200 pages in a day.

Imagine a person’s mental condition if he has finished a book on Stephen Hawking, his scientific research, theories and concepts, in three sittings and within twenty four hours.

Can you see the pathetic soul?

Okay. That’s me.

Edit : Actually, I was having difficulty reading two other books simultaneously from last (umm two?) weeks; and I wasn’t able to go past first few chapters of both books. Because of both, my lack of interest in the topic and books not being as I expect them to be. Anyway, decided to yet try another book and I finished it in a day. Now what?

Jab meray paas they tum.

And now I can't even imagine writing something like this. The poet inside me have certainly died.

Jab meray paas they tum,
mein ne kai baar ye socha, tum se,
aankh mein bikhray huwe khuwab ka ahwal kahoon,
kesay kat tay hain, meray roz-o-mah-o-saal kahoon,
faislay aur amal mein lekin,
ik dewaar jo sadiyoon se khari hai,
mein bhi us pe rozan hi bananay ki tak-o-do mein raha,
sai hai bekar tamannay ki qalam ro mein raha,
ab jab tum bichray hu tu,
din raat meray dil mein ajab waham sa rahta hai,
ke jesay mein ne hunhi,
ik khouf ko dewaar bana rakha tha,
dil ko ik nukta-e-parkaar bana rakha tha,
sochta hoon agar mein ne,
kabhi tum ko is khuwab ka ahwaal sunaya hota,
tu bhala kia hota?
had se had tum meri batoon se khafa ho jatay,
ik dam maskhar ki hansi hans ker,
juda hu jatay.

Quote of the day.

"Peace can not be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding."

Albert Einstein.

NADRA and Me.

Probably this post will make sense to those who have seen me recently or atleast seen my recent pictures. This at some level includes people on my MSN list because I am sure they have a little idea via my display pictures.

It took me around half an hour to convince NADRA’s people the person in the picture is actually me.

Haha. Yes. It was annoyingly hilarious.

Electrical Ghosts.

Electrical ghosts continue to surprise me with my jaw dropped down. At around 10 in the morning, power went out in my home. Okay fair enough, I thought it would be load shedding or maybe some fault but after few minutes one of the rooms tube light went on. Rest of the house is without electricity. How could that be?

I tried to cut down the power from the main switch but even after doing that the room’s lights are on. I opened the main switch again, no difference, one room’s lights are on rest of the home powerless. But just for the safety I turned off the main power (the room’s lights are still on though).

I called my electrician, his cell was not responding (I know he usually wakes up late) so I decided to wait. After 30 min or so, just before calling my electrician I thought to check it again and turned the power on and whoallaa. Electricity was back.

Niqabi

Long ago, I used to teach. And there was this girl – student. She used to wear ‘Niqab’. In all these years I have seen her number of times – simple ‘hello’ ‘hi’s’ – and she was always, in her niqab. And as I understand, it has been her choice.

Few weeks ago I saw her. Didn’t get a chance to meet, but I saw her. She was not in her usual ‘Niqab’. Instead, she was wearing something trendy, fashionable with very short sleeves. Surprised I was.

Later I met a friend who had more family terms with them and I brought up my curiosity – ‘what happened?’ I asked. And he told me she got married and her husband doesn’t like her to wear ‘Niqab’; it’s a shame. He wants to feel proud when she walks besides him. When others look at her and say ‘wow this beautiful girl is his wife’.

So next time you go out show some more skin because your husband wants you to make him proud.

Lesson Learnt.

Mangos are thicker than Bananas.

For a change, I decided to make a banana shake. With some guess work, for three bananas I almost took the same amount of milk and ice I would use for mangos. But the shake was almost thin as water. Two more banana no significant change and than 3 more but its still thin and I am out of bananas. I would have liked it thicker. Sigh.

Blocked Referrer.

Who/what are they? My Blog patrol shows some visitors were linked by blocked referrers and if they were blocked tu refer hi kesay kia?

Without going into any political discussion I will just write two things about this promotional banner I received at home for local elections.

