An Aquarian

Aquarius is the eleventh sign of the astrological year and is known by its astrological symbol, the Water Bearer. Aquarius individuals are intelligent, progressive and independent. With Uranus as the ruling planet, people born under this sign are free-thinking and unconventional. They will fight avidly for the rights of others.

Likes - friendship, freedom, intellectual stimulation, camaraderie, surprises, heavy drinking, companionship, feeling understood, emotional safety.

Dislikes - jealousy, possessiveness, control, ego plays, pointless meetings, narrow-mindedness, being ridiculed, routines, fighting/violence, inequality, being taken for granted.

The Aquarius Man

Aquarian men may seem distant and unapproachable or warm and welcoming. They have charisma and can draw people to them. Despite their intelligence and creativity, they are not difficult to know. Though dedicated to making their personal lives a success, they are usually focused on something greater. They care about a number of issues -- politics, the environment, the economy -- and believe they can make a difference.

Aquarius Information

Element: Air

Quality: Fixed

Planetary ruler: Uranus

Birthstone: Amethyst

Flower: Orchid

Color: AquaKey

characteristic: Iconoclastic

Strengths: Humanitarian, modern, analytical

Challenges: Unreliable, extremist, chaotic

Aquarians born on February 14

Aquarians born on February 14 are high-strung, interesting people who possess analytical intelligence that allows them to tackle complex problems without losing sight of the practical side issues. Their verbal skills are considerable. They have an edgy charm that makes them irresistible.

You should embrace: Imagination, romance, sophistication

You should avoid: Mental exhaustion, prejudice, false hope

Friends and Lovers

People born on February 14 attract the spotlight. Friendship is easy for them, and so they may not work at it diligently. Romance is another area of life where they shine. They are more likely to fall passionately in love than others of their sign.

Children and Family

February 14 natives often grow up in an unconventional family. As parents, they encourage their children to take chances and follow their own path. Drawing on the best of their upbringing, they provide a creative environment for their youngsters.

Health
Mental stress and strain will have a negative impact on the health of most February 14 people. When relaxed and worry-free, they feel great. But when they experience pressure, they are likely to experience nightmares or sleeplessness, headaches, nausea, or simple fatigue. They aren't devotees of exercise but do enjoy sports.

Career and Finances

People born on February 14 are interested in careers that don't demand too much time and effort. Money is another matter. Even those who don't have financial resources behave as though they were born to the silk. Credit card bills can be a problem if they aren't careful.

Dreams and Goals

February 14 natives are not especially goal-oriented but do have a passion for pursuing their dreams. Their optimism makes them believe that anything worthwhile can -- and eventually will -- happen. If a cherished wish is not fulfilled, they refuse to look at it as a failure or setback; they find another dream to chase.

Message In A Bottle

This is a story of a guy who wrote letters to her dead wife telling her how much he missed her in his life.

Letter 1

Dear Catherine:

I’m sorry I haven't talked to you in so long. I feel I’ve been lost no bearings, no compass. I kept crashing into things, a little crazy, I guess. I’ve never been lost before. You were my true north. I could always steer for home when you were my home. Forgive me for being so angry when you left. I still think some mistake's been made and I’m waiting for God to take it back. But I’m doing better now. The work helps me. Most of all, you help me. You came into my dream last night with that smile that always held me like a lover rocked me like a child. All I remember from the dream is a feeling of peace. I woke up with that feeling and tried to keep it alive as long as I could. I'm writing to tell you that I’m on a journey toward that peace. And to tell you I’m sorry about so many things. I 'm sorry I didn’t take better care of you so you never spent a minute being cold or scared or sick. I'm sorry I didn't try harder to find the words to tell you what I was feeling. I'm sorry I never fixed the screen door. I fixed it now. I'm sorry I ever fought with you. I'm sorry I didn't apologize more. I was too proud. I'm sorry I didn't bring you more compliments on everything you wore and every way you fixed your hair. I'm sorry I didn't hold on to you with so much strength that even God couldn’t pull you away.

Signed, ''All my Love, G. ''

Letter 2

Dear Catherine:

There isn't an hour without you in it. I mend the boats, test them and all the while the memories come in like the tide. I thought today of when we were young and you left our world for a bigger world. I was a lot more scared than I would admit. I fought my fear by telling myself you'd come back someday and trying to think of the first thing I'd say when I saw you again. I must have tried out possibilities. What did I finally say? Not much. My mouth wouldn’t work, except to kiss you. When you said, 'I'm here to stay' that said it all. Well, I'm doing it again. I keep imagining what I'd say to you if somehow you came back.

