Il n'y a pas de raison particulière pour écrire cette poste en français. Ou probablement je suis trop heureux, cela est pourquoi j'essaie d'exprimer mon bonheur en français. Hehe. De toute façon, je posterai plus de lui bientôt, bien sûr dans l'anglais. Je posterai des images aussi.

Avoir un bon jour.

Au revoir, mes amis =)

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Ahmed Faraz passed away on Aug 25th. May his soul rest in peace. Here is a ghazal and nazm by him that I've read and like.

سنا ھے لوگ اسے آنکھ بھر کے دیکھتے ھیں
سو اس کے شہر میں کچھ دن ٹھہر کے دیکھتے ھیں

سنا ھے ربط ھے اس کو خراب حالوں سے
سو اپنے آپ کو برباد کرکے دیکھتے ھیں

سنا ھے درد کی گاہک ھے چشم ِ ناز اس کی
سو ھم بھی اس کی گلی سے گزر کے دیکھتے ھیں

سنا ھے اس کو بھی ھے شعر و شاعری سے شغف
سو ھم بھی معجزے اپنے ہنر کے دیکھتے ھیں

سنا ھے بولے تو باتوں سے پھول جھڑتے ھیں
یہ بات ھے تو چلو بات کرکے دیکھتے ھیں

سنا ھے رات اسے چاند تکتا رہتا ھے
ستارے بام ِ فلک سے اتر کے دیکھتے ھیں

سنا ھے حشر ھیں اس کی غزال سی آنکھیں
سنا ھے اس کو ہرن دشت بھر کے دیکھتے ھیں

سناھے دن کواسے تتلیاں ستاتی ھیں
سنا ھے رات کو جگنو ٹھہر کے دیکھتے ھیں

سنا ھے رات سے بڑھ کر ھیں کاکلیں اس کی
سنا ھے رات کو سائے گزر کے دیکھتے ھیں

سنا ھے اس کی سیاہ چشمگی قیامت ھے
سو اس کو سرمہ فروش آنکھ بھر کے

سنا ھے اس کے لبوں سے گلاب جلتے ھیں
سو ھم بہار پہ الزام دھر کے دیکھتے ھیں

سنا ھے آئینہ ِ تمثال ھے جبیں اس کی
جو سادہ دل ھیں بن سنور کے دیکھتے ھیں

سنا ھے جب سے حمائل ھیں اس کی گردن میں
مزاج اور ھی لعل و گوھر کے دیکھتے ھیں

سنا ھے چشم ِ تصور سے دشت امکاں میں
پلنگ زاویے اس کی کمر کے دیکھتے ھیں

سنا ھے اس کے جسم کی تراش ایسی ھے
کہ پھول اپنی قبائیں کتر کے دیکھتے ھیں

وہ سرو قد ھے مگر بے گل ِ مراد نہیں
کہ اس شجر پہ شگوفے ثمر کے دیکھتے ھیں

بس اک نگاہ سے لٹتا ھے قافلہ دل کا
سو رہروانِ ِ تمنا بھی ڈر کے دیکھتے ھیں

سنا ھے اس کے شبستاں سے متصل ھے بہشت
مکیں ادھر کے بھی جلوے ادھر دیکھتے ھیں

رکے تو گردشیں اس کا طواف کرتی ھیں
چلے تو اس کو زمانے ٹھہر کے دیکھتے ھیں

کہانیاں ھی صحیح، سب مبالغے ھی صحیح
اگر وہ خواب ھے، تعبیر کرکے دیکھتے ھیں

اب اس کے شہر میں ٹھریں کہ ُکوچ کر جائیں
فراز آؤ ستارے سفر کے دیکھتے ھیں

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And this nazm "Bhali si aik shakal thi"

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بھلے دنوں کی بات ھے
بھلی سی ایک شکل تھی
نہ یہ کہ حسنِ ِتام ھو
نہ دیکھنے میں عام سی

نہ یہ کہ وہ چلے تو
کہکشاں سی رہگزر لگے
مگر وہ ساتھ ھو تو پھر
بھلا بھلا سفر لگے

کوئی بھی ُرت ھو اس کی چھب
فضا کا رنگ روپ تھی
وہ گرمیوں کی چھاؤں تھی
وہ سردیوں کی دھوپ تھی