1. Rocket science is easier then to vote in local elections. There are 6 different ballet papers; every one has a different symbol representing him/her. Bell maybe the symbol you would like to vote for in yellow paper but not in the pink. Mr. XYZ maybe your candidate for the white paper but Mr. XYZ in green paper is a different XYZ. Majority of Pakistan’s population is illiterate and if you are one, you have no choice but to ‘rattafy’ it, the colors of papers as well as their symbols.
   

2. Elections were supposed to be non-party based but look at this, I received a promotional banner right at my doorstep and it represents the candidates of the party that is part of Government, and is suppose to help and implement the law of elections being non-political. Khair..anyways.

Please Pray

This is not a personal entry but a plea to those who read this blog, please pray.

At around 8 PM yesterday, friend called. His cousin had an accident and he might need blood, he wanted me to go with him and we will pick one more friend just in case. Around 9 we reached Jinnah Hospital and soon it was apparent his condition was far worse then we had imagined. He was already in Operation Theater where doctors were trying to save his life. Apart from few bones that he broke one of the broken ribs damaged his heart’s vein which caused a lot of blood loss. His chest was torn apart to locate the vein & recover it and this process took around 5 hours. Around 1 AM we heard the news it’s been recovered and the operation will continue probably for another 8 hours for rest of the injuries. Around 10 blood bags were consumed so far and around 12 were reserved and were needed in operation ahead. (and those white cells etc, I don’t know the medical terms)

Karachiite’s once again made me proud when I found out all those 22 blood bags were already donated by patient’s friends, family and neighbors. In my almost 5 hour stay at hospital around 35+ friends/neighbors/people showed up if more blood was needed (almost none knew the patient but they were cousins friends, friends friend etc) and it was not weekend, people had offices/schools in morning yet they came, almost an hour’s drive away at the middle of night.

The boy is only 18, his name is Yasir and next 72 hours are critical.

Please remember him in your prayers.

Urdu ki "mukhtasir" akhri Kitaab.

Found this. Wrote it on Feb 11th 2005, the night without internet, so yes I was bored.



Galiban Urdu ki akhri kitaab "Ibn-e-Insha" ne likhi thi. Mei ye tu nahi janta ke kia Soch ker likhi thi (ya kuch socha bhi tha) kionke urdu adab mein soch ab sirf eik lafz ban ker rah gaya hai, shayed kabhi amal, takhleeq, eik khayal bhi rahi hu.

Na mei ye mahawara hi aap ke gosh guzar karsakoon ga ke "bus janab kia bataon, qulam chalta gaya aur lafz bikhartay gaye" kion ke yahan tu sirf meri bay rupt ungliyoon ki junbish hai jo is keybord ki mukhtalif 'keys' per zor azmai mein masroof hain (Ji haan aap ne sahi pehchana soch ka yahan bhi door door tak koi amal dakhal nai).

Chonke kitaab ye bhi urdu ki hi hai aur maqsad (go agar koi hai) tu wo bhi wahi hai. Jab sab kuch yaksaan hai tu kitaab ki sakht bhi eik hi honi chahiye. Yani hum har hurf se shuru karain gay aur us ke mukhtalif pehloan ka jaiza letay huwe agay barhain gay. Go ke siasat hamari kitaab ka unwaan nahi per jab baat urdu ki hai tu us ka bhi kahin na kahin kuch zikar chal hi niklay ga (umeed kerta hoon aap ko giraan na guzray ga).




Alif.

Alif urdu ka pehla harf hai. Na sirf urdu ka bulkay Arbi aur Farsi ka bhi. Alif ko harf-e-illat ki hasiyat ke mutabiq talaf kia jai ga, ya parha jai ga. Alif, agar zabar ke saath hu tu usse 'aa' parha jai ga -- jese "run" ya "fun" mein "u" ko talaf kia ja raha hai. Zer ke saath Alif "in" ya "sin" mein "i" ki tarha, aur Pesh ke saath "push" ke "u" ki tarha parha jai ga. Agar Alif per mud hu tu use us ke harf-e-illat ki hasiyat ke mutabiq tuol dia jai ga.