Letter 3

Dear Catherine:

My life began when I found you and I thought it had ended when I failed to save you. I thought that hanging on to your memory was keeping us both alive. But I was wrong. A woman named Theresa showed me that if I was brave enough to open my heart I could love again, no matter how terrible my grief. She made me realize I was only half-alive. It scared me and it hurt. I didn’t 't know how much I needed her till the night she flew away. When that airplane took off, I felt something inside me tear away. And I knew. I should have stopped her. I should've followed her home. And now tomorrow, I’m going to sail to the windy point and I’m going to say goodbye to you. Then I’m going to go to this woman and see if l can win her heart. If I can, I know you'll bless me. And bless us all. If I can’t then I’m still blessed because I’ve had the privilege of loving twice in my life. She gave me that. And if I tell you I love her, as much as I loved you then you'll know the whole story.

Rest in peace, my love.

Garret.

Catherine’s letter

To all the ships at sea and all the ports of call.

To my family and to all friends and strangers.

This is a message and a prayer. The message is that my travels taught me a great truth. I already had what everyone is searching for and few ever find: The one person in the world who I was born to love forever. A person like me, of the Outer Banks and the blue Atlantic mystery. A person rich in simple treasures self-made, self-taught. A harbor where I am forever home. And no wind or trouble or even a little death can knock down this house. The prayer is that everyone in the world can know this kind of love and be healed by it. If my prayer is heard, then there will be an erasing of all guilt and all regret and an end to all anger.

Please, God.

Amen.

It's time to say GoodBye !!!

I always hated Goodbyes. This is the most painful thing for me to handle. When after spending so much time together, one person has to leave the other person, then this moment of goodbye is the most heart breaking moment to experience. It might not be for you but it’s for me, for sure. Life is very unpredictable, you never know when you say someone goodbye will you ever be able to see that person again or not. This hurting feeling is not about that I am going to miss that person’s presence that is leaving, it’s just that the wonderful moments we have shared might never occur again in this lifetime. Those memories will remain memories and those moments are gone forever. Well, that’s the tragedy of life that it has to move on and every person sooner or later has to leave and has to go in his or her path of life. Anyways, with the departure of every person from our lives there is always an arrival of next person, that’s what I believe. And may be the people who left just made a room for a new person in our lives, so that new memories could be made. I always like to get surrounded by people who are near to me or who are dear to me; People with whom I have spent some amazing part of life. But… yeah but again… everyone is so scattered in this world and busy with his or her lives that it will remain a dream. I always try to remain connected with these people, since I have spent an incredible part of my life with them and I just don't want to lose it; There is a wonderful quote that comes into my mind now. “Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.”

I always believed that saying Goodbye is never painful unless you are going to say Hello again. As if you are going to meet that person again then there is hope those amazing moments will come back. And this goodbye is just needed so that the other person can come back again sooner. May be no distance is too great to separate apart two people.

Googling "Arfan Ameer"

Have you every googled yourself up ? Have you ever seen whether people can find you on internet or not ? How many guys with the same name with that of yours exist on net world ? well, I have googled myself. There is only one "Arfan Ameer" in net world so far and that one is me. Don't you believe it ?

Come... have a look !!! check this out

GOOOooooogling Arfan Ameer...

Yaar Ko Humne Ja Ba Ja Dekha !!!

Manum maanay azmandi k be tonay yaazdaanran
Ghum-e-choon to naaz ni ni behizaar naaz-daran
Kohe-e- afataab-e-chashman wa jamaal toos to roshan
Ager astobazgeeram bad bay chashm-e-raazgaaran

"I am needful person, who needs you
I will take for granted very dearly the sorrow of a beloved like you
You are light of my eyes and your face is shining
If I giveup you , to whom I ll go"

Yaar Ko Humne Ja Ba Ja Dekha
Kahin Zahir Kahin Chupa Dekha
Kahin Mumkin Hua Kahin Wajib
Kahin Fani Kahin Baqa Dekha
Kahin Woh Baadshah e Takht Nashin
Kahin Kasa Liye Gada Dekha
Kahin Woh Dar Libaas e Mashuqan
Bar Sar e Naaz Aur Ada Dekha
Kahin Ashiq Niyaz Ki Surat
Seena Bariyaan O Dil Jala Dekha !!!

