Epitome of Perfection

There are things in life that become a part of you, then there are people who become a part of who you are, in simple words, such people are your oxygen, they are the rare ones in anyone's life and for me, you are one of them.

Then there are people in life, which you wish for! You dream of. You imagine what a perfect person would be, rarely does it happen that such a person exists in a life time, but fortunately, that person exists, and it is you.

I can't even think of one moment over the past one year when you have let me down in anyway. I really mean it. There is not even a single such moment.

But there have been several moments when you've made me feel the luckiest person. In so many ways too. Luckiest to have known you, luckiest to have been friends with you, luckiest to have been close to you.

You are like that diamond in a crown, that makes the crown look a thousand times more important and precious.

The way you talk is so soothing, that whenever I am in a bad mood, or down I think of calling you so I can hear your voice, even if it is for 1 second, 10 minutes or 1 hour.

The way you care is so amazing! One feels like being unwell or in a bad mood on purpose just so you can care, you can make feel better, you can be there.

The way you speak slowly has a charm of its own, as if everything around comes to a still, and everything becomes calm itself.

The way you smile is beautiful! As if there won't be anything more beautiful than this and that this precious little smile would make anyone smile in the worst of times.

You, yourself are beautiful! From outside and from within. You are pure, both from the outside and within, you are as lovely as it gets, both from the outside and within.

These words might not mean anything but these are from the heart, as pure as you are, just to let you know you are epitome of perfection in my life.

Thank you for everything! From caring for me, for crying for me, for trusting me, for loving me, for wasting your time, for all the times I have made you talk while you eat, for every time you are asleep, for every time you wait at nights, for every time you think about me, for every time you breathe, actually thank you for existing.

Happy Birthday and a happy life ahead! Hope all your dreams and wishes come true, you have a happy healthy successful life ahead.

Loads love.

The Magical City of Venice.

First time I heard the word Venice was of course in the Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice. As I grew older I came to know more about this  city and the more I read about it, the more I fell in love with it. No wonder it is called the Magical City. I'm sure everyone who has visited Venice will agree that it is one of the, if not the most beautiful city that exists.

Anyone who knows the name of this city, for sure knows it's strangeness. There are no roads in Venice but only boats that float over water,  yes it is a city between water.

Hopelessness

Written By: Bariyah Faisal

I felt like drowning

In the sea of despair,

In the river of betrayals

Grief, sorrow is all written

In my fate

No matter how hard I try

I know I won't succeed

And happiness is something

That I won't achieve.

Solitude

 

A Poem By: Bariyah Faisal.

 

 The long walk in the dark night

The counting of stars during a full moon

The blank walls of my room stare at me


My face expressionless

The emptiness inside me

My feelings,

All gone


This world looks unreal and meaningless

This loneliness slowly engulfs me

Reducing me to a mere shadow.

Amazing Kids who are changing the World.

Reality television and social media make oversharing a rite of passage in modern life, yet sometimes the important moments get lost in the cacophony.

Take for example these child visionaries — boys and girls who have changed our world through their good actions or examples. Some have mobilized millions for a good cause. Others have moved us simply by their generous and hopeful view of humanity. Here are eight young people who have made an impressive mark on our world.

Dylan Mahalingam

At the ripe age of 9, Dylan Mahalingam co-founded Lil' MDGs, a nonprofit international development and youth empowerment organization and an initiative of Jayme's Fund. Lil' MDGs mission is to leverage the power of the digital media to engage children in the United Nations

Sachin Tendulkar's Farewell Speech.

All my friends. Settle down let me talk, I will get more and more emotional (crowd gets louder and louder as he composes himself). My life, between 22 yards for 24 years, it is hard to believe that that wonderful journey has come to an end, but I would like to take this opportunity to thank people who have played an important role in my life. Also, for the first time in my life I am carrying this list, to remember all the names in case I forget someone. I hope you understand. It's getting a little bit difficult to talk but I will manage.

The most important person in my life, and I have missed him a lot since 1999 when he passed away, my father. Without his guidance, I don't think I would have been standing here in front of you. He gave me freedom at the age of 11, and told me that [I should] chase my dreams, but make sure you do not find short cuts. The path might be difficult, but don't give up, and I have simply followed his instructions. Above all, he told me to be a nice human being, which I will continue to do and try my best. Every time I have done something special [and] showed my bat, it was [for] my father.

