Winters can get nostalgic; winters can get depressive. But they are sometimes amazing too and can be eventful. Luckily had a few family visits in past 1 month so it wasn’t that bad.  Had an amazing first anniversary of our wedding (time flies time flies’) and another bright year was added in my age making me visiting its afternoon now. If it makes sense.And my love for roaming around Edgware Road is still increasing. Feels like home when you see paths bustling with people, black-haired, enjoying themselves even late at night. Nothing like this you’ll witness any place else in England. Oh Wilmslow Road in Manchester can be a runner-up in this race.

Had a few visits across England and some more to follow. At last attended a wedding and I love doing make-up now. Got to meet some interesting characters in here. At large, people who have spent a few years in Pakistan are much much better in their mannerism than the ones born-and-bred here. Final Verdict! This makes me think I don’t want to raise my children here ending up like these desis.  Let’s wait and see how Allah makes the larger plan.

A picturesque tale to follow…

Colors of Winter ツ

❄ Three Cheers  ❄

When 2010 approached ….

♥ Memoir to Friendship ♥

Heard the news of weddings of two very nice and close-to-heart siblings of my BFF .. and I’m so happy for them … May Allah bless them with a lovely future and a truly blessed life Inshah Allah … I won’t be there to attend the ceremonies but my prayers are with them always ♥

Last but not the least … its nostalgic in the best possible way when you start relating to songs …  life’s one interesting thing… listen to this … I always loved the sweet tones of it…  ♫here♫

When in Pakistan, you will find lots of people around you going totally excited at the name of anywhere off-Pakistan. Not India, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka obviously. Well sorry to disappoint you, its nothing fancy.

جو سکھ اپنے چوبارے …. او نہ بلخ نہ بخارے

(Jo sukh apnay chobaray – O na Balkh Na Bukharay)

How true. But its not bad either. Considering the situation back in Pakistan, everyone wants to run out for the safety of their families and themselves, i.e., if one can.

When I landed on Heathrow, happy sun of going winters greeted me with a smile. And also a delighted husband. The weather was almost the same that I left back in Islamabad. The part of London where we live looks very similar to F-7 & F-6 areas of Islamabad. So thankfully, I had no problems in adjusting. I was at home from the moment I stepped out of plane. The roads were wide here (not in London city at all). Trees of beautiful cherry blossoms were flower loaded.

After two three days, when I was done with all the dishes I knew to make i.e., Chicken Karahi, Dal Chawal & Yummylicious Pasta, I started panicking what to cook next. Aloo anday was my first dish -  thats what hubby dear suggested, otherwise it was a dish of laughter more for me before. It went fine. And till now I think I can cook almost everything. Tried Haleem. Made mouth-watering Biryani just yesterday. Beef shashlik. Chicken Roast. Chicken Tikkas. Manchurian. Chikar Cholay. Kheer. Firni. Pineapple delight. And the usual stuff … daal, vegies et al.

Cooking is one of those popularly over-rated things, from back home, that you will find everyone wary about. From mothers to daughters. From in-laws to out-laws.Honestly, if you like doing what you do its not difficult at all. Becomes more of fun. An appreciator around would be a lovely addition of course. I say after doing a number of dawats

Talking of people, I found all sorts here. Friendly. Too Friendly. And Snobs. I take time to befriend someone but its only after arriving here that I know, its the most difficult task for me. You can get acquainted but you can’t be friends all of a sudden. Aunties are nice and fine. Girls here of my age (or a few years plus minus) are not my type. There interests and talk is totally opposite to something of my interest.

Finally, I conjured up enough energy to write something. I dont want to bore you with a never-ending tale. The second episode about people and places: desis and goray will follow shortly.

Yesterday, I saw PIA’s plane in air going over me. The triggering point behind this post. I never thought sight of PIA’s plane would make me happy.It did. That’s what happen when you are in Pardes.

ps: now I always need a picture to start a tale. Without it, words won’t pour out. And apologies for not a regular visitor of your blogs …  a bit slow on this side of life.

pps: now off for my haazri to each and every blog so that you start coming here too

میں کس کے ہاتھ پے اپنا لہو تلاش کروں

تمام شہر نے پہنے ہوئے ہیں دستانے

20-10-2009:
This shot makes me rethink my pessimism. Light can’t be shut down. It makes its path through dark always.