Hazrat Shah Niaz

I want to Sleep

Its past mid-night; I went to bed but couldn’t sleep. I tried a lot but certain random thoughts ran in to my mind and they are not letting me to sleep; the thoughts of my country, my religion and my future all of them are running endlessly in my mind and it is giving me headache; seriously.

The current chaos, which we are facing from last some months, or perhaps years or may be decades. There is very much unpredictability about the future of this country. In spite of all odds, it’s still surviving after 60 years. From past 10 years, since I became mature enough to establish my own personal opinion about various issues, I felt that the future of this country always seemed to be drizzling. One after another there are political, social and economic disorders. Infact these disorders exists from the very beginning, and I believe it will continue to be so till end. I am neither hopeful nor hopeless regarding the future of this country. God has given us this country, He will protect it. So no worries. This little thought is an easy way to escape from my responsibilities to this country. This thought is not letting me to sleep.

My religion of which I am part of has become quite controversial in the world; the teachings of Islam have been criticized deeply by the west. Infact in Muslim world, people are divided. There are two groups; Extremists and Liberals. The extremists have gone a mile away and believe that it’s correct to preach and implement Islam forcefully. Whereas, liberals feel that just being good to people and performing Hakook-ul-Ebad is all what Islam is about. They don’t care about Hakook-ul-Allah. Having pre-martial relationships, drinking, marrying non-Muslims, wearing revealing clothes, all of it is acceptable in modern Islam. This is what they believe. I am in between of two. Since I disagree with more than 80% of Liberal thoughts and on the flip side, honestly, I don’t pray regularly and sometimes I ignore certain Islamic principles just for my easiness or for my lust of worldly things. I am a Muslim by birth. This guilt of not being a true Muslim by heart is forbidding me to sleep.

Living in a big city like Lahore is quite artificial, as luxuries are more important than necessities and people are more interested in your materials than in actually you. I always dreamt of a simple life. Living in a small city; a city surrounded by green mountains; having a cozy home built in old style with a big garden; and running a shop to pay off your bills, and enjoying every moment of life in peace and calmness with my family, away from the hustle bustle and busy life of big city. But it will remain a dream. Because I could feel that future have something else for me, which is going to be very different from what, I dream. And this dream is disturbing my sleep.

There are questions in my mind, which I have always kept in backside of my brain. Life is so simple. All these thoughts just make it complex. I wish I could be a kid again so that I could sleep quietly, without thinking and worrying.

A Lost Memory...

When I was in class 1, there was a girl in my class. She was very introvert kind of girl and used to speak little. Look-wise she was average, brown skin, short black hairs till shoulders and a normal slim built. She was an intelligent girl and always stood first in class academically. Her elder brother also studied in the same school and they both come with their mom on car to school. I used to secretly admire her, but have never spoken to her. I even devise new ways to impress her. Sometimes I feel sad for that girl, since she doesn’t have many friends and mostly appeared to be lonely. I don’t know whether I pity her or love her... but she is the first girl to be in my earliest memories. After 1 class, her section was changed and I lost the touch. However, in class 4, we were class-fellows again. This time I came to know about her more deeply. I was still confused about my feelings for her even then. I and she were competitors in academic race. I used to stand first in class from boys, and she used to be first among girls. I was monitor of boys and she was monitor of girls, but she along with another friend once conspired against me and took my monitorship. I hated her on that moment. However, things got sorted out and I decided not to take revenge. After that class, I don't recall any of her memory, since her school branch was changed. Years after, I once saw her mother in nearby market of my house, so I assumed she lived nearby. I used to go for tuition for my matric examination in an academy. That academy has separate buildings for boys and girls. I saw her mother once outside girls building. That girl also studied there, but I have never seen her. That was the only time when I knew anything about her. After then, there were no other memories of her.

1/3 of My Life...

During the final days of my undergraduate course, I received a forwarded email from my friend regarding a job advertisement at a software house. He asked me to apply there. I made my resume and applied there and forgot. Some days later, I received an interview call from that company. I was completely blank about that company. I surfed on web and searched for information about it. There is a beautiful building on Jail Road named “EFU House”. It was one of the most beautiful buildings of Lahore in that time. Whenever I used to see that building, I always thought whether I will be ever be able to go into that building. Luckily that software house was situated in that building. At least, one of my wish came true. I went there. The time was around 4:00 pm. I introduced myself to the receptionist and she asked me to wait. That was my first ever job interview so it was un-anticipated for me. The receptionist had a chit chat with me, she asked me about myself and when I told her it was my first interview, she wished me good luck. Her kind gesture made me feel better. After that, I went for interview. It went okay and I came back and forgot. During those days, I was busy in my final project, so I couldn’t find much time to apply to other places for job. Also, doing job was not on my mind as I want to do masters and have applied in LUMS for that. I have made my mind to do teaching after completion of degree. After some weeks, I got second interview call from that company. I went and gave the interview. It was an okay interview, neither good nor bad. Meanwhile, my final project was completed and I was waiting for my result. I was about to start my job hunt. However, after some weeks, I got a third interview call from the same company. After some days of my third interview, I got a call from HR and I was told that I have been selected. I was called to discuss the contract and salary. The package they offered was quite decent and acceptable. I accepted the offer.