Agar Urdu ki farhang mein dekha jai tu Alif ke saath pehla lafz "Ab" milay ga jis ke angrezi maa'ina "Now" ke hain. Alif se pehla lafz jo bachoon ko sikhaya jata hai wo "Allah" hai. Aur shayed waldain ye eik lafz sikha ker samajhnay lagtay hain ke hum ne apna deenwi wa ikhlaqi farz pura kia. kion ke us ke agay wo us bachay ko kabhi usi harf se Ikhlaaq, Aajzi, Inksari, Ajar, Achai, Ahram, Ahtram, Ustad, Adab, Arshad wagera wagera jesay lafz nahi sikhatay.

Aur agar sikhai bhi jatay hain tu Anna, Ashaam, Ishtial jesay lafz, aur agar baat kamai ki hu tu us ke saath lafz "upper" lazmi kaha jata hai jese kamai us ke bagair adhori hu.




Bay.

Harf Bay bhi urdu ke saath saath Arbi aur Farsi ka bhi dosra harf hai. Aur lugat mein Bay ka pehla lafz "Baa" hai. 'Baa' darhaqeeqat koi lafz tu nahi per kisi cheez ya khasail ke hamil afraad ya ashiya wagera ke saath lagaya jata hai. Jese ke "Baa Ikhlaq". Lekin shayed hum mei se buhut soon ko "Baa Ikhtiyaar" ki misal ziada behtar mehsoos hoti.

Bay se lafz Baap bhi hai jis ki na hum koi Baat suntay hain na us ke Babat. Baadshahi bhi sirf Bay se hi hoti hai, aur lafz "Baazari" bhi bay ke hissay mein hi aya hai. Aur yaqeen kijiye ke agar yahan koi Bazgasht nahi, lekin phir bhi ibtida tu Badi ki bhi hoti hai jo yahan na sahi roz-e-mehshar ho ker rahay gi.

Bijli bhi Bay se aur us ka Bil bhi Bay se hi ata hai (bulkay ye kahna behtarhoga ke bijli girata hai ). Bad kirdaar, bad bakhti jese aur bhi kai Bad sirf Bay hi lata hai... lekin Bakhsish bhi tu bay ke hissay mein aai hai. Aur Bakht bhi.

Agar mujh se pochay jai ke koi eik lafz jo mein bay se munsalik na dekhna chahon tu wo kia hu? tu mera jawab eik hi hoga, na sirf bay per shayed mein us lafz ki haqeeqat ko ko mitta huwa dekhna chahoon ga (jo ke na mumkin hi hai). Beharhaal, Baanjh na sirf wo lafz hai bulkey kuch Bay Murad aurtoon ki azmaish bhi.



Pay.

Pay Urdu aur Farsi ka tu teesra harf hai lekin Arbi mein nahi paya jata. Galiban is liye ke Paap sirf Pay se hotay hain aur Quam-e-arab Paap se bilkul Paak hai. (ye mein nahi kahta aap kisi bhi Musalmaan se poch lijiye)

Agar Pay se kuch Qabil-e-zikar cheez hai tu wo sirf o sirf Papar hain, yaqeen na aai tu aap bhi kabhi kha ker dekhiye ga. Pay hi se hamara watan Pakistan hai aur Pay se hi Pajama bhi, jise pehan ker hum apni Patli Patli tangoon ke saath khud ko Pakeeza samajhnay lagtay hain.

Pay se hi bahowain apnay bachoon ko Dadi ke khilaf "Paat" Parhati hain aur khud Parsai ka Parcham bhi lehrati hain.

Pay se Pyar bhi hai Phool bhi, Pazaib bhi Peroon mein Pay se hi sajai jati hai. Hawas ki Pyas bhi Pay ki Pedawar hai, jis ka Pemana tu bus barhta hi jata hai. Aur akhir ki Peshmani bhi pay hi lata hai. Lekin hamain Pay se na-umeed na hona chahiye kion ke Pay se hi Pakeezgi lot ker ati hai, Pay se hi Peghamber Khuda ka Peghaam lai they.

Happy Independence Day.

The difference.

