From another dimension

May 5, 2004

12th Rabi-ul-Awwal

The day used to be one when silent respect would be paid to the memory of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). School used to be a day of passivity, where we would sit in the backrows, as was the tradition of the back-benchers, and exchange lewd jokes while the good-kids read out naats and poems. At the end of the school day, everyone would go home, and have a relaxing day at home. A long time has elasped since then, but I never observed much change in the celebrations, if they can be called that. This time around, the faithfuls went berserk. Never before had I seen the city lighted with such fanfare. Every other road was illuminated with green lights, decked up like a new bride; while colonies and residential areas fight loadshedding. The kunda system, that we once used to play night matches, was being utilized to pay homage to the greatest figure in the history of our religion. The paying of (corrupt) homage didn't stop here. Following up from where the shi'ites had left, sabeels were erected, to quench the thirst of the loyals. In different localities, shi'ite style majlis's were held. A day or so before the event, while we rolled joints, a friend remarked,

"Molvi sahab will address the public on 12th rabi-ul-awal. Attend it. I assure you that you'll be moved to tears."

If that was't enough, on the actual day, people tawaffed around some chowk in gulshan. What is left now for the barelvis is to put on black and flog themselvesx to death. They had naats being played on loudspeakers, even before 12th rabbi-ul-awaal, showing complete disregard for the rest of the community. On the day, some roads were closed, without giving any thought to the rationale behind closing the road. Overall, they managed to create a carnival atmosphere, and in years to come, will accomplish in bettering the shi'ites.

The clergy and the zealots continue to defile the religion; their ostentatious indulgences maligning the simplest of religions.



May 4, 2004

Leeds Relegated.

Leeds defeat at Bolton yesterday condemned them to be relegated, and spend atleast one year in the 1st Division. Although Leeds played miserably the whole year round, no one expected it to go down. Everyone was expecting a revival of fortune, a rich vein of form in the last strides, that will save them of the ignominy of relegation. Now that they have finally go down, fans all over can't help but sympathise with their predicament. The same team that only 2 years ago reached the Champions League semi-final, and for some part of the season challenged ManYoo and Arsenal for the championship will now be struggling with the also-rans. The curtain has been drawn for Leeds. And the manner in whcih it was drawn, in their 3rd last match, when they still had a mathematical chance of survival. Leading 1-0, thanks to a penalty, which they were lucky to be awared in the 1st place, they managed to ruin it all. Mark viduka got into the stupidest of scuffles. getting himself a yellow card, and then followed it up a minute later with another pointless elbow in the face of a Bolton defender; inviting sending off. It seemed that he was not bothered about Leeds fate, and had no desire to put in any fight whatsoever. His sending off depleted an already low on confidence Leeds side even further, and they ended up losing 4-1. The fiery passion of Alan Smith evaporated in the form of tears, as he admitted that he, too, would be leaving the club, and not denting his international prospects. Leeds will experience a mass exodus of stars, and will have to build it's team again from scratch, though there is hope, as business icons put in bids for Leeds, which will give it's finances the much required boost, and the leverage to delve into the transfer market, inspite of recording record losses all season long.

Atleast Sarfaraz Najeeb will feel avenged.



April 28, 2004

The conversation with Ali highlighted yet again how deep-rooted corruption is in our society. He sells bhutta (corn) at sea-view, and earns enough to support his wife and four daughters; perrenial poverty makes one content in the face of predicatable adversity. He told us how the Major, some bigwig in Defence Housing Authority, charges him weekly. Not only that, the police, out there to ensure that no untowardly incident takes place, kill their time by collecting 'hafta' from all the vendors. According to Ali's calculations, the police squeezes out upto Rs. 700 from him per month. Along with that, he pays Rs. 50 per month to the gatekeeper of a nearby mosque, where his goods are kept for safekeeping. Whether it be the house of the Lord, or the bastion of justice, corruption has established itself everywhere.

Ali also came up with some snippets from his generally uneventful life. He started off as a cloth weaver, then moved on to work as a driver in the army, then a guard in the one of the major banks. Dazzled by the riches, and alluring plans of an old friend, who made fake notes, he tried to pull off a con act, but due to inappropriate organization, he failed. It didn't result in public ignominy, but he lost his job, and since then, worked as an odd-job man. He has been selling corn at sea-view for the past five years now.

His son works in an estate agents office. Due to the usual domestic issues, he had to separate from his son, who (in all probability) abandoned the responsibility of his four sisters. Ali, like all unflinching believers, is relying on God to orchestrate some miracle through which all four of his daughters will be wedded, and then, he can die a truly contented man.



March 31, 2004



Sarmad Tariq is a beacon of inspiration. He deserves more coverage.



March 31, 2004

"God is a bad script writer."



"Pessimism is an excuse of the unsuccessful."



"and you, dear lad, are slower than a snail on crutches."


"You've more shit inside you than a constipated horse returning from a Royal feast."