1 April 2004, was my first day at work. It took first some weeks to adjust in 9-6 routine and in new environment. The company was far better than my expectations. It had a very cool work environment. In the meanwhile, I got admission in LUMS for MS in CS programme. It was evident that I would do masters, but there was a choice, either to leave company and do masters or to do masters along with job. I have couple of months to decide which option to take and I left it on time. During my job, after having discussions with colleagues and doing some of my analysis, I realized that doing masters might not be a feasible way to go. I would be coming to same job after masters. Doing masters might not do any good for my work, except it will earn me a degree after having spent 1.5 years and 250,000 bucks. Inspite, in professional life experience matters most than the degree. Also, if I want to pursue further studies, then MBA would be best. So I dropped the idea of joining LUMS. Many months were passed; time moved on. A feeling started growing inside me, regarding work dissatisfaction. The work was quite different from what I have thought in my college days it would be. Remaining aloof from outside world, just confined to your PC and cabin whole day was not certainly my idea of job. The only escape I could think of then was doing MBA, but it needed time and money. I have to wait for more months. On the other side, the company was facing major financial problems. They were unable to pay salaries to staff.

At the end in February 2005, I resigned from my first job and decided to wait for my verdict of LUMS MBA admission application. Side by side, without much effort, I got another job offer. This time, the company was new and infant. It was started by my Project Manager of previous company. I joined REDMATH (PVT) LIMITED. After few months, I was informed that my application to LUMS MBA was rejected. Meanwhile, the regular raise in my salary and promotions helped me to heal that pain. Another year passed, and the job dissatisfaction was diminished, as I was pretty much occupied with work. In fact, I was enjoying work a lot. Being financial independent and spending money without ever thinking how much you have in wallet is an awesome feeling. Having parties with friends, buying whatever I like and dinning in some of the expensive places, all this was quite addictive. Next year I again applied to LUMS MBA, this time I prayed to God, if there is any good in it only then He should get me into LUMS otherwise I don’t need it. I got rejected once again. Allah doesn’t want me to do MBA from LUMS. OK, I accepted the will of God. I continued with my merry feelings. However, I felt regret of not doing masters. I regreted why I have refused admission in MS. I should have completed it. Education always makes a difference, even if it lasts for a day.

Some months ago, I could feel that the same old dissatisfaction is wakening inside me once again. Now, leaving job might not be a good idea because of earning handful of amount. I agree money has corrupted my mind and heart, as it does to most of us. Now, I have some other ways open in front of me but I don’t know what future holds for my career. Let’s see what happens next.

A Man with no Answers...

This discomfort has been growing inside from past 3 years. The desire to achieve, the passion to strive something in order to make my life and the world around me more meaningful, is becoming more and more aggressive day by day. What is this passion? What is this desire? Unfortunately, I don’t have any answers. I am still disillusioned. With every passing moment, it is becoming more and more worst. I don’t know what is missing from my life. Apparently, there seems to be nothing which I don’t have. I have enough money to spend on my luxuries. I have a good job, ideal family, great friends, but still something is missing. It’s not like missing some person or not having any love life, it is something else. Sometimes I think, may be it’s the monotonous life that I am having is bothering me. May be the same daily routine of my life is feeding this discomfort. But still I am no alien. In one way or another, every person’s life is monotonous. A laborer has to do same work whole day for each single day of his life to earn a livelihood. A doctor has to see his patients every day, a professor has to teach his students everyday. It’s a general rule of life; every person’s life revolves around a certain specific pattern. Every day we came across hundreds of people around ourselves. Every face has its own story. Every life is running in its own circle. I still haven’t yet understood the true meaning of life. What was the reason for it to start? Why death finishes it? Unfortunately, again I don’t have any answers. I am the man with no answers. I am the man with no words. I am the man who wants to learn the reason for every reason. I am the man who wants to walk rather than to run in this course of life. I am the man who wants peace for all the people around myself. I am the man, who is bounded by the society in the thick web of lies, fakeness and disloyalty, and I can’t take myself out of it. And why am I like that? Again, I have no answers because I am born this way. I can’t change myself, even if I have to. But wait; doesn’t this answer all my questions? Doesn’t it mean that not every question has an easy answer which is comprehendible? Life is just made this way and you can't change it even if you want to. It has happened to billions of people before me and it will continue to happen with billions of people after me. One has to accept this truth and then there will be no un-answered questions.

