There have been great men who have inspired me or have had a great impact in making the person I am today. I am very open in giving credit to where its due and have written about the great contribution my grandpa has made to my life on multiple occasions.
What I have not written about is the woman behind this great man. This post that I am going to write about is my grandma, my mother's mother and the woman behind the success of my grandpa, his soulmate.
I woke at 3:30am this morning and couldn't put myself back to sleep. I was a bit confused as to why that is so. The body is dead tired after a 14 hour day at work the day before, it just didn't make sense.
As I lay on my bed figuring out the disturbance, what I realized was that there was something bothering me. Enough to keep me up. After wasting about 15 minutes, I realized it was my grandma's illness. She has reached a very old age now and is passing through the toughest part of our lives, the fag end of it. Without going into details, she is in a lot of pain at the moment and I had tried to shut myself out from the thought but obviously it was bothering me enough subconsiously. Pray for her.
As soon as I realized the reason, I got thinking on my good times spent with her. Her thankless job of taking care of everybody. When I say everybody, it wasn't just her kids and grandkids. My grandma is from the generation who was taught the true basics of social behavior.
The human is a giver first before being a taker. Taking that simple life lesson and applying it in practice is the simple message that my grandma had to show us. When you see how it's done in front of you, you realize its possible and thats how it should be done. Obviously, in this age of competition, we forget the ethics at times in the effort of getting everything that we want. We think we deserve everything even if it means taking it away from somebody who may need it more, realistically speaking.
Raising 6 children, living through tough times most of her life, yet taking care of her children, her brother's children, the neighbour's children, her siblings, her generation above, her generation below. It would be difficult to count the people who can't get away without giving credit to her contribution to their life. She has made potential nobodies into great somebodies. I know people who would have ended up in orphanages if it weren't for her extended motherhood role.
My grandpa was a straightforward man. He would call a spade a spade and let the world know about it. Unfortunately, such people are not amongst the favourite list of most people and he had many of his career setbacks because of this overly honest attitude. He didn't ever call them setbacks but that is a different topic. The point I want to make is that the tough life that followed due to the decisions my grandpa made in life were just as tough for my grandma as well.
Bringing children through that and making them realize the goodness and life lessons from that is what my grandma did. She always taught them the lesson of keeping together as a family and building tolerance for each other's differences in opinions. This was more important than anything else that happens around you. At times, she didn't have as much as power or control as she would have liked to keep the children together but I know it was her will behind my grandpa's similar mission of driving togetherness. Being the head of the family he was able to influence some authority over the kids but unfortunately after his death the kids took over.
While I may become the bad guy in the family for saying this but some of her old age miseries may be related to how her kids dispersed into their own lives not being able to keep the family together. Something that she and my grandpa may have agreed to never let happen in their marriage vows without explicitly saying it. Distances between siblings has led to larger distances between their children, my cousins, and it would naturally continue to extend as further generations come through. It is kinda unfortunate that she had to see this in her life after working so hard to keep the family together by teaching all the basics right to everybody. Pretty sad that she had to see what she tried to build all through her life, simply fall apart or rather breakdown, in the end.
Sometimes we dont realize the role the woman has to play in society. A mother can make or break a whole society. We do pick up a lot of traits from our mothers and their teachings go into what we would teach our children and it would continue for generations to come.
As I see her suffer through the toughest of old age ailments, I wish for her speedy recovery and may Allah make her stronger in will, not that she is any shortness of it, and may He make it easier for her to return back to her normal self.
Salute and bow to a great woman.
Showing posts with label Good Old Days. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Good Old Days. Show all posts
The Day when I grew up...
It was back in Grade 6, Karachi High School and the new academic year starting in August 1992. We had moved to the Secondary section by crossing over from Class 5. It was a very small school hence it shouldn't have been a big deal if a 20 odd children moved on to secondary section cos nothing "really" changed. Its not like we moved to another location altogether or a different block.
Of course there was the convocation/graduation ceremony...hehe...yeah we used to have a convocation when we moved (graduated) from KG to 1 and 5 to 6 and then from 10 to moving out of school. 3 convocations in my life at School. Our principal was really interested in seeing kids in their gowns and square caps.
