a friend who I can count on at any time.

I know it seems absurd that you forget that friend’s birthday who means a lot to you, but, I want you (my friend) to know that I have never forgotten you and never will. I’m really sorry and you surely deserve a better friend who can at least remember your birthday. Again, I apologize because I don’t want to lose a wonderful friend like you for a foolish act I did.

Do you know I’m jealous of you? Yes, I am, because, for me you’re perfect. You never make mistakes. You have the easiest and quickest solution for my complicated problems. You’re not lazy like me. You have always got everything organized. You’re the first one to wish me on my birthday and the imperfect, immature me is the last one to wish you.

It’s not that you don’t mean anything to me and I didn’t wish you, it’s my mere foolishness and I am so embarrassed that I couldn’t even do this much.

Happy Birthday! May you always stay happy and stay blessed under the Saya Mubarak of Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin Maula TUS.

Your very foolish but grateful friend,

Ruqaiya Lokhand.

Dated: 3^rd September 2014.