A Public Service Message...

Obesity has become more like a disease in recent times. One in every four people in world is suffering from it. Many new weight reducing drugs and exercise machines are popping into market regularly, each claiming to be more effective than the previous one, with no side-effects. Whenever you switch on television, on every other channel there is an advertisement of such products playing on. But are these drugs and machines effective? Are they providing long term solution or just cause temporary weight reduction? What will happen if you discontinue using these products? These questions should be answered first before using any of these. Primarily, adoption of fast-food culture and having tech-dependent lifestyle with less physical exertion are classified as the major root causes of obesity. Therefore, it’s better to switch to natural ways of dealing with obesity rather than using artificial ways which may not guarantee you long-term solution. Having a controlled diet with less sugar, soft drinks, sweets and fast food stuff along with some physical activity (swimming, walking, and working out) on daily basis is a healthy way to deal with obesity. It may take some time but eventually, this methodology has no side-effects and will give you a healthy life style.

PS: That was a public service message, I will continue with my sobbing later: P

Only Hope floats in the Deep end of the Ocean...

There are some quotes which have always inspired me throughout. These quotes have always given me the courage and hope to fight against all the difficulties and odds in my journey of life. Read them, may be they will gave you the same strength and hope, as they have given to me.

"The journey of thousand miles begins with a single step."

"You cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose the sight of the shore."

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

25

Few days ago I celebrated my 25th birthday. It’s now been 25 official years, since I landed in this world. It just seemed like yesterday when I was a kid. It just feels like last Thursday, when I used to wait for my favorite cartoon show on television. It just seems like last Wednesday, when my English school teacher has given me an assignment to do. It just looks like last Friday, when I used to hurry back to home from my college, so that I can read my Jumma prayers in a mosque situated nearby my house. It just appears to be last Tuesday, when I used have a hectic university schedule. 25 years of life; so many memories; so many people: family, friends, fellows, strangers... Some were good and have made positive impact on my life... Some made negative; so many incidents; ups and downs; the reminiscences of joy, carefree, freedom and memoirs of sadness, pessimism, betrayals; My life wasn’t been perfect as I used to desire for. There were many imperfections left during this course. I mostly never got what I desired for. And what I never thought of , it was given to me. I might not have the best of best human beings around myself; I might not have the absolute happiness or the absolute pleasure throughout; I might not have the best shoulder to cry on or the most beautiful face to fall in love with. But, I know that in fact, these little imperfections in life actually make a life perfect.

So, I am a happy man and am thankful to my God for His blessings and the wonderful gift of life that He has given to me, and the wonderful people in shape of my family and friends with whom I have shared my life with.

A Joy to Share

I have a little believe. It is: “If there is something written in your destiny: if its written that you will achieve fortune in shape of either success or a special person or any riches of world, then you will get it in life. When? Well, it all depends on you when will you get it. Life will show you two paths. You have to choose one of them. That path can either shortens your distance or may be it prolongs it. But you will definitely meet your destiny sooner or later”. Sometimes some things come in life late. They don’t arrive when you have wanted them to. However when they do come, then the joy of having them is greater than the joy of the having them then. Let me share one of such experience of my life today. I graduated from my university in 2003. My batch was pioneer batch of my university in the subject I chosen. I have a distinction in my batch for scoring the highest CGPA. I was expected to receive the gold medal and roll of honor as recognition of this achievement, but alas on my convocation there was no such acknowledgment. Let me be very honest, I was hurted. Infact pretty bad because it was a dear dream of mine. It was among those some of the things, which I wanted in life deeply. I could have voice my concern then in front of college administration but I chose to remain silent. Because of my little believe. Even tough I regret it later, that I should have raised my voice, why did I remain silent? It was a regret, which I knew would remain with me throughout. Why couldn’t I muster up the courage then? After that incident for about more than 2 years I didn’t go back even a single time to my university. However, few weeks back, I went back to my university with my friends to submit the form for old students union. There, one of my teachers told me that the toppers of the batches that followed were honored with the recognition from university. I should check too whether I am entitled for it or not. But it was already late that day. Next week, I couldn’t find much ample time. The following week I went to university to query them about myself. I was delighted to know that my name was on the list of awardees of roll of honor and gold medal. Infact, a year after my convocation, the university decided to give me recognition, but the university didn’t had my new address, therefore they couldn’t contact me. They kept my gold medal and roll of honor safe from past 1.3 years. At last, I had it. Definitely, it was among the biggest joys of my life. One thing, which you want so much, and then you get it all of sudden one day; the joy is marvelous. It’s not a piece of metal for me only. It’s an achievement of my life; A fruit of my hard work and dedication; it’s the answer of unspoken prayers; it’s a blessing from my Allah and His way to tell me that Life never leave any balance; it always does it math sooner or later and its math is never wrong and at the end it always cut down to zero.

