Eid Party

Eid Sa'eed!
Eid Mubarak!

This was my first Eid away from home! I had an odd feeling - no one from the family to meet up with, nobody to go to after the prayer. Anyhow it wasn't without some relief, which is that I didn't have to run around the city distributing meat to all my extended family members.
I had this dissertation proposal to submit on the next day of the Eid. Really, I wasn't feeling like writing anything on that day but I had to. It accounted 60% of one of my module's marks! So I had to sit it through till the end after the Eid prayer.
But, yes I did celebrate the Eid here, after the submission. Yesterday, me and my friends prepared Biryani and Sheer Khorma. I just love it! Friends came over and they liked it! :) I hope they really did, because frankly, I was not satisfied with the taste of Biryani. Anyway, it was my very first attempt to make it and it was not bad!
InshaAllah, I'm gonna try that again some day! All in all it was good day and we all had fun! :)

Finally I'm feeling a bit more okay here now!

Movie Pass and The Facebook

October 23, 2010

Yes it is. I’ve got my unlimited movie pass here. Well, I find it a good deal to pay 13.5 a month and watch unlimited movies. Also there is this autumn season movies coming up. Many of them seem to be just too good to ignore. I have already watched 2 movies in 3 days after I made the pass the day before yesterday. So I think it won’t be a problem for me and that it won’t be a waste of money.

And today, I saw the movie The Social Network. Awesome movie it is. A Harvard graduate coming up with this online community that has sort of changed the internet world. Not just the internet world, but it changed the way we communicate with each other. Facebook fits into the mindscape of a person. That’s why people find it so easy to get along with it. Many have become addicted to it! While watching the movie I was wondering what I was doing in those months when Mark Zuckerberg was building this phenomenon. Oh yeah! I had just started my undergrads. I felt so insignificant at that moment. I was like, “what am I doing here, when such persons are achieving glory and making history?”

The thought is still there. Anyway, it was a nice movie all in all. I had a great time watching it. After I came back home, and when I opened the facebook website, the first thing I searched for was to find the name of founder and co-founder on its website, ha-ha!  I thought of writing something about the movie, but I found it kinda weird to write as my status about the movie that was about the Facebook! So I just wrote the name of it. 

Who moved my cheese?

October 13, 2010

Who moved my cheese?
It was long ago when I first read that book. I wondered at that time was it even worth reading. I thought probably it was for others but not for me. I didn't even have an idea what it was talking about. However, I think I know now.

I realized the day I entered the new campus on the first day of the second semester that things are not the same anymore. Not just things, I realized even people seem no longer the same. Worse, even friends seem to have changed! I hope it's not true but that's what it appears to me. I really wish it's not true!

When I came back all excited from Hyderabad, I rushed to the nearby mosque at the time of prayer. After 3 months of hearing the same Qira'at (recitation of the Qur'an) at my home town mosque, which was not so attractive, I was desperate to listen to the melody that I used to listen to here before summers. Yet, when I entered the mosque, things changed there too! It looked as if the committee of the mosque has changed or something has happened that I do not see the previous Imaam anymore in the mosque. Instead, there was a new Imaam. He was simply that typical Imaam that I so do not like. Even his Qira'at was simply rhetoric. And in the Friday sermon, only God knows what he was speaking. It was all nonsense to me!

Sigh! I just feel so out of place here. Or am I over reacting??
Things change! It's normal, but it's so unacceptable to me. I don't know what to do to gain back my sanity.
May be I should just accept everything or simply ignore everything!
God! Please help!

Oops!!

10th October 2010

Oh God!
Too much of work is it?
or am I just getting busy doing nothing?
I forgot to write my journal. Hmmm, well at least I remembered it now.

There is not too much going on here in Cardiff right now, but there is studies related work I have to do.
The temperatures keep fluctuating everyday. It was raining yesterday, it's sunny today but windy. Autumn has started to set in now. Leaves are turning golden and yellow.

Anyway, I'm still trying to settle down here. I don't know why I feel so out-of-place here after coming from Hyderabad. Hopefully, I'll again find something that will keep me grounded here and start feeling comfortable again.