Anyway, going off topic. The biggest change from Grade 5 to Grade 6 was the change in uniform. Long Sleeves and Trousers. It was such a big change to wear trousers even in Summers. I was one of the children with a better than average height and it was embarrassing wearing shorts almost all year long.
The even bigger change...was the TIE. Yes people, this post is about the day I learnt how to TIE the TIE. Tie the knot...umm...no that was much later...how do you say this...? Tie the TIE...ok whatever...
See, with the long sleeves and the trousers came the big switch. Its not really a big change from short sleeve to long sleeve because you still wear the shirt the same way. There is also not a big difference in the switch from shorts to trousers because you wear them the same way. The only difference being that your legs come out much earlier in the shorts than the trouser.
The significant change is the switch from the ELASTIC TIE to the Full TIE. The one that needs the knot. No longer some bully pulling on your elastic tie. No more playing elephant by pulling up the tie to the nose. It was the day, I grew up, a little more.
The first day, when I was going to school in the new wardrobe, I didn't know how to do it. Tie the TIE. My mom didn't either and my father wasn't around, well he usually wasn't around for such little yet important stuff. His work was away from home most time of the year. My sweet mom, tried her best to get some kind of a knot through so that at least it is not embarrassing but couldn't manage. Finally, she said go and learn from one of your friends. Somebody would know.
So, little UTP, all sad but in a crisp new uniform reached school with no TIE around his neck. I was assuming there would many other like me and there were. But there were many other unlike me who actually knew how to do it. Some had really nice triangle (samosas...) knots who had jealous people around them. Girls talked to them more on the day just to talk about how they tie their knot. I mean it was the talk of the day. We were the outsiders cos we didn't know how to look smart.
In comes Abid Nisar. I want to write the name of my best friend (from the school days) here. This guy was a genius, one of those all-rounders. Studies, extra curricular, sports etc. He was in everything and...of course he knew how to get the perfection in tie-knotting. I didn't even have to plead. He knew how I was feeling and he left the swarm of girls around him and came and helped me out. He was patient and taught me the single as well as double knot. Then all I needed was practice and I became pretty good at it in a few days.
And that was the day I grew up. That was what was the actual transition to 6th grade. Learning to tie the knot. I mean...TIE the TIE-KNOT. How do you say this?
I am amazed to end this post by saying what a wonderful feeling of achievement that was. At that time, those were the little achievements that made the day. Those were the little happiness moments that I still cherish. Why has all that changed? I wanted to tie my tie every morning then. I now keep my ties all knotted up and while taking them off I don't break the knot. I don't have time in the morning to spend time in making a tie knot. I wonder why? When it was one of the most important things to do back then.
Similar was learning how to tie shoelaces...but I ll keep that story for another day. I ll give you a preview though...I DIDNT learn...heheh. I went for the Velcro shoes almost all through school and still avoid laced shoes. But that will be another day and another story.
Of course there was the convocation/graduation ceremony...hehe...yeah we used to have a convocation when we moved (graduated) from KG to 1 and 5 to 6 and then from 10 to moving out of school. 3 convocations in my life at School. Our principal was really interested in seeing kids in their gowns and square caps.
Anyway, going off topic. The biggest change from Grade 5 to Grade 6 was the change in uniform. Long Sleeves and Trousers. It was such a big change to wear trousers even in Summers. I was one of the children with a better than average height and it was embarrassing wearing shorts almost all year long.
The even bigger change...was the TIE. Yes people, this post is about the day I learnt how to TIE the TIE. Tie the knot...umm...no that was much later...how do you say this...? Tie the TIE...ok whatever...
See, with the long sleeves and the trousers came the big switch. Its not really a big change from short sleeve to long sleeve because you still wear the shirt the same way. There is also not a big difference in the switch from shorts to trousers because you wear them the same way. The only difference being that your legs come out much earlier in the shorts than the trouser.