How do you mend a broken heart ?

I once got this in a mail. I just want to share it with you here. May be it will help you if you are in need ;)

We get a lot of prayer requests asking to simply pray for their broken heart.So what do you do when you've got a broken heart?Here are four steps that will help you up that mountain.
1. Occupy 2. Gratify 3. Sanctify 4. Glorify.

Occupy:Occupy your time, don't sit around moping. Do something. Idleness is the soil of self-pity and depression. Get busy. The best thing that you can do is to do something that helps others. It's a universal principle that when you start focusing on helping others, your own problems are diminished.Don't just stand there, DO SOMETHING!

Gratify:Write a list of the things you like, then pick three of those things and put those things in your life - now. Make sure you can afford them and that they aren't harmful. When our hearts are broken, we often deprive ourselves of the things we enjoy. Make an effort to put enjoyment in your life.

Sanctify:Do good. Don't return evil for evil, hurt for hurt, pain for pain. Don't wish something horrible would happen to the other person. Hope for their good fortune in your spirit, and it just may release your good fortune in your world.The easiest way to forget someone, is to truly wish them well.

Glorify:Life is not over. You can live without them. Not only can you live without them, you can live even happier without them. It is a matter of perspective. Even with the negative in your world at the moment, there is something to be thankful for.There is plenty to be thankful for actually. Give God the glory for what you have.You can't be sad and thankful at the same time. Tell heartbreak to move over.

A famous comedian said, "A man isn't a man until he's had his heart broken." It's not really broken, it's just tenderized.

Excerpts from "The Notebook" by NICHOLAS SPARKS

My life? It isn't easy to explain. It has not been the rip-roaring spectacular I fancied it would be, but neither have I burrowed around with the gophers. I suppose it has most resembled a blue-chip stock: fairly stable, more ups than downs, and gradually trending upward over time. A good buy, a lucky buy, and I've learned that not everyone can say this about his life. But do not be misled. I am nothing special; of this I am sure. I am a common man with common thoughts, and I've led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten, but I've loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, this has always been enough.

The romantics would call this a love story, the cynics would call it a tragedy. In my mind it's a little bit of both, and no matter how you choose to view it in the end, it does not change the fact that it involves a great deal of my life and the path I've chosen to follow. I have no complaints about my path and the places it has taken me; enough complaints to fill a circus tent about other things, maybe, but the path I've chosen has always been the right one, and I wouldn't have had it any other way.

Time, unfortunately, doesn't make it easy to stay on course. The path is straight as ever, but now it is strewn with the rocks and gravel that accumulate over a lifetime. Until three years ago it would have been easy to ignore, but it's impossible now. There is a sickness rolling through my body; I'm neither strong nor healthy, and my days are spent like an old party balloon: listless, spongy, and growing softer over time...

I realize the odds, and science, are against me. But science is not the total answer; this I know, this I have learned in my lifetime. And that leaves me with the belief that miracles, no matter how inexplicable or unbelievable, are real and can occur without regard to the natural order of things. So once again, just as I do every day, I begin to read the notebook aloud, so that she can hear it, in the hope that the miracle that has come to dominate my life will once again prevail.
And maybe, just maybe, it will.

The Prologue from the book, The Alchemist...