One Coin and 5 Toffees worth a Smile.

Smile, excitement, more smiles, are just priceless sometimes.

There are minor things in your life which, if you think about or want, leave a lasting impression on you. A similar thing happened with me recently, and it actually made me happy.

Few days ago I was out for a walk, the usual everyday walk with headphones in my ears, cellphone in my hand, roaming around. I took a turn at the end of a street and there was this boy, around 5 or so years old, running here and there in a street.

I just couldn't help it, just couldn't ignore him. He wasn't wearing any shoes, ragged clothes, still looked adorable. He had a rope in his hand and was swaying it here and there. I have this habit of not stopping during a walk no matter what happens plus it was extremely cold and raining, so I kept on walking, but slowly.

Suddenly he shouted: Bhaaaaai Bhaaaaai Bhaaai.

I turned around, looked back and he had a coin. Bhai apkay 5 rupay.

I didn't even realize I had a coin in my pocket and I had dropped it. Usually coins in my pocket irritate me so I had this idea. Just turned back, paused the stopwatch and went towards him.

" Ye tow mera nahi hai koi nahi aap rakhlain ye " I said, with the usual ' sympathy ' people show towards poor.

I was really amazed when he replied: " Nahi ye chori hogi agar ye apka nahi hai tow "

And to my amazement threw the coin away and he had such seriousness on his face that I kinda felt ashamed of myself.

" Wo jab main school jata tha na tow ustani kehti thi k ye chori hoti hai neechay giri hui cheez nahi uthatay agar apni na ho "  He said.

Shocked, I said: Nahi nahi rakh lo main keh raha hoon na.
 
He gave no importance to what I said and ran away, with his rope, swaying it here and there.

I picked up the coin, went to a nearby superstore and bought 5 toffees, on my way back handed him those 5 toffees which he gladly accepted without even saying a word. But the best and most important thing was a huge wide smile on his face and so much excitement in his eyes.

That smile, that excitement was just priceless.

Writing anything more will just spoil this post so yeah as we all know life is an ongoing process so you never know, who, what, where teaches you something worth learning.

Someday more than just taking pics to show how brilliant photographer I am or writing stuff about such people to show how deep I can write, I'll Insha Allah do something practical for such cute and adorable kids.

My Interactions with Supernatural Beings.

Don't be scared after reading this. I am a perfectly normal human being, I guess.

Well whatever I'm gonna write is true. I am sure very few people will believe it but oh well, I just felt sharing them. I do believe in supernatural beings and I actually have felt their presence, am pretty used to them, many things happen with me even now but they don't bother me much. Let me just share the main ones. Oh and I may have changed the real locations, wee tiny bit. - Raafay.

Thank You Sachin Tendulkar.

Honestly, I don't have the exact words to write about Sachin Tendulkar. His stats, his stature, his career, his performance and his farewell say it all.

All my life as a Pakistani I have tried my best to hate him, or let's just say not to like him, or consider him a great. But I am sure most Pakistanis from their hearts love Sachin Tendulkar as much as anyone and adore him as everyone. I confess today, I do.

More than a great Cricketer he was the best ambassador for the game. You know he is famous in the world when you see Roger Federer trying to meet him, when you see Daniel Radcliffe waiting in the line just to get his autograph.

You can tell how much people loved him when you see them flying from all over the world just to be there for his last match, you can tell, when after winning the world cup, every single Indian player dedicated the win to Sachin Tendulkar.

 
' Sachin Tendulkar has carried the burden of Indian Cricket for 21 years, it's about time we carry him on our shoulders ' , said Virat Kohli.

His last speech, the response of the crowd ... the moment he said that his speech was getting longer and thousands of people sitting in the stadium shouted " NO NO NO " you knew these were special moments, you could tell it by the looks on the faces of the crowd, tears rolling, hearts sad.

There is no doubt about the fact that Cricket will be poorer without Sachin Tendulkar and that after  his retirement Cricket has lost one of, if not the greatest batsman of all time and there is no denying it is the end of an era.

Hats off Sachin Tendulkar , you are one of the very greats, you have been the hero of Indian Cricket without a doubt and an inspiration for millions.. And most of all we were lucky enough to watch you play in our lives.