The significant change is the switch from the ELASTIC TIE to the Full TIE. The one that needs the knot. No longer some bully pulling on your elastic tie. No more playing elephant by pulling up the tie to the nose. It was the day, I grew up, a little more.
The first day, when I was going to school in the new wardrobe, I didn't know how to do it. Tie the TIE. My mom didn't either and my father wasn't around, well he usually wasn't around for such little yet important stuff. His work was away from home most time of the year. My sweet mom, tried her best to get some kind of a knot through so that at least it is not embarrassing but couldn't manage. Finally, she said go and learn from one of your friends. Somebody would know.
So, little UTP, all sad but in a crisp new uniform reached school with no TIE around his neck. I was assuming there would many other like me and there were. But there were many other unlike me who actually knew how to do it. Some had really nice triangle (samosas...) knots who had jealous people around them. Girls talked to them more on the day just to talk about how they tie their knot. I mean it was the talk of the day. We were the outsiders cos we didn't know how to look smart.
In comes Abid Nisar. I want to write the name of my best friend (from the school days) here. This guy was a genius, one of those all-rounders. Studies, extra curricular, sports etc. He was in everything and...of course he knew how to get the perfection in tie-knotting. I didn't even have to plead. He knew how I was feeling and he left the swarm of girls around him and came and helped me out. He was patient and taught me the single as well as double knot. Then all I needed was practice and I became pretty good at it in a few days.
And that was the day I grew up. That was what was the actual transition to 6th grade. Learning to tie the knot. I mean...TIE the TIE-KNOT. How do you say this?
I am amazed to end this post by saying what a wonderful feeling of achievement that was. At that time, those were the little achievements that made the day. Those were the little happiness moments that I still cherish. Why has all that changed? I wanted to tie my tie every morning then. I now keep my ties all knotted up and while taking them off I don't break the knot. I don't have time in the morning to spend time in making a tie knot. I wonder why? When it was one of the most important things to do back then.
Similar was learning how to tie shoelaces...but I ll keep that story for another day. I ll give you a preview though...I DIDNT learn...heheh. I went for the Velcro shoes almost all through school and still avoid laced shoes. But that will be another day and another story.
Remembering friends via NICKNAMES
Ever wondered how many Nicknames we had around us when we were in university or school. I don't know how many of the people who come read here have gone through the university level but I think the majority have or are going through it. For those who haven't as yet, this post is something to look forward to in your lives. Nicknames are something that become easy to remember names and you also feel cool if you have a nickname. Today, I will dedicate this post to the great nicknames of people I had around me at my university or school level. Read further and enjoy,
UTP - Of course it starts with me. Sammity Sam, Robot, Jheenga, Chitta, KK, Towel, ShamsooBaba, Kawwa, Bha (Chaddi), Qazi, Kamany, Choudhary, ZeeZee, Mama, Quetta, Chacha, AslamBhai, Baba, Ghora, BaaziKabootar, Kakajani, Bambi, Dexter, Denver, Choops, Fido, Faddo, Nikka, Kami, Etchkoobi, Fadi, Commandoo, Zubbee....
Its amazing, the names we can come up with and they stay forever. You can actually forget their real names.
It becomes embarrassing for the ones like Towel for example who I actually met in a mall while he was with some international office colleagues. The poor guy blushed when I said TOWEL...how are you man? He mumbled...use my name, use my name...and honestly it took a while to remember his real name...
Another case was when I called up Jheenga at his office and it suddenly hit me during the first ring that what if hedoesnt pick up? What would I say....I want to talk to Jheenga....heheh...thank God it was him who picked up and saved the day....
I was lucky I got a sober nickname which was actually given by a teacher & friend of mine. So UTP almost sounds like a brand name...hehehe I wish...it were....I could be making enough money....to buy that Mercedes convertible I have my eyes on hehehe....but you never know...it might just become a brand name in the future...it has the ring & rhyme to it...no lack of potential here...