The Alchemist picked up a book that someone in the caravan had brought. Leafing through the pages, he found a story about Narcissus. The alchemist knew the legend of Narcissus, a youth who daily knelt beside a lake to contemplate his own beauty. He was so fascinated by himself that, one morning, he fell into the lake and drowned. At the spot where he fell, a flower was born, which was called the narcissus. But this was not how the author of the book ended the story. He said that when Narcissus died, the Goddesses of the Forest appeared and found the lake, which had been fresh water, transformed into a lake of salty tears.
"Why do you weep?" the Goddesses asked.
"I weep for Narcissus," the lake replied.
"Ah, it is no surprise that you weep for Narcissus," they said, "for though we always pursued him in the forest, you alone could contemplate his beauty close at hand."
"But..... was Narcissus beautiful?" the lake asked.
"Who better than you to know that?" the Goddesses said in wonder, "After all, it was by your banks that he knelt each day to contemplate himself!!"
The lake was silent for some time.
Finally it said:
"I weep for Narcissus, but I never noticed that Narcissus was beautiful. I weep because, each time he knelt beside my banks, I could see, in the depths of his eyes, my own beauty reflected."
"What a lovely story," the alchemist thought.

Bye Bye 2006 - A New Day Has Come

Today is 01 January 2007 and the time showing on my pc is 10:03 am. It’s the first day of New Year and also there is another special occasion too. Today is Eid-ul-Azha. I just have finished texting messages to all the people in my contact list and now finally I found some ample time to spend on my pc. I could feel that today will be quite a busy day. I am going to meet all the relatives and friends. Also soon qurbani will be started. But still I guess I have time to write something from my heart again.

Since yesterday was the last day of the previous year, in night on my way to sleep I was thinking about the previous year. Recounting all the memorable events of 2006, which were either good or bad and had affected me in any way. I was thinking how much of my life was changed in that year. 2006 year started on a good node. I had many hopes and dreams for the New Year. Professionally it was a kick back start and I was shifted to a new project, quite challenging and exciting. During summer, I visited Murree and Abbotabad with my brother and cousin. Everything in life was going smooth. There was work, fun and laughter. However gradually it soon began to fade away. The hope was replaced with despair. The fun was replaced with sickness and laughter was replaced with troubles. It all started when I couldn’t make into admission in MBA at LUMS for third time at row and this made me to re-think, what I really want in life? Also there were tensions growing on between me and my friends. In the third quarter of that year I started feeling dejected. One by one the incidents in life made me more and more depressed and I lost interest in everything. Another reason was that I was surrounded by very much negativity around myself. Since I absorb from my environment, therefore the negativity affected me deeply inside. I just wanted to run away from everything. I became very lazy and weird. And then the last month came.

I took 10 days leave from work in the last days of the year and those 10 days were quite memorable. In these days, I realized that my life was actually back on track again. I came to know about lies which a person was telling me from quite a long time and I actually believed them. It hurt me to an extent and first time I realized probably people can be fake. In spite of it, I was content and feeling positive. One of my best friends got married and I was very happy for him. Another of my best friend shifted back to Lahore. The misunderstandings between the friends were resolved; bought a new car. A whole new professional direction was in front of me. Had fun with some old friends and I was becoming more and more ready to face my fears once again ;)

In short, if I could sum up the year 2006 for myself then it would be “Just few days can change the whole course of your life. However always take them in right spirit and never lose hope”.

May God Bless You All.

Tour 2006

As promise, here are some of the beautiful pictures of the tour. Hope you like them. To publish them i have re-sized these pictures. However if you like any of these pictures and want to have them in their original size you can ask me.