Thank you Sachin Tendulkar, you'll forever be remembered!

Picture Worth Thousand Words: One Naan and Two Pakoras.

A picture is worth a thousand words they say. I was always curious to find out if that was true, well it actually is true.

There are several angles to look at this picture, aren't there. It shows you different feelings as well, emotions, they way humans function, what they are, what they go through. Everyone acts their own way.

What is it here in this picture? Just one naan and two pakoras and several people. You know what it is.

Let's look a little deeper. Give it a closer look and see, feel and learn if we can. 

Desperation is the first feeling, on the face of  the girl with her hands ready to take her one time meal, or perhaps the only meal of the day.  It isn't her turn yet but it is about time, we don't know for how long she has been hungry, minutes, hours, days? She wants to eat.

Then you see happiness. In the eyes of this young girl who will finally get to eat something, we don't know for how long she has been standing there, waiting. She is there, she finally has something to eat. She must be thinking about a good calm sleep, or maybe happiness of no hunger pans.

Then there is anxiety. They define anxiety as a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome. He knows he is almost there. His wait was finally worth but there are still some time left, what if the food finishes? What if they give it to someone else? What if he has to stay hungry.

Contentment follows, this man must have worked all day, worked really hard. He must be really tired. He wouldn't have anything to eat all day, or maybe something to eat in the morning when his wife gave him the left overs? But now he will eat, he is content, he is thankful.

You can go on and on with these feeling, there are so many.

But then let's look at it more carefully, you see helplessness. See that old man at the back? Bent? Can't even stand properly? He for sure won't be able to walk properly, but maybe he has no family left, he has no job and he can't work anymore? Maybe his family has kicked him out because they can't afford to feed an old man, who once provided for the family, in fact all his life. But now he is hopeless and helpless.

What do WE feel?

Most of us feel nothing. Just see a picture and that's it. Oh for some, we can blame our government for not providing people with the basic necessities of life like food and shelter. Or we feel sad for such people, or we can actually do something for or to change, or at the very least, we can correct ourselves.

How much does such food mean to us? I guess nothing. We all belong to good families, who spend lavishly on food and stuff. I mean that's not wrong.. I love food, I love going out with friends, and for family dinners. But sadly we don't even care if we waste food, we don't even look towards food when it is not our favorite one or it isn't something we like to eat. We choose food, I do too, I confess.

What should WE learn?

We should learn to be THANKFUL for what we have. We should thank Allah for what we have, for what we get. We should thank Allah for the things he has given us to eat, we should think just for a little while that here we have food right in front of us, but somewhere in this world someone will be eating a two days old roti with a green pepper or a half peeled onion, or maybe somewhere someone is hungry for days, and maybe ... somewhere out there, people are standing in a line for hours waiting for a naan and two pakoras.

Misbah The Captain should GO!

Written for and Posted by Express Tribune, Pakistan.

Before I begin, let me make a couple of things clear just to avoid the usual debate. I am a huge Misbah fan and he is my favourite player. I am not an Afridi or Hafeez lover. However, you just cannot deny the facts or ignore the reality of the cricketing situation for Pakistan under Misbah ul Haq.

There is no doubt about the fact that Misbahul Haq has been Pakistan’s best batsman over the past year or so. With 1,119 runs in 26 One Day International (ODI) matches at a healthy average strike rate of 53.28 and with 570 runs at an average strike rate of 47.50 in Test matches, there is no one even close to him.

However, the question still arises whether Misbahul Haq is the best captain for team Pakistan and this question needs some serious answers.

Since the beginning of this year even his worst critics have accepted that he is a requirement of the team and that the team is weak without him. Hence, the criticism and hatred he used to receive from cricket fans has decreased considerably. However, there is no denying the fact that this year has been extremely poor for the Pakistani team with Misbah ul Haq as its captain.

Looking at the team’s performance Pakistan has played seven Test matches, winning only two and losing five including one shocking defeat against Zimbabwe. In addition, out of 26 ODI matches played this year Pakistan has won only 11, lost 13 and ended two in a tie.

Although people may argue that cricket is a team game and that the captain is not solely responsible for the team’s performance, one needs to probe more into what has been happening with the team. Only recently, Muhammad Yousuf said that the team’s poor performance is due to the wrong role model they have with Misbahul Haq as captain, and I for the most part, agree with him.

