What Is Happiness?

Happiness is laughing so hard with your friends, you get a severe pain in your abdomen. Happiness is studying hard for a test and

come out passing with flying colours. Happiness is lots of cats. Happiness is reading your book of choice in your very own bed. Happiness is coming home and be greeted by your fur-baby. Happiness is understanding something in class. Happiness is finding out someone praised you behind your back. Happiness is talking to your best friend after 2 weeks. Happiness is finding out your crush liked your photo on facebook. Happiness is just standing and staring at your book collection, feeling over whelmed by your love for books. Happiness is eating your favorite cuisine. Happiness is opening the kitchen cabinet and finding that left-over packet of Cheetos. Happiness is petting that cute, feral kitten playing outside your house. Happiness could be anything. But the most important thing is, it should come from within you. 

The Day I Failed.

The Day I Failed. It sounds a bit synonymous to The Day The Earth Stood Still. Or the Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Or Failures. Well, the earth did stand still for a second or two for me when I realized that I had failed. Not just my exams but my parents, my family. The realization that I will have to crack open yet again the never-ending syllabus and study while all my other friends are out celebrating their good results. The epiphany of facing college (read Azkaban), the stares and the whispers and the none too quick to appear questions about my grades, the quizzical looks at me *Seriously, YOU got failed*, the never-ending litany of barrage directed towards me and yes, the Earth was completely still at that time but my legs just didn't co-operate. I got into bed and cried my heart out; for all the hard-work that I had put in, the expectations of my family, the happier days, the wishes I had so needlessly asked Him. I cried so much I was hiccuping badly, feeling desperately sorry for myself. And suddenly, I didn't want to cry anymore. I didn't feel sad or even ashamed. The truth was out and sooner or later I had to accept it. I had failed. And no amount of tears shed were going to change this fact.
I lay in bed, my will to get up had disappeared. Wanting to avoid a confrontation, I informed my aunt by text. Seemed like a harmless thing to do *Hey! You know about that exam I gave in January? Evidently, I did not pass. Sincerely, your daughter who tries too hard* I lost track of time after that.
She came up the stairs to my room, where I lay on my bed like unflushed piss "Janu kuch nai hota. Bhool jao isko (This doesn't matter. Forget about it). This isn't the end of the world." While she was saying this I searched her eyes for disappointment, chagrin, anything. But all I saw was disappointment for me. For all my hard work and drudgery and the battle that I was still fighting. When she went away, I cried for the last time. But not for the aftermath of my exams, but for the love and support I could always accept from my family. Always.Thus, swallowing the bitter pill, I must learn something from a 13-year old cover girl, Talia, who on being asked about living with cancer said when she was still alive;

                                 "Well, a little fish told me to just keep swimming."

Crushed.........Again!

     You are walking peacefully down the road one day, minding no one else's business but yours when you are hit by a ghasting force of beguine by none other than that sleazy looking grocers boy you see every day. Yup, you are crushed, spun around in that hypnotic web of infatuation with no means to get out. You're trapped. But as we know time is the healer of all wounds so there is nothing for you to do but wait in your heart-thumping cage. Isn't this situation a bit similar with people particularly teenagers? After the long-fated crush ends, you wonder how could you ever get a crush on that thing? *I must have been out of my mind!* But, for some not-so-fortunate ones, this flame of fire does not extinguish and they are fated to pine over their beloved.
     Where is this word derived from? In literal terms, when we say we have "fallen for somebody", it means we have fallen so hard and "crushed" ourselves OVER them. In our daily lives, we usually get crushed at least once a day. Let it be that suave and good looking news caster or that cute actor or even some long-distance cousin or that stupid class-mate. For some non-committal ones, this torch lights not so often. But when it does then BAM! Watch out for the explosion!
      Sometimes it happens that a crush does not go away. It remains there like a stubborn piece of left over cake. Sometimes you laugh secretly to yourself over your stupidity and complete agility over some nincompoop. And sometimes you sit singing in the private corners of your heart, thinking you have finally fallen into love. But, why am I going on and on like this over some hormone-based malpractice? Its not really a serious topic and neither is discussing about it going to do something for the world. So why do we discuss it? Possibly owing to the course of adrenaline that rushes through our body at the image of our crush? Or the fact that your friends are going to tease you now by the letter of his first name? (or her, boys too have crushes you know -_-).
It's all the bloody hormones that make you go crazy at times!
So whenever you feel crushed, take a deep breath and remind your self, there are people dying of hunger and being killed. Your issue isn't quite serious. Or is it?