10 PM : (Flipping channels and on desi channel) A show for ‘Azadi’ night. A lady slowly shaking her body on music (yes I m not calling it a dance). A guy came from backstage, it wasn’t even close to graceful walk a man should have rather he was deliberately trying to move his shoulder (probably for the sake of music) but it was really un-wanted. Two isolated extras were ‘moving’ too and another extra was making big flames of fire by spitting something on it (God knows why).

Mr. President was trying to clap around, move his shoulders and show his interest and enthusiasm. Others were probably yawing or gossiping.

11 PM : (Flipping channels and on Indian channel) A show for some awards ceremony. An item to tribute the movie ‘Black’. 20-30 participants all wearing strip of black cloth on their eyes and were unable to see yet they were dancing and running here and there on stage, formation (almost) never broke and they were synchronized in complex steps of not only the dance but the whole theme.

Audience were sitting still, hypnotized. (None needed to clap and move his shoulders to show enthusiasm).

Getting growing help

Aunty No. 1. : Did you see U’s sister when she came to pick him up?
Aunty No. 2. : No! Isn’t she in States?
Aunty No. 1. : She’s here abhi, she was in sleeveless top and short skirt. Common now, when you are in Pakistan you should show some decency according to your culture ‘hamaray bachay bhi ab baray hu rahay hain’ (kids are of 10 to 12 years of range)
Aunty No. 2. : *Agrees*
Me : That’s good. It’ll help ‘em.
Aunty No. 1. : What?
Me : Just in case, if they are not growing ‘well’ and there is some deficiency, you know…. It will ‘test’ them and help them grow better.
Aunty No. 1 and Aunty No. 2. *staring me with a disgust*
Me. : *runs out*

Muhabat sha'or nahi hai.

It’s more instinctive.

Anyway, the following line just bumped into my head and inspired me to grab a pen and write something on it; like the old times. But I found myself unable to write a single word though the complete imagination was in my head…had no words to support it. I have lost it. I know I have lost my inspiration, my reasons long ago, but on a long road of life there are chunks of motivations which I had too; at times. But not now, lost them too, at the level where I couldn’t find a single word.

Anyway, then I was just going thru some old stuff and this is the first one that popped up from the random pages. This was, infact, a male version of Ambreen’s original ‘Nazm’ which I am writing here first.

Chand Ghantay
Original nazm by Ambreen Qureshi

Main nay kae jeevan jiye
Un chand ghanton main..
Ju rait ki manind hath se phisal gae..
Per usski aik aik sa'aat main..
Main nay tumhain pooja hai..

Pooray raastay
Udhar tum khamosh... Idhar main..
Per uss khamoshi main hum nay dhairon batain keen
Tumhari aankhain...
Aur mairi muskurahat ki jumbish
Jis main..
Hum nay aik dosray ko apna aap havalay ker diya
Kabhi na vapis lainay kay liye..
Tumharay hathon ka lamse mairi hathailion kay raastay..
Mairay khoon main sara'at ker gaya
Kabhi na ruknay kay liye...
Aur..
Mairi saanson main tumhari khushbo ki mehkaar aagae..
Kabhi na murjhanay kay liye..

Suno!!
Abb mujhay maloom hua hai..
Muhabbat kia pagal pan hai!!!

Chand Ghantay
Male version by Me

main ne kae jeevan jiye
un chand ghanton ke har ik pal mein
jo hawa ki manind...
hamain cho ke nikal gae
bay reham waqt bhi
tham na paya..
per us ki eik eik sa'aat mein
mein ne tumhain chaha hai.

saray rastay
idhar mein khamosh udhar tum..
per us khamoshi mein meri roh aur teri roh ne
iqrar kia, izhar kia, aur pyar kia
tumharay phool se hont aur un ki jumbish...
jo meri nazroon ki chubhan se thi
haya ki deewarain gira bethi
aur meray hath beqaboo..
teray hathoon ko apna bethay
shidat-e-jazbaat ke ahsaas
meri roh se teray jism mein sara'at ker gaye
aur jab meray hont..
meray zabt se bagawat ker bethay
tumhari sansoon ko betarteeb aur tumhain badhawas...
apnay narm aur num ahsas ki khushbo...
tumhain sonp aye

Suno!!
Abb mujhay maloom huwa hai..
ye pagal pan hi muhabbat hai!!!