نہ مدتوں جدا رھے
نہ ساتھ صبح و شام ھو
نہ رشتہ ِ وفا پہ ضد
نہ یہ کہ اذن ِ عام ھو

نہ ایسی خوش لباسیاں
کہ سادگی ِگلا کرے
نہ اتنی بے تکلّفی
کہ آئینہ حیا کرے

نہ اختلاط میں وہ رم
کہ بدمزہ ھوں خواہشیں
نہ اس قدر سپردگی
کہ زچ کریں نوازشیں

نہ عاشقی جنون کی
کہ زندگی عذاب ھو
نہ اس قدر کٹھور پن
کہ دوستی خراب ھو

کبھی تو بات بھی خفی
کبھی سکوت بھی سخن
کبھی تو کشتِ زعفراں
کبھی اداسیوں کا بن

سنا ھے ایک عمر ھے
معاملات ِ دل کی بھی
وصال ِ جاں فضا تو کیا
فراق ِ جانگسل کی بھی

سو ایک روز کیا ھوا
وفا پہ بحث چِھڑ گئی
میں عشق کو امر کہوں
وہ میری ضد سے چڑ گئی

میں عشق کا اسیر تھا
وہ عشق کو قفس کہے
کہ عمر بھر کے ساتھ کو
وہ بد تر از ہوس کہے

“شجر حجر نہیں کہ ھم
ھمیش پہ بہ ُگل رہیں
نہ ڈھور ھیں کہ رسیاں
گلے میں مستقل رھیں

محبتوں کی وسعتیں
ھمارے دست و پا میں ھیں
بس ایک در سے نسبتیں
سگان ِ بے وفا میں ھیں

میں کوئی پینٹنگ نہیں
کہ اک فریم میں رھوں
وھی جو من کا ِمیت ھو
اسی کے پریم میں رھوں

تمھاری سوچ جو بھی ھو
میں اس مزاج کی نہیں
مجھے وفا سے َبیر ھے
یہ بات آج کی نہیں“

نہ اس کو مجھ پہ مان تھا
نہ مجھ کو اس پہ زعم ھی
جو عہد ھی کوئی نہ ھو
تو کیا غم ِشکستگی

سو اپنا اپنا راستہ
ھنسی خوشی بدل لیا
وہ اپنی راہ چل پڑی
میں اپنی راہ چل دیا

بھلی سی ایک شکل تھی
بھلی سی اس کی دوستی
اب اس کی یاد رات دن
نہیں، مگر کبھی کبھی



Cheerio folks

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The Pakistani Spectator e-mailed Dinky Mind and asked if they could interview her. Dinky Mind didn't mind in being interviewed by such nice people, so she responded to their questions. What she didn't know was that this interview would be published by them on their website! *Haye!*

Here's the interview =) Enjoy reading her foolish replies :P

Cheerio folks =)

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Biya has gifetd me "The Kite Runner". The whole world has already read it and I'd be reading it now. But I so much wanted to read a good book, so I'm quite thankful to her :) Will start reading it tonight. And I'd make sure I keep a good bowl full of cashew nuts (or chocolates) and a big mug of coffee when I plan to read that book. Books should be read that way, according to me :P

Today, my boss gave me Galaxy. It's one good chocolate (just take out the raisins from it) after Dairy Milk (Pakistan wali nahi, it doesn't taste that good) and Snickers. Hersheys Hugs and Kisses and Ferrero Rochers are just tooooo good. Ufff, chocolates are a blessing. And licking chocolate is more fun than taking a big bite. Even if you take a bite, let it melt in your mouth. Enjoy the taste. I do that. I mean when I'm alone (or with Jaj, Ossy and Ritz), I lick it (cuz we are equally insane). And when I'm with other people, I just take a big bite and let it melt for a good ten minutes in my mouth :)

I prefer having whole milk chocolates, but nutty chocolates are also liked by nutty me. One day Ritz and I had this huge pyramid of 1-metre long Toblerone (we both got a separate pyramid). Jaj's fiance (now hubby) brought her that Toblerone plus other assorted chocolates, and she, not being a chocoholic, distributed them among us three (Ritz, Me, and Ossy). Ritz and I, after wrapping our shares, had cut pieces from Ossy's share and then we gave him his share :D. One should have such friends :P cuz meanie me can't share chocolates that easily :P

Ritz and I once had really yummy whole milk Swiss chocolates. I dont remember the name, but it was a bit bigger than a coin and tasted heavenly. My Dad's colleague, who has returned to US, sends us Hershey's Miniature chocolates, and Hershey's Hugs and Kisses. In the Miniature Choco's packet, I always loved Krackel (the rice one)..and Mr. Goodbar (the peanut one)...and the Milk Chocolate The Silver one). So, what's left? The Dark Chocolate. Nah, me not a big fan of dark chocolate.

Oh, and how can I forget how I inhale chocolate syrup. Yes, when Momma brings home a bottle of Chocolate Syrup, I'm the first one to attack it. I slurp many spoons full of it every day. I'm the kind who, if feels hungry at 2 am, would get out of bed, go the kitchen, and licks a spoonful of choclate syrup or chocolate spread, whichever is available.