UTP - Of course it starts with me. Sammity Sam, Robot, Jheenga, Chitta, KK, Towel, ShamsooBaba, Kawwa, Bha (Chaddi), Qazi, Kamany, Choudhary, ZeeZee, Mama, Quetta, Chacha, AslamBhai, Baba, Ghora, BaaziKabootar, Kakajani, Bambi, Dexter, Denver, Choops, Fido, Faddo, Nikka, Kami, Etchkoobi, Fadi, Commandoo, Zubbee....
Its amazing, the names we can come up with and they stay forever. You can actually forget their real names.
It becomes embarrassing for the ones like Towel for example who I actually met in a mall while he was with some international office colleagues. The poor guy blushed when I said TOWEL...how are you man? He mumbled...use my name, use my name...and honestly it took a while to remember his real name...
Another case was when I called up Jheenga at his office and it suddenly hit me during the first ring that what if hedoesnt pick up? What would I say....I want to talk to Jheenga....heheh...thank God it was him who picked up and saved the day....
I was lucky I got a sober nickname which was actually given by a teacher & friend of mine. So UTP almost sounds like a brand name...hehehe I wish...it were....I could be making enough money....to buy that Mercedes convertible I have my eyes on hehehe....but you never know...it might just become a brand name in the future...it has the ring & rhyme to it...no lack of potential here...
A FAST-friend's GET Together
It had been so long since some FAST friends had got together in one spot to enjoy a few laughs and memories...life is just so busy it seems. Anyway, I had decided on EID that there is going to be a get-together and its gonna be my place...and so it was...
With invitations sent out via email/sms...it was set 7th Jan 2007, 5:00pm Hi Tea...my place...
I havent got a big place at hand so was only able to invite 25 odd people. 20 were expected only 14 came. Anyway, it was enjoyable to see all of them at one place, hopefully they had a bit of change as well. Unfortunately, it wasnt really a catching-up-on-old-times event which I had imagined it to be. It was more of a whats-up-these-days event....and of course the occasional leg-pulling here and there...
My wife was at her best...with her hunter-beef sandwiches, cholas, brownie cake (yummy!) and the best coffee in the world. Some friends even had a second round of coffee...
The best part of the evening for me was seeing all of my friends grown up a bit...from the last time we met like this at my place....exactly 5 years back on 7th Jan 2002. The last 5 years changed us a lot...and it was showing... There were the same old crude jokes and the squeaky laughter that one of my friend is really famous for... but overall there was hint of maturity (finally) ...heheh...on everyone ....
We all have moved on in our lives...and though there is a definite missing of the old days some where...I think there is more happiness than sorrow and hopefully no regret...none for me at least....Alhumdulillah...
May we all be able to pursue our dreams, do things for our parents & siblings & family according to the teachings of Allah....and still be able to remain in touch...Aameen...
Tribute to all my friends....."Friends Forever"....Inshallah...
With invitations sent out via email/sms...it was set 7th Jan 2007, 5:00pm Hi Tea...my place...
I havent got a big place at hand so was only able to invite 25 odd people. 20 were expected only 14 came. Anyway, it was enjoyable to see all of them at one place, hopefully they had a bit of change as well. Unfortunately, it wasnt really a catching-up-on-old-times event which I had imagined it to be. It was more of a whats-up-these-days event....and of course the occasional leg-pulling here and there...
My wife was at her best...with her hunter-beef sandwiches, cholas, brownie cake (yummy!) and the best coffee in the world. Some friends even had a second round of coffee...
The best part of the evening for me was seeing all of my friends grown up a bit...from the last time we met like this at my place....exactly 5 years back on 7th Jan 2002. The last 5 years changed us a lot...and it was showing... There were the same old crude jokes and the squeaky laughter that one of my friend is really famous for... but overall there was hint of maturity (finally) ...heheh...on everyone ....
We all have moved on in our lives...and though there is a definite missing of the old days some where...I think there is more happiness than sorrow and hopefully no regret...none for me at least....Alhumdulillah...
May we all be able to pursue our dreams, do things for our parents & siblings & family according to the teachings of Allah....and still be able to remain in touch...Aameen...
Tribute to all my friends....."Friends Forever"....Inshallah...
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