But the kind of turmoil my dear Pakistan is going through makes me foresee only darkness. Two days back, my Alma Matter, Islamic University, was hit by not one but two blasts. Suicide bombers. When I heard the news on a channel, I was in shock. I never considered of all the places, a university; of all the universities this particular university a supposedly victim of such violence ever. Islam is nothing but peace. It is not the reason behind this terrorism at all. Its the fanatic beings who brainwash the naive minds in the name of Islam and use them as their live weapons.

It was utter sorrow when I saw pictures of defaced, blown off and shattered corridors … with blood of aspiring youth spilled around. These were the same corridors once I walked with my friends. Same passages that shared the memory of our tense and pleasant moments. We moved on and new comers came to fill up, with alive and vibrant dreams. But no more. Government came and showed blatant sympathy when probably they care not but themselves.

According to my sources, the number of demises (Shahadats) was around 15 and not the count of 6. Possibility of seriously injured and ones with permanent damages is even more. Oh but government may show some sympathy and pay their families a lac or two.

Problem is this ferocity leads to nowhere.

May Allah bless the departed souls in higher gardens of jannah (heaven) and make their sacrifice profound for the nation and country. May Allah also give sabr to the affected families. Their loss is immeasurable. Amen. When I think about it losing parent for a child is hard but losing a child is harder for a parent. Not expected in the unexpected world. Only we can pray and stay united for the larger cause.

موج بڑھے یا آندھی آئے دیا جلائے ركھنا ہے

گھركی خاطرسودكھ جھیلیں گھر تو آخر اپنا ہے

And just an hour back, another earthquake hits of 6.2 magnitude. Thanks to Allah, was not shallow. May Allah keep everyone in his safety. Amen.

And Truth for peace shall prevail. Inshah Allah.

Got the glitziest jaura hanging now. I had it saved for eid. And yeah I’ve got dozens of them still back in Pakistan so I wont really think of buying another one at least for two years. I’ll miss my dearest U & A. And the deliciously awesome mehndi by U. Oh dear. And the post-namaz going to qabaristan too. And my loveliest dad <3 (may Allah bless him with health and happiness, Amen)

So I hereby tag a  few things here my friends. Please leave your link to posts here and do it before eid

1. What are you wearing for eid? for girls: What color is it?

Shalwar Qameez and RED. Well what do you expect

2. How do you intend to spend chand raat? Whats the usual norm?

Probably will find some hulla gulla spot around. I’ll definitely miss going to U’s place and jinnah on chand raats. First timer in london can’t say.

3. How do you spend Eid? Go for namaaz or sleep late?

The main activity is definitely Eid ki namaaz. And all that hustle bustle and getting late things in the  morning. I get up around Fajr time and then its teyaari on Eid’s morning

Sleeping late . No way.

4. What’s the menu on Eid?

Sheer khurma/sawayyan definitely. Chicken roast may be. Havent given it a thought yet

5. Share 5 Eid festivity related pictures of your choice. (you can post ur eid dress, preparations pictures too )

#1   Jalebiyaan & Pheniyaan: Southall London.

#2  I loved this Mehndi Design: Two days after Eid, two years back.

#3   Beautiful Bangles  *_*

#4  Shot in Islamabad’s F-10 Markaz last eid.

#5  The London Mosque, Masjid Fazal in London.

And I tag:

Americanising Desi, Siras, Umemooo, Huda, Absar, Raaniya, Rabz, Zeeee, Ubee, Sawj, Qurrat , SK, Supe, Lubz, Hinzz &  Ayesha.

Recipe: is so simple.

1. Boil the pasta of your choice.

1. Fry onions nicely diced in 3 tbspoons of oil. After they start turning golden, add ginger garlic paste (I had a lot I love it ), and then after few seconds chopped tomatoes (about 1 cup). Let it get sauted for two mins. Now add the minced meat (about 1-1/2 cup) to it. And on high flame stir it well. Now add salt, red chilly powder, white cumin seeds (zeera) and freshly ground black pepper. After it starts getting goldenish/brownish. Let it simmer down on very slow flame. After about 15-20 minutes, give it a final stirring (also see in the meanwhile lest it gets all burned )

3. Now in a frying pan in 2 tbsp oil, saute’ diced bell pepper/capsicum of assorted colors in it. meanwhile add some soy sauce, chilli sauce and saute it well. Then add onions diced and sliced in cubes, add lots of black pepper. Then some spring onions, some beans, some carrots (shredded). Fry it all on high flame. After that add the minced meat to it.

4. Layer the pasta and the mixture above.

5. Enjoy

.

You are what You Eat

ps: I need to reply to so many comments. Will get back to it soon and gradually.