Semester 2: First week

September 30, 2010

It’s after 6 days that I’m writing again. The past week (or rather the continuing one) has been not as I wished it to be, honestly. The classes resumed from Monday as per the schedule but I felt as is something was missing. I didn’t or I couldn’t feel that spark that makes me concentrate in the class and on the lecture. I don’t know why it was like that. One of friend said that I looked worried. Hmmm. I really don’t know whether I was. But yes I was disturbed. May be it was because Veda was leaving or I was probably not ready for the studies yet or probably the summer vacation was too long and the holiday feeling didn’t leave me. Consequently I wasn’t feeling right. I’ve to prepare myself now for the coming week!

And yes, Veda has left Cardiff for good. It was yesterday when we all bid her goodbye. It was painful! I really miss her. It was only few days before the summer vacations that we got so close, but they were somehow enough to leave a mark on my memory. It would take a long to get the feeling off. Anyhow, I can’t forget her. Actually I don’t want to! I pray for her and wish her all the best for whatever she does in her life ahead. J

Today, I met Halleh. My nice, beautiful friend, Halleh, is an Iranian, doing her MA (film) from University of Wales, Newport. This one girl really inspires to me go ahead and achieve my goals. I met after all the days of summer vacation, visited her place (such a nice home she’s got) and went to a movie (Eat Pray love) with her. It was good to see her. Hope to meet her again! J

Here… finally

September 24, 2010

Okay, so finally here I am, back to the Cardiff; back to the routine life of studies. I reached London Heathrow airport by 1 pm local time on 21^st but reached Cardiff at 1 am on 22^nd. Well, I actually waited for my dear friend, Veda. She was coming to the London airport by 6 pm on 21. So I waited for her at the airport till the time. Well, it was worth it! J

She’s got engaged and will be getting married by December this year. The problem is that she’s come only to pack all her stuff and take back to her home in India. She’s not going to continue her MBA. L So I wanted to spend time with her as much as possible. Anyway, when she arrived, we took our bus to Cardiff.

And today, I paid a visit to our new college building. It’s awesome! The classes will resume by next Monday. Let’s see how things go.

Farewell Shopping!

September 17, 2010

Yeah, shopping! Me? Yes again! However, I’m wondering how I did that!? Yet I did it today. As my time of flying back to Cardiff is drawing nearer by the second, today I went to do some shopping with my mom and sister [I usually take my sister’s advice on buying clothes ;)]. We started at 4’30 pm from home but by the time we returned it was 10 pm!! No, it was not because of shopping only. The reason was the terrible traffic of Hyderabad. It was too much tonight probably because it being the start of a weekend. Anyway, I bought some shirts, a jeans and a pair of formal shoes. It did cost me more than I usually shop for. And why wouldn’t it cost that much? I had gone to Levi’s showroom. I had gone there to just buy a pair of jeans but when I entered the showroom I ended up buying to shirts too! I couldn’t believe that I was not able to resist from buying those shirts too. Hmmm, perhaps it’s because they looked so good. :-P

Finally, we came back to our home after an arduous and painstaking drive through the frantic traffic of this ‘city’.

My Eid this Year

September 12, 2010

Eid Sa’eed!! Eid Mubaarak!!

That’s how it all starts and that’s how the whole day of Eid goes, and has gone for me this year too; nothing unusual this year as well. The day started with me and my dad getting ready early and taking off for the special Eid prayer. After the prayer I called up my friend, as usual, and wished her Eid. Back at home, we all exchanged the Eid greetings; nothing unusual again!

The only thing that kept coming to my mind is that I’ve got less than 10 days to go back. I don’t know why I feel like not going back. I was eagerly waiting to get back, but now I am sort of unhappy, hmmm. God knows why it happens. When I stayed in Cardiff for just 5 months, I wasn’t feeling like coming back to Hyderabad. Now I don’t feel like going back to Cardiff. Strange!

Have got nothing else to write tonight….

The Emotional Mind

September 7, 2010

Well, yes, I was busy from a past few days. That’s why I couldn't write anything. But, I’ve more to write tonight, I think. I just want things to be natural. You know, let them come to me as they come. I actually, got the time, but I didn’t want to force myself to write anything. So I just left it only for a few days. I’m back again.