   

Dr Jekyll or Mr Hyde?!

 There comes a time once or twice if our luck is as bad as our fate, in a week when the dreaded timetable outside the Physiology lab brings us closer to our doom and the rush of your friend's voices finally tells you that your eyesight is perfect, ensuring the presence of the dreaded P.S in your class tomorrow! You must be wondering who this P.S is. No, it does not stand for "Psychotic Sir". His name instead of Sir Perwaiz Sandhela (or is it Sandhila?) is accentuated as P.S for I don't know what reason as in to induce fear in our heart's!
So, when this day arrives all the kids are seen huddled up in the middle of every bench, no one is very eager to sit at the corners to risk getting their face slapped or ears pinched.Physiology books are open in the Anatomy class and the students pretend to listen to the origin of Deltoid while memorizing the functions of cell membrane. At last the dreaded bell rings and a scuffle ensues at the front of the class, all the boys clambering to sit in the middle and the corner seat near the wall or risk getting their ego busted. The ones sitting near the walls are very much hidden with their shoulders hunched up looking like a worn out Hunch Back of Notre Dam. Talking ceases abruptly and whispers die down as the P.S saunters into the class, slithering like a snake and every one who is watching him getting glazed eyes and very eager to see who gets the first knock on the head. The P.S spends most of his time teaching while sitting on the chair and now as he sits down due to the pure relief of the students, sighs are echoed down the benches. Today, he seems to be in a good mood but you can never tell, don't get your hopes high. All through the lecture, students sit in fear. Suddenly he stands up, bequeathing the ground beneath him and demanding an answer from the victim while boxing his ears. In about 10 minutes or so about 5 boys have had their faces slapped and 2 girls have been called the 'off-spring of an owl'( it does not sound insulting but try saying it in Urdu). Like a bull, he ravages the whole class, noticing the flickering red cloth every where and charging upon the wretched prey. Finally after taking the attendance (you have to raise your arm as swiftly as Flash or watch the murderous look on his face) he leaves the class sauntering in his gait and perhaps chuckling to himself, "The fools! One swipe at the head and I've got 'em eating outta my hand!" While, us poor larks have to wait one whole week to see this showdown drama again.....!!

The Dirty Picture

       By now even the smallest kid in every household is aware of the stunt that the famous Veena Malik pulled. It was the first thing I saw when I opened my twitter and FB account's. On twitter while sifting through the never-ending tweet's I found the word 'Pakistani actress' run through my eyes in a tweet by BBC. When I opened the link given next to it, I was shocked. Stunned more like it. At first I could'nt decipher out that was it really VM? Further screams of 'OMG' from PJ downstair's confirmed my fears correctly. I was mulling quite badly about it and showed the picture to my sister who just laughed and said,"Some people will do anything for 15 minutes of fame!". That got me thinking! If people want fame and recognition, is it important to strip of your self-respect?? There are thousands of people famous in this world, did they all generate a 'dirty picture' of themselves to go around from one screen to another? I guess that is what you call 'a naked approval'.
       VM is a grown-up adult. She can do as she pleases. But the picture that she shot was not only about her. It was a disgracing and degrading reflection of Pakistan. Every where on the net the words of 'Pakistani Actress' kept lingering in my mind even after I switched off the computer. I would'nt have cared less if she roamed around the streets in that way but it all comes down to one's nationality. The already tarnished image (I don't know why) of my country has been crushed by VM. All we can really do is pray for her that she opens her eyes (and senses!) one day and realizes what a mess she has created and left behind her. Or rather.....the clothes she has left behind!

A New Year!