2:59 AM

2:59 Am is exactly what my computer clock is showing right now, strange time.

Suddenly the environment becomes so empty. T.V. on mute and no tick tick of the keyboard. There is no hum of A.C. tonight, the window is open and it feels like emptiness is slowly crawling in from the window as well. A fear of power failure has lessened since I read the slide on ARYOne that the problem has been fixed.

Cell on charging gives an impression its hibernating, 7 people online on MSN and I am talking to none. Diary just besides me, a book I am reading is on the table but I don’t feel like reading it right now. Another book (I am reading two books simultaneously) is on the pillow and same goes for it.

13 hours of power failure caused a headache but I am not sleepy yet. And I am thinking my teeth are becoming bad and I need to see my dentist; I know I will end up delaying it again for (maybe) months. In my mind, I was thinking what things I need to get done by tomorrow and it turned out several things depend on other things which are not in my hands so the only two left.

I think blogger is having problem too because I wasn’t able to post comments so that too is not going in my favor. Usually when once you can’t post you end up not posting a comment for that entry although you wanted to (or maybe you didn’t that badly).

I am disappointed, at several things perhaps.

August

So, how many of you wear Pakistani flag’s badge on their shirts in August? I usually wear one from the beginning of the month till the end. Have heard some critics and some people have appreciated it. But I like to wear one anyway.

T.V.

I examined some of my electronic skills on the T.V. myself and it seems to be working fine for now. Those were more or less ‘cleaning’ skill rather then electronics but unless they are working for me its all good. I think I just saved (or atleast delayed the expense of) RS 1500 to 2500.

T.V. again.

It's not even been two months to this post and here I am again with the second T.V. not working this time. This one is not in warranty anymore.

Anyone know any licensed SONY Service Centers in/near Gulshan?

Book Review

The text of the first xerographic image, created in a makeshift laboratory in Astoria, Queens, by Mr. Chester Carlson, the inventor of xerography.

I finished reading ‘Prophets in the dark’ by David Kearns and David Nadler (Though Mr. Kearns is the core writer Nadler joins him in the end when they share some personal experience). The book is about how the Xerox (famous copier company) reinvented itself to beat the Japanese companies when Xerox was at its worst downfall.

Mr. Kearns who served as the CEO of Xerox from 1982 to 1990 starts the story from Mr. Chester Carlson, the inventor of the historic office invention, the photocopier. He continues to tell us about his life and how he ended up joining Xerox from IBM. And ofcourse, the remarkable history of the company itself.

The first machine Xerox introduced was 914. A massive success, though there had been enormous defects but it was a success nevertheless. The company grew at enormous pace. Various other successful managers were hired from different companies like Ford, IBM etc. And thousands of people were hired as worker, sales representatives and so on.

With the Ford men onboard a cultural and political difference started to grow in the company over the years. Xerox people felt they owned it, knew well what they are dealing with while the new management from Ford were the people who believed in numbers and statistics. They only knew the concept of how to grow.

Xerox encountered various sues, even from the government itself on its patent, that the company monopolize the copier business. IBM told Xerox whether to allow it or not they were going to make the copier and so did the Kodak. Xerox did win the sue against IBM but they finally ended up relaxing their patent because there was no way out. Although the copiers introduced by these companies were no better but customers were fed up of the jams, defects, customer supports etc from the Xerox end. And then the Japanese came and they were selling the machines lower then the cost Xerox spent to make these machines.

Once 90% of the copier market was captured by Xerox, now only remained at 12%. The company was going down and no one was willing to admit. After all we are the best, we are the pioneers. The mind set was arrogant.

It was obvious that company needed the Quality products to survive, but what is quality? No one understood (yes that is true, even often we don’t understand what quality really mean). It was mentioned in the meetings but never acted upon. And then external consultant was hired. Mr. Nadler.