My cousin, Tuba, is not a big fan of chocolates. She's rather not a fan of chocolates. She doesn't like chocolates at all, and she doesn't know why :D So, she when I visit her, she gives me all the yummy chocolates that her dad brings. And in return she pulls my cheeks! Such an unfair saza. When I protest, she says, "I give you chocolates, so be quiet now!" :D And then I quickly keep the chocos in my bag, cover my painful cheeks and run away :D

On my birthday, big bro gave me a box of Girl Scouts Thin Mints Cookies. Without reading "Thin Mints", I quickly opened the pack and picked out the nice choco-coated cookie. It was good if there was only chocolate and no minty flavor in it :( but I ate them :) just a few of them actually. And asked my bro to kindly give me chocolates next time :D

Ahhh, so this was my choco story. I do sometimes say I'm not a chocoholic, but I say that when I'm out of choco stock. When I've got loadsa chocs with me, I don't want anybody to be in the radius of 10 metres from me! Jes jes, meano me :P

Cheerio folks =)

PS: I'm having a tooth ache now :( And my visit to the dentist is also due. And he always asks if I have refrained myself from chocos and all the meetha stuff. And I always lie! *sigh* Mein sudharney waaloun mein se nahi!!!

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Yesterday was my birthday and now I'm 18 and a half years old :)


Saturday night, we were out for dinner and I so much hoped to return home before midnight so I could answer those birthday wishes calmly. But we reached home around 12:10 am and by that time I had recieved some 10-15 sms and 3 calls, plus birthday hugs from my parents and siblings :) Had a long convo with Jaj who called me around 12:30! Was too tired so slept early (around 1:45 am) :P When I woke up, there were some 8-10 more sms, and a few missed calls, plus 2 cards on my bedside. Although it wasn't cloudy but I was happy :) Bro had arranged a lunch for us on his ship, PNS Tariq. [Yeah, it's "his" ship, and "his" navy! :D Afterall, he's the NavO]. I went onboard a ship after a long time. Although cameras were not allowed, still I took mine and clicked many pictures. We first went in the wardroom, kept stuff there, had juices and then went out and walked through the narrow, meandering corridors to the deck. Saw a few people fishing there too.


Then we went to the operations' room. Took loadsa pics, although there were a few maps labeled "Confidential", so I didn't take their pictures ;) But this compass was looking so cool, I couldn't resist taking its picture. Check out the tiny toony lamp on it :) Looks so cute na? For more pictures, check out my flickr. The kids had so much fun there. They were struggling to sit on CO's and XO's chairs, which were quite high. But there were their-size chairs too :) Yep, so tiny that it seemed that they were made for Aashoo and Abeer.

After spending a lot of time over there, we went back to the Wardroom to have lunch (around 3:30 pm). I was the head of the table :P I was the special guest :D And according to table manners (more suitably, the Naval rules), no-one started their lunch before I did :P It was fun. There were such yummy prawn and fish in lunch. Ahhhh, the lunch was very really very yummy. And did I tell you there were parathas and not roti? Hehe, yep, probably the chef knew that that chief guest doesn't eat roti :P

After lunch, we had tea and juices again. Before leaving for a boat ride, we were given caps as souvenir. Then we wore those much-needed caps and walked towards the sun-lit MS Jetty, where a boat was waiting for us. That boat encountered some problem, so we waited for another boat to come. It arrived after 15-20 minutes, and in that time, we started fishing. We took a fishing rod from this guy who had 2 of them. But before we could catch any fish, our boat was there. I have always enjoyed jumping from the jetty stairs on to the boat, and from that to another one :) And yesterday the same happened.

I am actually the restless one (after Bushi) who keeps on hopping here and there to get all possible views. So when the boat ride began, I took out my camera and started taking photos, although it's strictly prohibited, but who cares. Aashoo, Abeer, Bushi and Umar sat on the tiny deck of that boat. Later I also climbed somehow and sat there :) It was ultimate fun. I so much wanted to take off my shoes, and sit with my feet touching the sea water, but couldn't as the green metal bars were quite away from the boundary of the boat (and I couldn't have sat without holding them). Uff, how much I wished to have a little more tall height. Haye qismat! In this picture is Aashoo and Bushi, and Ammi's and Biya's hand. Aray, at one moment there was such strong wind that Biya's cap flew and fell in the sea :) Then the guards tried to pick it out with the help of a long wooden bar with a hook on one end but they couldn't, and the cap drowned. Lol. After an enjoyable boat ride of some 45 minutes, we headed back home.