Tell me Why…

اللَّهُمَّ اِنَّا نَجْعَلُكَ فِي نُحُورِهِمْ وَ نَعُوذُبِكَ مِنْ شُرُورِهِمْ

O Allah! We ask You to restrain them by their necks and we seek refuge in You from their evil
[abu Dawud; 2:89, al-Hakim]

I had seen pictures of Faithful Pious Muslims wiping Kalima e tayyaba off our mosques. The pictures of such horrendous act, under the supervision of Pakistan’s Muslim Govt. & Fidayaan e islam, were enough to shook oneself.  Few days back yet again such an incidence happened. I guess holy month of Ramadhan was just around the corner so someone thought why not indulge in some reward-earning in the way.

انا للہ و انا الیہِ راجعون.

If saying  لا الہ الا اللہ محمد الرسول اللہ makes us Non-Muslim … then be it … no one can ever deny us our rights tt be muslims. Looking at the video, I wonder how can even the weakest of a muslim can use hammers (and similar stuff) on Allah and His beloved, Hadhrat Muhammad SAWW’s  name. A blog reports of the brutal incident in detail:

Faisalabad, Pakistan; Aug 10, 2009: Couple of days ago a case under anti-Ahmadiyya clauses (PPC 298) was registered by some activists of Sunni Tehreek against 32 Ahmadis accusing them of inscribing Holy scriptures at their houses and place of worship which allegedly hurt the feelings of complainants in village Lathianwala located some 25KM away from Faisalabad at Sheikhupura Road. Police at the behest of some bigots also added Blasphemy clause PPC 295-C (Use of derogatory remarks, etc; in respect of the Holy Prophet) to the FIR (First Information Report) which carries death penalty. At this outrageous act of Police a three member delegation of Ahmadis approached high ranking police officials to get the Blasphemy charges dropped and settle the matter peacefully without unjustifiably hurting innocent Ahmadis implicated in the case.

In the morning of August 10, 2009 around 300 strong contingent of Police, gathered from whole district, stormed the Mosque and 28 houses belonging to Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and removed Holy inscriptions, comprising Names of Allah and Kalima (Muslim creed) etc. According to reliable sources the terror and frightful operation continued for 8 hours. Police sacrilege was led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Rai Muhammad Hussain and Station House Officer Mian Muuneer Ahmed of Police Station Khururianwala while the matter was still pending decision with high ranking police official Senior Superintendent of Police Kamran Yousuf. At the time of operation Ahmadiyya delegation was waiting for a meeting with Deputy Inspector General of Police.

Police used chisels, cement, paint etc to do this dreadful act of shameful sacrilege and removed every Arabic word they could find on Ahmadiyya Mosque and houses. It is worth noting that media was kept at distance thereby not allowing to cover this act. After what happened at Gojra and Mureedke last week; Police is still busy to appease the religious extremists and bigots. Religious minorities feel insecure and helpless in this hostile environment.

Media ran long debates after Gojra incident but why no one paid heed to such tragic incidents, when namesakes of Allah and His prophet Muhammad SAWW are not safe within the confines of an Islamic state. When kalma is being wiped off by the No Fear gang of the Islamic country under close scrutiny of muslims. Allah o Akbar. Allah o Akbar.

We give our matters in the hand of Allah. This Ramadhan may Allah help us to emerge out true muslims in the spirit of Islam. Ones who can becomes role models for the world and not shame in our own faces. Amen.

I hereby quote a stanza off Murder in the Name of  Allah:

Muslims should consider the attitude of these ulema. For suppression, torture, execution, arson and the razing of mosques are not the Prophet’s saw tradition. Every stone in the streets of Mecca over which the so-called apostates were dragged bears witness to this. Every grain of burning Arabian sand where helpless people were tortured for accepting Islam does the same. The cobbles of Taif, where the blood of the Holy Prophet saw was spilled, bear witness to the fact that our great Master—mercifully did not teach that religious belief was compulsory, that he did not order the burning of houses of worship in the name of worship or the dishonoring of women in the name of honor. Muslims hang their heads in shame and their souls cry out over today’s religious leaders who preach violence in the name of the Prophet saw.

‘O Allah! I have been extremely unjust to myself and none grants forgiveness against sins but Thou; therefore forgive me with the forgiveness that comes from Thee and have mercy upon me. Verily, Thou art the Forgiver, the Merciful.’

انا للہ و انا الیہِ راجعون

انا للہ و انا الیہِ راجعون

انا للہ و انا الیہِ راجعون