Ever since Misbahul Haq has become captain, the Pakistani batting line up has moulded itself in his style. Misbahul Haq has a strike rate of 71.54 – which if not poor, is not great either – considering the way ODI cricket is played these days.

However, the worst part is its effect on other batsmen.

Our opening batsmen, Nasir Jamshed and Ahmed Shehzad, who are actually considered attacking batsmen, scored a strike rate of 62.22 and 64.01 respectively in 2013. Add to this the vulnerable Asad Shafiq with a strike rate of 68.18 and Muhammad Hafeez with a career strike rate of 70.91 and Pakistan has perhaps the slowest batting line-up at present.

But wait, this was not the case before Misbah was captain.

Before Misbah took up captaincy, Nasir Jamshed had a career strike rate of 86.19, while Ahmed Shehzad’s was 73.46; Asad Shafiq had a strike rate of 70.0 while Muhammad Hafeez’s was 73.91.

At a time when cricket is becoming faster with every passing day and scores of 350 runs are being chased quite easily, Pakistan is surely not benefiting from Misbah’s influence on the team. Moreover, under Misbah’s captaincy, Pakistan has scored 300+ runs only twice. However, the core issue is the lack of intent our players show while batting in the shorter format.

Do you remember our team being 60-0 or even 50-1 in 10 overs?

Unfortunately, that has become a rare event and most of our batsmen waste too many balls without scoring in ODI cricket. Pakistan’s run rate has been 4.68 under Misbah while before him it was around five runs per over.

These were just some of the obvious problems. Now, let us take a look at a few decisions that he has taken as a captain. We do not even need to go too far back; in fact, let us just take a look at the last series against South Africa.

Misbah ul Haq chose Wahab Riaz and even Sohail Tanvir over Junaid Khan for the first three matches. Any sensible person, with even a wee bit of knowledge about cricket, would be able to tell that Junaid Khan is a much better player than both of them. After all, he was the most threatening fast bowler for Pakistan this year picking up 35 wickets in 21 matches with an economy rate of 4.84.

On the other hand, Wahab Riaz has taken a mere eight wickets in his last 14 ODI matches with an economy rate of 5.72.

How Misbah could prefer someone with such a poor performance is beyond my understanding.

Moreover, Sohail Tanvir had played no ODI cricket this year but he too was preferred over Junaid Khan!

Even when Junaid Khan was allowed on the field, he was brought in to bowl in the 26th over of the match. It was unbelievable to see that a fast bowler, who strikes regularly for Pakistan, came on the pitch after half the innings were over. By the end of the series, Junaid Khan proved his mettle by taking more wickets than both of these bowlers even when he appeared in only two ODI matches.

The icing on the cake was when Misbah ul Haq said at the end of the series that he preferred Wahab Riaz over Junaid Khan because the former can bat better than Junaid Khan.

Why would he play a bowler because he bats well, is my question?

Misbah ul Haq has always said that Pakistan needs an all-rounder in the team. I agree with him, we do need one. However, isn’t it strange that Wahab Riaz bowled just 14 overs in the series and was preferred because he batted well, while Abdul Razzaq and Hammad Azam were not selected for the series, despite having the ability to bat better than these two and can bowl four to five overs a match easily.

Most importantly, a captain is responsible for improving the confidence of the players, especially new players. However, Misbah has actually shattered the team’s confidence. Take for instance, Asad Shafiq, who scored a century in the very last innings of the last Test match but was dropped in the first couple of ODI matches. On the other hand, South Africa included Imran Tahir simply since he was in form during the Test series.

The list of players, who were included in the team but never played a single match and were dropped, is a pretty long one under Misbahul Haq’s captaincy.

If you are still not convinced that Misbah is not the best captain for our team, here are two more examples worth looking into; During the third ODI Pakistan got off to a thundering start and was almost in control with 79 for two in 15 overs. Scoring 13 runs in the previous over, Misbah was gaining momentum, playing freely and was not out on 14 balls. However, for no reason he played down two maiden overs and by the time he got out in the 21st over, he ended up on 19 of 34 balls with Pakistan at 87/4.  He made only six runs of the next 20 balls.