So, I was busy because of the Iftar party that was hosted at our home for my paternal uncles and aunts and their kids. It’s a big family, but not as big as my maternal side. And yes, tomorrow there is another Iftar party for them as well. It’s the last week of this blessed month of Ramadan. Oh I’m going to miss the tranquility one gets in the month, the peace that I cherish! Alas! Only 2-3 days are left. One big reason for such peace and tranquility is that television is switched off, for the whole month! No prime time soaps, no music, and no mindless advertisements! Ah! It’s so quiet that I can actually think clearly and write well. I’m able to stay calm and think on my own self: my mind, my thoughts, my feelings, and my spirit! I think a person’s emotional or spiritual mind is more important than his/her intellectual one. Its progress and development is as important as the intellectual mind, and in some cases is more important. This is the conclusion what I’ve come to.

Anyway, I’ve left a status on my FB profile saying that it’s hard to bid farewell. People are thinking that it’s because I’m going to leave Hyderabad soon for Cardiff. Well that’s not completely wrong, but it’s actually for Ramadan. I only pray to Allah that He accepts my fasting, all my prayers, and that He forgives my sins, both big and small, and make me enter His mercy and His Jannah! Aameen! :-)

homecoming...

September 4, 2010

Hmm! Again a usual day today was but with a little twist at the end of the evening. I, with my family, went to the airport to receive my dad. :-) He came with his usual luggage – a suitcase, a briefcase, a carton and a laptop. My sister’s very happy. And why wouldn’t she be? Dad got her a new cell phone! It’s a Nokia X6. Argh! Recently she misplaced a high end Nokia phone and now, she gets another one!? Anyway, dad got a perfume and a deodorant of Pierre Cardin. Hmmm, I wonder how they would smell. Ah! Well! I get this odd feeling, this strange sentiment, whenever I think of the day when I would have to fly back to Cardiff.

Oh yeah! I live in Cardiff. Actually, I’m doing my MBA over there. For those who do not know, Cardiff is in UK. It’s the capital of Wales basically. It’s a wonderful place for me, I must say. Few don’t like that calmness, that tranquility, that peace which comes with less population. But, I love it! :-) It’s so liberating for me, to be away from all the noise and horns blaring from every other vehicle on the road, and from all those traffic jams and headaches, and to be in this peaceful, student friendly place.

Okay. I think I’ve written a lot for the day. Have to take a leave now. Bye! Good Night! :-)

A blessed night

September 1, 2010

Today was the Taaq raat, one of the alternate nights in which we Muslims search for the lailat-ul-Qadr (The Night of Power). It is believed by millions of Muslims that the Holy Book, Qur’an was revealed or was started being revealed by Allah on Prophet Muhammad (May peace be upon him). I had a blessed night filled with sound of Qur’an being recited in the mosque. It was a grand feeling and also a feeling of bowing down to your Lord. The prayer led by the Imam was soulful and soothing. The verses were all filled with reminder of our duties and of the Day of Judgment. The supplication that the Imam made brought tears to my eyes. I felt like falling down in prostration and ask for forgiveness again and again. I felt close to my God. I loved that feeling. May God guide me unto the right path and keep me close to Him. Aameen!

a bit tired....

August 31, 2010

I had to write a bit about the day today, but it’s almost 1’30 AM in the morning here (India). I’ve to sleep and have to get up early for my Sahr. Well, yeah, it’s Ramadan time here, and I’m, thank God (Alhamdulillah) fasting for the whole month as usual. The month is about to end in 10 day and it seems as if it was only a few days back that this Holy month had started. Time flies! Sigh! Have to loot all the blessings I can from this blessed month. So, I’ve to take leave for now. Will come back soon to write about my life, day by day. :-)

...starting my day....

August 30, 2010

I always wondered what it would be like to be a writer or to write. Then I decided that I would write at least a paragraph of not more than 100 words or so every day or every night about my day, like a journal. Since I’m very lazy, I decided it would be more practical and possible for me. I’m known for my laziness. The fat on my belly stands witness to it. Every other day I make my mind up that I would work out, that I would burn this few extra pounds away, but it’s of no use. Yeah, it’s just a few pounds. It’s not like I’m obese. I’m just slightly overweight, but given my body shape and my height, that slightly protruding belly looks so out of place! Well, enough of my physique discussion. The point is that I would now write at least a few 100 words every day or night in this journal that I named as “blank page”. I should have started writing it long ago, but I need this inspiration and motivation to get started. Thank goodness and Thank God, I somehow found that this morning!