It's wonderful how time really flies by. We grow up minute by minute, second by second, entering into another era year by year. It's truly invigorating that time has both the attitude of flying away and being there when we need it the most. It neither has the tendency to roam around longer than it should nor does it really fly by when and wherever we want it. We need time to make time. For ourselves and for the people around us. When the 31st of December looms ahead, all the people start making celebrations as if it's their last day on Earth. What we really need to think is, what have we really accomplished this year that needs celebrating? And, sadly for our country, celebrations are a long way ahead. Hard work and success need to come before celebrations. Here, celebrations come first and foremost and the things before it don't come at all. Even if we don't have anything to celebrate, we can just resolute and pray to work harder, better and with dedication for a better life on this Earth as well as for the life Hereafter.
The start of a new year depends greatly on the year to come. We need to spend our time wisely and happily with the people we love. Get a break from your studies or take a day off from work and help your mother in the kitchen or your sibling with a difficult math question or just spend time with them. This will make you happy and you will feel a change in your new year. A new year is not just new because it's the previous year plus one. A new year should be au courant for you that you should do something original this year rather than do the same things all over again. Your class-mate irritates you, tell her. You get hounded by bullies, stand up to them. You dislike your boss, try to intimidate him. This year we should all try to bring some advanced changes in ourselves and our surrounding environment.
Well, this year my new year's list is----->
1) Control my temper [very hard to keep....]
2) Study!......the inevitable....
3) Try to attain a broader view toward's life
4) Try to help other's
5) Just be happy!
Apart from the new year festivities, there is also the rumor or a fact about 21 December haunting peoples minds. Scripted from the Mayan revolutionary religion, people are reciprocating the end of the world aka Dooms Day on the 21st Of December. Maybe it is real, maybe not. Personally, I don't think it's the end of the world this year, because we don't have any idea about Dooms Day or in our terms Qayamat, that is  a secret kept from us by Allah. But, secretly, I do think something big is totally gonna happen on 21/12/2012. Lets wait and see whether we will also have to make a run for the big underwater ships in America........

Against your own will.

There comes a time when your erratic aunt feels the sudden need to visit her very old friend whom she once sat with in school days. And ofcourse you are the person to accompany her. Preparations are made, calling her up (not a very difficult task for your aunt), deciding which day would be best to visit, telling the driver in advance the date and time of your sojourn (which he very needlessly asks) and then you are free to sit down and mull over your decision to go *When did I even agree to go? In my sleep??* but not wanting to depress your aunt and for the sake of her tears, you hange the noose around your neck. Alas, the fated day arrives, you think that you are just making a big deal out of it. Just sit there like a mannequin, smile and nod at the right times and try to look real bored and pass on signals to aunt that its time to go. Easy enough, done that loads of times before.No harm in doing so and if you disagree, there will be much more painful music for your ears to hear, thus you head out the door with her pondering over your examination days. One of your aunts major tasks? Getting lost. Thus, it takes about an hour to reach the destination which could have been done in thirty minutes. You are greeted and then taken into a large living room. Without any furthur ado, your aunt and her friend lapse into a deep discussion which you are certain will not only put you but your cat to sleep. You sit and start dreaming about your crush when the freind asks if you would like anything to drink? "A pepsi would be nice but do bring out some cold pakola if you have any", you would have liked to say out loud but ofcourse can't. Your aunt is pursuading her friend not to bring out anything while you stare in horror at her, trying not to look too obvious *What? One hour in the sweltering heat and nothing to eat in this claustrophobic place? Where is the justice in there??* But fortunately God was on your side and the lady goes into the kitchen to get some refreshments while you grab the chance to tell your aunt to hurry and eat and run!

Expectations grow as the friend takes a long time to come back from the kitchen and you start to feel happy that atleast SOMEthing paid of from this visit but alas! All you eyes greet is a tray carrying biscuits you hate and tea! You never drink tea unless at night to study! You munch on a soggy biscuit while refusing to drink the brown stuff but failing to do so. The lady is literally begging you to eat the sour biscuits, irritatingly *No! I don't wanto to eat them! Why don't you just leave me alone??!*, thus gaining inspiration that you'll never treat your guests the way she does *No fair getting down on your knees, please eat those stale, maggot-ridden biscuits, I've been wanting to get rid of them for so long*. And as my sister says, "Khaao nahin to maar dein gay" (If you don't eat, we'll kill you!)
After masticatiing and with much difficulty, swallowing the inedible stuff and a sip of the scalding, milk-ridden tea, you finally think it's time to go. But not your aunt. Totally ignoring you, she sits like an attentive student towards her friend. You think, she could'nt have paid THIS much attention in class towards the teacher as much as she does now! Just then, perhaps catching a depressed look upon your face, the lady makes an effort to introduce you to her children. You are in no mood for socializing but give way like a defeated barrier. And what is more to boost you? A couple of *whiny and loud* toddlers. What a way to spend a Saturday afternoon! You think you could have had much fun giving an examination than this. And what a thrilling way to torture someone! You think this woman could earn her pocket-money by opening a fresh torture-chamber in her basement. Or was this a method of driving away guests?
At last, the horrendous evening! ended and as you sail away thankfully in the car with your aunt who pipes up, "My! I enjoyed a lot today! Looks like you also got a bit spry and verdant because of the visit! We'll go again next week okay? And you can't help but laugh and laugh and laugh............