The question is how could he waste so many balls for no reason and build pressure on other batsmen, when his job as a senior is actually to lessen the pressure? All he had to do was to rotate the strike. Yes, he is the highest run-getter, yes he always ends up as the top scorer in the match, but is he really playing for the team or himself? I do not doubt his sincerity but it does look like the team is suffering.

Then, in the next match of the series, Pakistan needed 41 of 30 balls with six wickets in hands and Misbah still batting on 60 odd. However, Pakistan failed to win the match, not because the opposition bowled well, but because Pakistan had forgotten how to stay positive.

Also, since Misbah has taken over the captaincy, our team does not score on 60% of the balls they face in an inning, which makes 180 balls out of a possible 300.

You must have guessed by now that I can go on and on with such examples.

There is no doubt that Misbah ul Haq is the backbone of Pakistan’s batting and our cricket team will be poorer without him. Having said that, it is about time Misbahul Haq steps down from the captaincy in the ODI format at least and Pakistan brings in an attacking captain – be it Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan or even Muhammad Hafeez.

Even if Pakistan loses after showing positive intent, it feels good, but it really kills the spirit of Pakistani fans when the team enters that slow mode, scores 20-30 runs in the first 10 overs for a loss of two or three wickets; it is obvious that they will end up losing the match the dull, boring way.

Pakistan will definitely need Misbah in the 2015 World Cup and as he has recently said, he wants to play in the mega event. However, it will be so much better if he plays in the team as a senior batsman and lets someone positive lead the team.

There is no doubt that Misbahul Haq has done a lot for Pakistani cricket. After all, he built a team after the spot fixing fiasco and gave us some memorable wins against England and in the Asia Cup.

However, in my honest opinion, he should have stepped down after the tour of South Africa in February, 2013 to give enough time to the new captain to become accustomed to the team.

Having said that, it is never too late and change is always good.

Allama Iqbal - My Inspiration

  

Written By:  Hira Nazir (Click here for the original post)

There are many names written in golden words on the pages of history, spoken with an air of inevitable gratitude and remembered fondly. But indeed, one name that outclassed others with utmost consideration is Allama Muhammad Iqbal. Iqbal was not only a great poet, by virtue of his being a great poet, but a great artist, an exceptional philosopher, a dependable leader and sincere scholar whose literary work always reflected purity and honesty. His poetry is a blend of philosophy and emotions with all the arts demonstrating natural beauty. Just like a single color of many shades, a single face of many expressions and a single soul of many emotions.

Happily Ever After

Written By: Hanya Malik.

A distance covered with an arduous step 

A decision my aching heart does not accept 

Isolated by a chasm, forlorn I grieve 

Searching for nirvana, I'll find, I still believe 

My emotions so fixed, my sentiments pure 

His stares quite confused, yet strangely sure 

To covet him earnestly has made me impeachable 

Allure of his enthralling eyes, ambient yet unreachable 

His smile elates me to cloud number nine 

There is nothing I yearn more than for him to be mine 

Possessed by a feeling uncanny to me 

Happily ever after is what I hope it to be

To Express Or Not To Express.

Expressing how you feel is perhaps is the most difficult thing in this world. Or maybe, finding exact words to express something is harder?  

For me,  there are three types of people.  

Or maybe I am all the three types of people. 

First one,  who can express freely and mean it, the other type is of the people who don’t express much but still care. The third one can be of the people who neither express nor want to express.

All these three types of people are right in what they do.

An Afternoon Long Ago

Peeked through leafy branches and around street corners,

That golden glow drenched the afternoons.

Filled our senses and warmed our spirits,

That warm and cozy autumn air.

Hip-hopping on e pavement, runny to the park,

Those contented promenades before it turned dark.

Racing to get the swing before that older boy,

Seeing who ran the longest on those red rolling drums.

Running up the slide instead of down it,

Playing ring-a-ring-of-roses, falling on the soft damp grass.

Those heavenly snacks after we trotted back home.

And that little ladybird friend in the matchbox too.

Narrating our busy little life, as loving hands tucked us in,

Sleeping with a kiss on our forehead, waking with one.

Never did we feel the stifling heat or the biting cold,

For lost we were in a world of happiness and love.

By : Fizzah Aziz