A Walk in Clouds

Four of US

River Neelum

Breathless

Rise of Morning

Snakey Curves

3 Days in 8 Places

I am writing this blog while sitting in my office. Even tough I don’t have anything in particular in my mind at this time to write about, but still I would continue with something. Umm..mmm.. I love traveling. I like to see new places, experience new cultures and meet with people from different environments. In Pakistan, you can find many beautiful landscapes where culture, environment, language all are different. Once a year at least, I do travel outside of my city to explore different places within my country. Last year August, I went with my brother, cousin and cousin’s friend on a tour. We all went to Murree and its surrounding areas. We started our journey at 9 pm and headed to Islamabad via Daewoo bus. The bus entertained us with “Matrix Revolutions”. I haven’t seen the movie before, neither I intend to see it that time :P Meanwhile I passed my time while listening to the songs and by sleeping. We reached at Islamabad past mid-night. We took a taxi and reached Murree around 4 am. We took a room in a hotel, whose name is not in mind right nowL. After resting for couple of hours and having a brief tour of the Murree’s famous Mall Road, we again booked a taxi and began our tour. Our first destination was Patriata. It was not a new place for me. I have been there earlier twice. The only attraction at Patriata is the chair lifts and the cable cars. We traveled in them as the part of the holy ritual of our tour. After that we went to River Neelam base. It was the best part, since we have came across a different landscape this time. And lastly, we went to Bhurban, where the only attraction is PC Hotel. Again, as a sacred custom, we entertained ourselves with its food. That’s how the first day ended. For second day, we headed for Ayubia and Nathiya Gali. Nathiya Gali has beautiful landscape and is quite clean with respect to other areas. It was 13th August night that day. Around midnight the whole crowd at Murree accumulated near GPO and they celebrated their independence in their unique style by shooting fireworks, dancing and beating all the cars that passed through that area. On the third day, we went for Thandiyani, another tourist attraction near Abbotabad city. This place holds the national record for having the maximum rainfall, and we have experienced it ourselves too :P we were there, when it rained heavily. Abottabad is a calm and beautiful city. It’s the best city to live your retired life. It’s a proper big city having all the facilities that other cities like Lahore, Karachi etc have. After visiting the famous Ilyassi Masjid of Abbotabad and seeing little bit of the city itself, the taxi dropped us at Abbotabad Daewoo terminal. We want to travel back to Lahore on the same day. However we couldn’t get the tickets. We tried other bus services and luckily, we got the tickets for 8 pm and early next morning we were back to Lahore. That was the end of our exact 3 days journey. Overall it was a nice trip and nothing unfortunate or bad happened during its entire course. The healthy feeling of trip has lessened all the stress which gathered in my mind due to the work pressure. And one thing I learnt was that every person in the northern area is not a Pathan :P they are Pothohari and Kashmiris mostly ;)

The lunch break is over and I am back to work now ;) I will post the pictures of this tour later. So bye and take care ;)

Great Expectations

It’s one of my favorite movies. Though I have read the novel but I like the movie better than the novel. The whole execution of the movie is awesome. From actors to dialogues to music to visuals, the movie do touches the heart.

Synopsis
It’s a story of Finn; a modest guy falling in love with a rich girl. Throughout his childhood he loved Estella, but he was never sure whether she loves him or not. One day a secret benefactor helps him to achieve his dream of pursuing a career as a painter in New York. Finn believed, it had to be Estella and her aunt Miss Dinsmoor who has been guardian of Estella throughout.; since Finn poorness was the only reason why he can’t marry Estella; therefore they have been helping him. But on the day of his success, Estella marries another guy leaving Finn heart broken. And Finn realized all this expectations were false. He was seeing the life the way he wants to see, not what actually it was. And the secret benefactor was a criminal whom he helped once in his childhood. All of Finn’s expectations failed. But still it didn’t ended here.

Visuals
The whole movie is green. In the visuals the green color is shown in abundance. Green is life. Abundant in nature, green signifies growth, renewal, health, and environment. On the flip side, green is jealousy or envy and a dark and cold side of a person. The girl's character in the movie is she's a cautious person and not inclined to trust others easily. She’s an observer in life, but not wished to get involved more than she wants. She’s cold, classy and needs a person to release her from her past. But she's struggling from within.... and doesn’t know what to choose. So I feel...the color GREEN is a sign of nature, inexperience, beauty and most importantly HOPE.... which the movie tries to convey.


Dialogues

Finn:

I'm not going to tell the story the way it happened. I'm going to tell it the
way I remember it.

Ms. Nora Digger Dinsmoor:

She'll only break your heart, it's a fact. And even though I warn you, even
though I guarantee you that the girl will only hurt you terribly, you'll still
pursue her. Ain't love grand?

Finn: What's it like not to feel anything?


Estella: Let's say there was a little girl, and from the time she could understand, she was taught to fear... let's say she was taught to fear daylight. She was taught that it was her enemy, that it would hurt her. And then one sunny day, you ask her to go outside and play and she won't. You can't be angry at her can you?


Finn: I knew that little girl and I saw the light in her eyes, and no matter what you say or do, that's still what I see.


Estella: We are who we are. People don't change.



Finn:

The night all of my dreams came true, and like all happy endings,It was a
tragedy, Of my device, for I succeeded. I had cut myself loose from Joe, from
the past, from the gulf, from poverty I had invented myself. I'd done it
cruelly, but I had done it. I was free!

Finn:

It's my heart, and it’s broken.

Finn:

I did it! I did it! I am a wild success! I sold 'em all, all my paintings. You
don't have to be embarrassed by me anymore, I'm rich! Isn't that what you
wanted, aren't we happy now. Don't you understand, that everything I do, I do it
for you. Anything, that might be special in me, is you.