Was so tired that I had my special dinner, of Maggie Noodles, and slept around 11 pm :)

Cheerio folks =)

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سائنسدانوں نے اپنی طرف سے یہ بری خبر سنائی ھے کہ ھر بڑے شہر کی ھوا میں
ایک دن سانس لینا دو پیکٹ سگریٹ پینے کے برابر ھوگا حالانکہ اس سے اچھی خبر اور کیا ھوگی کہ ھم مفت میں روزانہ دو ڈبی سگریٹ پیتے ھیں۔ مجھے تو گاؤں کی صاف ھواؤں میں رھنے والے لوگوں سے بڑی ھمدردی ھے جو اس نعمت سے محروم ھیں۔ بس اگر کوئی ڈر ھے تو وہ یہ ھے کہ کہیں حکومت بڑے شہروں میں سانس لینے پر ٹیکس نہ لگا دے۔ اب تو ھم گھر سے نکلتے ھوئے یہ بتلا کے جاتے ھیں کہ دو کش انارکلی کے لگانے جا رھا ھوں۔ یہی نہیں کوئی پوچھے گا کہ آپ کو لاھور آئے کتنی دیر ھوئی؟ تو دوسرا جواب دے گا “آدھی ڈبی ھو گئی، ایک ڈبی کا قیام کروں گا“۔

سگریٹ پینے سے جو مالی نقصان ھوتا تھا، وہ بھی نہ ھو گا۔ میرے ایک جاننے والے
نے سگریٹ نوشی سے پیسے بچانے کا یہ طریقہ نکالا تھا کہ وہ ھمیشہ سگریٹ سے سگریٹ سلگاتا، یوں ماچس کا خرچ بچتا۔ اس سے پہلے ایک سردار جی بھی ایسا کر چکے تھے کہ اس طرح ماچسوں پر رقم ضائع نہیں ھوتی کیونکہ سردار جی کو لائٹر جلانے کے لئے کئی ماچسیں جلانی پڑتی تھیں۔

انگریز ھم پر سگریٹ کے زور پر حکومت کر گئے کیونکہ پہلے حقہ تھا۔ سب لوگ اس کے گرد ھالہ بنا کر بیٹھتے اور ایک ھی حقہ یوں مل کر پیتے کہ لگتا یہ ایک ھی جسم کے مختلف منہ ھیں ۔ مگر انگریز نے انہیں سگریٹ تھما کر علیحدہ علیحدہ کر دیا ۔ سگریٹ بڑوں کی چوسنی ھے جسے وہ سمجھتے ھیں کہ ھم چوس رھے ھیں حالانکہ وہ انہیں چوس رھی ھوتی ھے ۔



Taken from Dr. Younus Butt's Afra Tafreeh.

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A berry Happy Birthday to my dearest, shweetest Momma :) I made for her a birthday card and gave it to her at midnight. I usually keep the card in the lounge or on her side-table at night and when in the morning she sees it, she comes to kiss sleepy Mammy :) But last night, we were awake till 23:30. Evil moi woke her up at midnight and presented her the card :) Me glad she liked it :) I so much wanted to post pictures of the card, but just yesterday my room was gifted with a new book shelf, so now everything (books + PC) is on my bed. Hence, I failed to transfer photos from my phone to the PC. Tonight I'd try to fix everything (only if I get time).

Well, before going home now, I'd first go to buy her a gift :D I just pray she likes it. Will post the pics tomorrow or day after. *sigh* yeh PC bhee na... Aray, I have to bake a cake for her as well. I must ask my boss to let me leave early today :$

*prayers needed*

Cheerio folks =)

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Let us divide the word 'preoccupation' into two parts - pre-occupation, that is, occupying your mind with something before it actually happens. This is what worrying is: trying to resolve problems that have not even had time to appear; imagining that things, when they do happen, will always turn out for the worst.

Naturally there are exceptions. One of them is the hero of this little story.

An old king of India condemned a man to the gallows. When the king had finished reading the sentence, the condemned man said:

'You are a wise man, Your Majesty, and curious about everything that your subjects do. You respect gurus, sages, snake-charmers and fakirs. Well, when I was a child, my grandfather taught me how to make a white horse fly. Since there is no one else in the whole kingdom who knows how to do this, my life should be spared.'

The king immediately ordered a white horse to be brought.

'I need to spend two years with this animal,' said the condemned man.

'All right, you will have two years,' replied the king, already somewhat suspicious. 'But if this horse does not learn to fly, you will be hanged.'

Overjoyed, the man left with the horse. When he reached his house, he found his whole family in tears.

'Are you mad?' they all cried. 'Since when has anyone in this house known how to make a horse fly?'

'Don't worry,' he said. 'First of all, no one has ever tried to teach a horse to fly, and the horse might well learn. Secondly, the king is already very old and he might die in the next two years. Thirdly, the horse might die and then I'll be given another two years to teach the new horse - not to mention the possibility of revolutions, coups d'état and general amnesties. And even if everything remains exactly as it is, I will still have gained two years of life with which I can do anything I like. Does that seem little to you?'


[If you want other such stories, email me] :)

Cheerio folks =)

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