Communication gaps between the company and the customer was at its worst height. Xerox was not making the products that a customer wanted. Communication gap within the company was huge. One of the interesting concepts Nadler introduced was external and internal customers. When the suppliers get the supplies from the warehouse, suppliers are the customers and so forth. Now is the customer satisfied? What are the requirements of the customer? Are they being fulfilled? The analysis showed that there were people in the company who didn’t had any customers, and they were asked to stop doing what they were doing. Similarly before any meeting two questions became essential. Who is the customer? What is the customer requirement? It turned out that half of the time there was no customer and since those meetings never needed.

It was certain that the change is required; the whole culture of the company needed to change, and quality throughout the company was needed and fast. More important, top management must not only agree but truly understand what kind of a change it will be and what really the quality is. Training was held for the top people and within some years it was planed that every employee will go through the same training. (Consider a company who have hundred thousand employees) and each employee going through a training twice. Notation of Learn it, Use it, Teach it and Inspect it was introduced. LUTI.

Several benchmarks were introduced with top companies and achieved. People were motivated, rewards were given. It wasn’t achieved in a day or a month or year but took a decade. Though the basic concept was understood even before. There weren’t only the good decisions, there were massive bad one’s too.

What makes the book actually interesting is, every detail Mr. Kearns provide about every problem faced, its background, history and the problem itself. What was intended solution and why? What was the thought process behind? And when it turned out not being the good decision the reasons why? Mr. Kearns admits several bad decisions he made, several learnings. Perhaps most common being ‘Not every manager you like is the perfect manager for the job.’ The book is an excellent read for the students and businessmen equally.

Please Explain

Hain? Just two days ago we spoke and now the email? Is it a joke?

What will she think?

I was driving back home, at the signal, when the light was red, there was this Rachshaw almost parallel but bit away from my car. A woman of around 28-30 was in and her ‘dopatta’ was hanging out, touching the back-wheel and it was already torn apart, not to mention it was indeed dangerous if it gets stuck in the running wheel.

When we had an eye contact I intuitively tried to point towards the ‘dopatta’ and my lips moved verbally saying it but without a voice. I don’t know what she thought; she instantly turned her face away in anger, muttering something (probably swearing at me).

Fair enough. But a sudden question came in my mind, when she gets home and notices what happened to her ‘dopatta’ what will she think? (a) Will she realize what I was trying to say? (b) Or, she will just think it was another bad day, started off with a guy waving hand at her and ended up with messed up cloths?

Quote of the day.

"Good judgement comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgement."

Walter Wriston

Time out.

I am at a cut off of the socialities. I need a time out; and I want to give them the same. I plan to spend time lone, mostly awake at nights, reading. And, in the meantime, I plan to do some undone stuff I need to take care of.

I am still loved.

I wasn’t expecting much of the friends/people would remember my birthday. I know, there are some sweethearts who were counting the days; but I didn’t know there are others who were counting the days but without mentioning. Although, some wished me few days earlier for various reasons but at the 12 AM Amma was the first one to wish when she entered in the room, dancing and singing the jingle when I was reading a book :) almost at the same time ‘SH’ wished online (But I saw the message few minutes later).

But all the three phones stayed quiet till 12:15 AM when ‘A’ called from Lahore. Around 1:45 ‘A2’ Wished online and opened a thread (I guess that’s when most of the people find out, and remembered :p ). Then ‘SK’ wished in a PM and opened a thread. Somewhere around 2 ‘J’ called... felt good. Then ‘SH’ called as well this time.

At 12 PM ‘SR’ wished. ‘H’ and ‘U’ sent sms from Abotabad and promised my gift and calls are due :D. ‘J’ called again around 6…what a sweetheart. ‘SN’ called around 7 PM all the way from Europe and only ‘SN’ can tell how much laugh did we had. Soon after ‘SN’s call ‘S’ called (errr too much of S’s being confusing).

Found the E-Cards in my inbox from ‘SA’ although I am still unable to open the site but this was another one that brought a smile. ‘A’ also sent the E-Card later.

The first call from what we call ‘Khi Gang’ was from ‘SM’ not before the 11 PM (What a disappointment na, the ones who should have called first called in the end :p *Emotional blackmailing wali tone banaing*). Then ‘M’sent an SMS and just before 12 AM of 26th ‘R’ called.

No! There wasn’t a party. Spent 4 hours driving and 5 hours in two different Gov. offices. Sigh.

Thank you everyone for all the love, prayers and wishes. There were so many others who wished in threads, emails, sms’s, messages etc. Thank you all.

PS: For those who dont know, my birthday was on 25th of July.

Books, Net and blah blah.

God bless KESC, due to their double phase my cable provider’s servers burst and we (the users) are suffering from NO-NET. I am using dialup right now but usually dialup never likes me, I can get disconnected even before I can post this entry and not being able to reconnect, let’s hope this doesn’t happen.

Errr I don’t know what I am writing, I seem to be in a hurry and …khair.

There was another explosion in London today—I think. Whoever these terrorist bastards are I want to line em up and shoot them once and for all.

Sigh.

Mahwash, if you are reading this I did go the book shop you suggested. I bought eight books yesterday. I didn’t find the two books I wanted to buy though.

Okay let me list them; perhaps any of you (reader of this blog) can suggest or provide some pre-reading info about any of the book. BTW do suggest which book should be read first.

1. Anna Karenina By Leo Tolstoy (I have heard a lot about this one)
2. Prophets in the Dark by David Kearns and David Nadler (an old read, but its always nice to know how the geniuses reinvent the organizations when they are about to go bankrupt)
3. Mystical Islam – An introduction to Sufism by Julian Baldick.
4. A Sufi Saint of the twentieth century – Shaikh Ahmad al-‘Alawi’ by Martin Lings. (ermm I just thought I have heard the name Shaikh Ahmad Al-‘Alawi’ somewhere so just bought it)
5. Stephen Hawking; quest for a theory of everything by Kitty Ferguson. (She writes about Hawkings quest to find the theory of everything)
6. Stephen Hawking; A life in Science by Michaed White and John Gribbin
   

Than finally there are two novels for the times when I have nothing better to do, chosen by a friend ‘M’, when I asked him to get something sci fiction or suspense… one is quite old and I don’t think other one is off my taste either… but anyways, will see.

Search Engines.

Not that I have a huge traffic on my blog coming from search engines but the few hits that I get are always redirected with weirdest keywords ever. Here are the recent three searches which directed people to my blog.

irfan pathan latest news (Google)

Who is he? Some Indian underworld guy? Ohh yes, you will get a lot of info about him on my blog :~p

kahin to ho ga july 11 2005 episode (Yahoo)

Okay. The image of this person in my mind is a middle aged auntie who missed the episode of this Indian drama. She probably had a discussion with some other auntie and she told her what happened (probably something interesting) tempting, she want to read the story word by word.

love hina's blanket scenario (Yahoo)

I don’t wana go in the description of this search…its probably too intimate.

I dare all the readers (who own a blog) to share the keywords people use to search their blogs :)

My Basha

Meet my adopted basha. Please note its not Bacha or rather Bachi but a Basha with a s.

Whoever, not going to be nice with my basha will get a stick on his/her head. That is all.

Maybe not.

“Happiness is not the absence of problems but the ability to deal with them”

Moments ago – the ecstasy, the bliss I felt, has faded away. I haven’t truly learned to deal, but, perhaps it was the blessing, blessing of forgetting the problems for the momentary joy. I am back on my quandary; that I have become insensitive. I care, I do – I love, I do; I just quite didn’t say it. My slacky response is not the absence of immense feelings rather it is my inability to deliver thoughts into words.

It's a beautiful day.

I was feeling hungry and thought to have a ‘Chai Paratha’ from ‘Pathaan ka Dhaaba’ and to my surprise, I found the streets wet and a fresh aroma in the breeze. Suddenly everything became beautiful and aptly fitting in the rhythm. Little kids deliberately walking on the water spots making sure to spill it out with hard punching steps. Lilt of birds, annoying dew drops were replaced by the beautiful rain drops on the windshields. I felt my sense of aesthetics suddenly developed, colorful clouds were running high, smiling as it seemed, being naughty and annoying for the poor sun and not letting it show its face today, only the glints. It looked like a team that knows they have won the day and now it’s only enjoying the frustration of its opponent. And then sitting on a broken chair right besides the road having a tea in a stainy cup. Can a life become more beautiful?